It’s the end of an era for a long-standing Teulon business.
After 72 years in operation, LJ Baron Realty is closing up shop at the end of April. Owner Claudette Griffin, who represents the second generation of the family business, will be retiring.
Her father, Leo Joseph Baron, launched the business in 1953. Prior to that, worked as a door-to-door Rawleigh’s salesman the 1940s.
Then in 1952, he bought an insurance agency in Teulon. The following year, a man came into the office and said, “Leo, you know so many people. I want you to find me a farm.” That request marked the humble beginnings of the homegrown business that thrived for more than seven decades.
At the same time, his wife Liliane also embraced the entrepreneurial spirit, operating a hair salon in the basement of the family’s home. Claudette still recalls coming home from school to the smell of perms.
She also remembers how she got her start in the family real estate business. It was 1984 and her youngest daughter had just started school. At the time, Claudette was quite content with her role as a homemaker. She went for lunch in Winnipeg with her parents, who planted the idea of a career in real estate. Claudette went home and discussed it with her husband Roger, who had purchased her father’s insurance agency.
She took a chance and decided to pursue a career in realty. Although she didn’t love studying, she hit the books and worked towards attaining her licence.
“I went on to realize that I loved learning something I had a passion for. I could not have pursued this career if hadn’t been for Roger,” Claudette said.
“We each had our roles and supported each other in always making our family first. He was a hands-on father and was there for our girls when I was on appointments.”
Her first goal in the 1980s was to earn enough money to buy a microwave, which were quite expensive at the time.
“The next year I made another goal and had drapes made for our home. I so appreciated the people who wanted me to list their properties and finding buyers the property of their dreams,” she said.
“My dad was a very wise man. He never pressured me and was there supporting my ideas to grow the business.”
Back when Claudette started her career, interest rates had soared to 21 per cent — yet people were still selling and buying homes.
“I recall interest rates going down to 18 per cent and many of us thought we should lock our mortgages in,” she said. “Then when it went down to 12 per cent, let’s just say the banks were busy.”
Over the years, technology changed the way business is conducted, while rules and regulations continued to evolve. And, of course, prices of properties changed drastically over the decades. Claudette recalls telling her dad about a house she sold for $60,000. Her dad, who was in his 80s at the time, could hardly believe his ears since he had previously sold the same house for $4,500.
Over the years, Claudette faced challenges, including the juggling act of balancing her personal and professional life.
“Family always came first and I also wanted to grow the business,” she said. “To do this, I started to service areas between Highway 6 and 9, and to a lesser extent Winnipeg and surrounding areas. Time management was always a challenge.”
Over time, Roger sold the insurance business and joined Claudette to look after the administrative end of the real estate company.
Then when Claudette was in her 40s and her daughters were in university, she received life-changing news.
“The business was doing well and I was loving it. Life was good until the day I received a phone call that my routine mammogram showed that I had cancer. This couldn’t be happening. All the dark thoughts came rushing in. Was I going to die? At that time, a diagnosis of breast cancer for a young woman did not always have a good outcome,” she said.
“I was scared. I had no one to talk to about this, so I decided to keep this private and not tell anyone except my family and dear friend Sigi, who had recently received her real estate licence and worked for me in the resort areas. I had business commitments, so I soldiered on until I was told I would have to undergo chemotherapy. During that time, I would lay low for three to four days after treatment and look after business when I felt better.”
Eventually people did find out, but by that time Claudette was in recovery.
“Thank goodness things are so different today,” she said. “Years later, my mother passed away as a result of breast cancer and the Liliane Baron South Interlake Breast Cancer Support Group was formed in her memory. Sometimes we go through these challenges so we can help others on their journey.”
In 1998, Claudette’s daughter Cherise shared the exciting news that she wanted to join the family business as the third generation. However, it was not to be.
