Craig Haines

Tonight, we recognize Craig Haines for his many years of hard work and dedication in growing a family business, Craig’s Locksmithing & Autoglass, into a very successful business enterprise. Not only does the business service Clarenville and its surrounding communities but it is also engaged in many communities’ province wide.

Craig Douglas Haines was born in St. John’s, NL, 1970, to Barry and Juanita Haines. He has two siblings, big brother Kevin and little sister Lisa, with whom he shares close relationship. Craig married Kathy Blundon of Clarenville and raised three beautiful children- Chad, Chantille, and Jordan. Today he’s been blessed with four wonderful grandchildren- Nevaeh, Mason, Gabe and Ethan. And for those who know Craig well, of all the signatures he has carried, his dearest his “Poppy”!

At the age of three, Craig’s parents moved to Clarenville where they built their home and raised their children. As a young child, Craig participated in minor hockey and figure skating programs. He was also a member of the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, and Air Cadets organizations. His love for Air Cadets was measured in his success – where he excelled to the rank of Warrant Officer 1st Class. The Cadet movement provided Craig with many opportunities, including camps, trips and a work term as part of the cadet staff at CFB, Greenwood, Nova Scotia. It was during this time where Craig was awarded the Legions of Excellence Award Metal in recognition of outstanding citizenship beyond the Cadets program. Craig also credits the Cadet program, to some degree, for setting the direction for a recreational pilot’s license, which he earned in 2000.

Craig would be quick to tell you that the spirit of entrepreneurship was, “In his blood”. He is a fourth-generation family member who have operated successful business enterprises. His father operated several businesses over the years in the Clarenville area. Craig has many wonderful memories of time spent “at the shop” with his dad where he was a keen observer of craftsmanship and the “mechanics” of how things worked. He often took things apart and sometimes put them back together!

Both Craig’s grandfather and great-grandfather were self-employed as well (merchants as they were called back then). If you visit Craig’s Locksmith and Autoglass it is hard to miss the old original sign proudly displayed in the front foyer of the building, H.C. Haines and Son. This was the original sign of his great grandfather’s business that begun in Goose Cove on the northern peninsula and later moved to Portland, where it employed many folks in the local area. Craig welcomes every opportunity to share this with his business patrons, a testimony to his pride in his family ancestry and business roots.

Craig had a fascination with keys, beginning at the age of seven where he started to collect them. This all started in a garage in Portland where his grandfather housed his unique 16 passenger snow machine. There he would find one very special set of keys, bearing a war amps key tag. From there he would collect any old used keys that anyone would have hanging around. This collection still exists today and can be found at Craig’s shop. Craig credits this find with the beginning of his career in the locksmith business!

Upon graduating high school, Craig enrolled in a Marine Electronics Engineering at the Marine Institute. But that was short lived. After a short couple of months, he returned home and worked three part-time jobs at a number of local businesses, including Sobey’s, a Gas Bar and Pardy’s Tire, where the latter turned into full-time employment. Although Craig was appreciative of a full-time job his mind kept wandering into the realm of entrepreneurship and following the footsteps of his paternal ancestors.

In 1990 Craig enrolled in a Locksmithing course. Although it was a two-year course, Craig finished it in a few short months, a reflection of his eagerness to begin his own business venture. Although he had completed the course, it wasn’t until 1994 when Craig officially received his diploma, after taking a couple of years to pay off the course tuition. His eagerness couldn’t wait for the diploma so he started and in 1991 is when a fledgling company known as Craig’s Locksmithing, an individual proprietorship, was born Craig continued to work at Pardy Tire in the early days of his company. His part-time business venture began with cutting keys and fixing and installing locks which often meant working evenings and on weekends.

In 1993 Craig’s father erected a building on Memorial Drive, and with a good deal on the rent, “Craigs Locksmithing” found a home, sharing a small space alongside Craig’s mother’s pet grooming shop. There Craig started to grow his business. He recalls being called to open safes and to fix automatic doors and other jobs. Though, an eager apprentice, he had little experience with such tasks. However, Craig’s eagerness to learn, coupled with his attention to detail and pride in his work molded an expertise that was extremely pleasing for his customers. The business was now growing with confidence. And now with years of experience Craig’s reputation in these tasks and others is nothing short of stellar.

Given that Craig’s dad had operated a glass shop in the Clarenville area for a number of years, Craig seized the opportunity to became familiar with that business too. Following his dad’s venture in the glass industry, Craig recalls purchasing a small amount of flat glass and from the basement of his father’s building he would prepare the glass for his customers. This marked the beginning of Craig’s endeavor in the glass repair/cutting industry. Craig continued his quest for a diversified business in 1995 when he expanded into security systems and began servicing the Bonavista /Clarenville/Marystown areas with security systems from Alliance Security Systems. And he is also a long-term member of CANASA Canadian Security Association. This new venture necessitated expansion and Craig soon rented more of his dad’s building.

In 1996, Craig purchased a local glass shop and now ran his business from two locations. The business had now grown to the point where he had one full-time and one part-time employee besides himself. Expansion continued in 1998 when Craig developed a business plan and got a mortgage from the BDC for a new commercial building for Craigs Locksmithing and Autoglass. There they done Autoglass and car truck accessories and along with shop and mobile services of Locksmithing, security, commercial door and door hardware, garage doors, storefront and flat glass. His expansion plans included the hiring of more staff. A full-time office administrator and another technician.

In 2000, the budding entrepreneur, with some sound advice from his godfather, expanded into the Storage Unit business. During this time over a few years four new buildings were erected. This new enterprise fell under the name of Jayseas Holding Ltd., a name derived from the names of his three children. Shortly after became a member of the CSSA Canadian Self Storage Association which he’s been involved with ever since.
In 2010, Craig built the present home of Craigs Locksmithing. and rented out the former home to Action Truck Car Accessories. In 2014, Craig built a 5th Storage Unit, a modern steel structure, which now brings his total of more than two hundred heated and dry storage units. In 2017, Craig bought an adjacent property with an existing building which is rented out as a warehouse/Garage.

Through all this growth Craig believed strongly in supporting the community/communities that had supported him. He volunteered with the Clarenville Fire Department in which he was awarded Exemplary Service Metal for over 20 years of service, and earned a Level II Volunteer Fire Fighter’s Certificate. He has also served two terms with the local Anglican Parish, on the Vestry committee, and spent 10 years as a Ducks Unlimited Canada Volunteer. As well as serving a couple terms on the executive of the Clarenville Caribous senior hockey team. His passion for hockey led him to appearing as a Don Cherry look alike at local games, to which the local fan base responded with enthusiasm. Craig is also a member of the Clarenville Marina. And Boating is one of his greatest enjoyments.

Sponsorship and donating to local groups have also been important to Craig. He has been a proud sponsor of many local organizations as well as sponsoring a unique school program he started during the Covid-19 pandemic where all local Kindergarten and High School graduates were given a personalized celebration cake! This practice continues today. There can be no doubt that the Legions of Excellence Award given to Craig at a young age was indeed a foreshadowing of his generosity and support for the local community later in his life.

Tonight is not the first time Craig has been recognized for his exemplary business career. In 2018, he received the Small Business Award, recognizing excellence in business practices. Tonight, we continue to honour his diverse entrepreneurial efforts by inducting him into the Business Hall of Fame for the Clarenville region. Congratulations Craig, our “Friendly Lock Doctor”.

Emergency Contacts
RCMP: 466-3211
Fire Department: 466-7777
Ambulance: 466-3468
Hospital: 466-3411
Poison Control: 1-800-722-1110
Mental Health Crisis: 1-888-737-4668

Photography by Paul Tilley.