“In 2001 on her way to an appointment, she was involved in a very serious car accident. Unfortunately, her life and our lives changed forever. Our wonderful, strong and determined daughter is now a quadriplegic. That was 24 years ago. She has gone on to be an inspiration to others and continues to serves her community. If she can’t do a task one way, she’ll find another way to do it,” Claudette said.
“When the accident happened, she was six months pregnant and her year-and-a-half daughter Desiree was also is the car and was not injured. Cherise was in the Health Sciences Centre for 10 months and miraculously delivered her healthy son Dominic two months after the accident. We were blessed — we still had out daughter and grandchildren. The story goes on and is still ongoing. I’m always encouraging Cherise to write a book.”
Reflecting on the harrowing time, Claudette expressed gratitude to her other daughter Angele and her husband Scott Skinner for all of their support.
“The accident happened one week after their wedding and they were on their honeymoon when they were notified. They got a police escort all the way from B.C. to be with Cherise. Angele is a physiotherapist and I remember her saying that we had to pray that Cherise would regain the movement of her wrist. If she could move her wrist, she’d be able to feed herself. Our prayers were answered,” Claudette said.
“Once Cherise was told she could leave the hospital, there was no accessible house for her to go to. Angele and Scott took her and Baby Dominic into their home and looked after them for months. We are eternally grateful. During this time, and with Roger’s help, we still managed the business. He scheduled my appointments so I could be there for Cherise. When I look back, I don’t know how I could have done this for 10 months without the support of everyone involved.”
Then suddenly in 2020, Roger passed away and Claudette found herself dealing with another difficult transition.
“I was on my own — no one to bounce my ideas around to and discuss business with,” she said.
Yet she still had support close at hand. Judi McQueen, assistant extraordinaire, has been with Claudette through everything in the last seven years.
“Judi came in a couple of years before Roger passed away, and she says she learned through osmosis listening to him explain why things had to be done a certain way,” she said. “She’s been there for me through all the ups and downs, including taking control of things when I was unable.”
Looking back, Claudette is filled with gratitude for her fulfilling career.
“I had an exciting vision for this little business located in my hometown and was very proud to show newcomers all the amenities and services that Teulon had to offer. I continued to have goals and to learn ways I could give my clients and customers the very best real estate experience they could have,” she said.
“Every time I got into my car, I listened to what would be similar to podcasts today on practices I could develop to help make this happen. I loved implementing what I had learned. Without the help of the support staff that helped me throughout the years, there’s no way I could have realized my vision.”
Over the decades, the successful business hinged on perseverance and hard work — and Claudette looks back fondly on many warm memories.
“Roger and I were married for 51 years and were able to work together,” she said.
“That is a highlight we were blessed with. When asked how we did it, I believe we complimented each other’s strength and only overlapped when we needed to.”
Claudette also felt honoured when she was asked to serve on the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board.
“This was an wonderful experience that I’ll always treasure. I also went on to be recognized by the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board multiple times for outstanding sales achievement,” she said.
“Another highlight was when the Women Business Owners of Manitoba awarded me with the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year in the Lifetime Achievement category.”
In addition, she’s thankful for the honour of working with many amazing people over her 40-year career.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude for your loyalty and support. Your patronage has meant the world to me, and I have cherished every moment of serving you,” she said.
“My journey has been filled with countless memories, and I am incredibly thankful for the trust and confidence you have placed in me.”
With retirement soon approaching, Claudette is in the midst of another phase of transition with plans to continue travelling the world.
“I will be retiring at the end of April and the beautiful building we built will be sold or rented,” she said.
“There’s so much to see and experience. I’ve never had the time to pursue many hobbies, but I do love flower gardens and look forward to learning the ‘how to’ of gardening, including keeping those darn deer away from my plants.”
At the same time, she plans to make health and wellness a priority.
“I think we all know our health is our most important asset and now I will have the time to exercise and prepare healthy meals on a regular basis. I also enjoy entertaining and plan to do more of that and just have fun — maybe I’ll even take up golf,” she said.
“Retirement is not the end of the road,” she said. “It’s the beginning of the open highway!”
