Leafs forward Bobby McMann honours beloved Loblaws employee Kevin Wilson with neon vest
Bobby McMann wore a neon safety vest at Scotiabank Arena to honour Kevin Wilson, a much-loved Loblaws employee and diehard Leafs fan who died on January 8.
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By Torontoer Staff
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann arrived at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday wearing a neon yellow safety vest and a Loblaws name tag. He wore the pieces to honour Kevin Wilson, a long‑time cart attendant at the Lake Shore Boulevard West and Bathurst Street Loblaws who died suddenly on January 8 at St. Michael’s Hospital. Wilson was 48.
McMann, who visited the store occasionally, asked staff to borrow a vest and tag before the game. He said he wanted to recognise a man who connected with customers and colleagues in a way that went beyond a job.
A fixture at the store
Wilson worked at the downtown Loblaws for about five years. He was responsible for shopping carts, but customers and coworkers described his role as something broader: a friendly presence who greeted people, remembered names and brightened routines. After his death, shoppers left flowers, handwritten notes and Maple Leafs memorabilia at the cart area where he worked.
He had a kind of personality that was outgoing and you could see the goodness within him. Every time somebody came in, he made their day.
Anthony Nolan and Linda Medeiros, customers
Colleagues said Wilson made time for almost everyone who entered the store. Wayne Walker, a coworker, recalled how Wilson would speak to customers coming up the escalator, including children and babies in strollers. Sofia Gomes, who worked with him for five years, said his passing left staff devastated.
I have no words because I’m so heartbroken. Kevin’s passing devastates me.
Sofia Gomes, coworker
A Leafs connection
Wilson was a known Maple Leafs fan, and he struck up conversations with customers who wore team colours. Mitch Desrosiers said Wilson would recognise him by his Leafs apparel and greet him with a fist bump. The relationship extended to players when some, including McMann, would stop by the store from time to time.
Frank Crupi, who posts as Hockey Illuminati, noted online that Wilson counted McMann as his favourite player. Crupi said Wilson once showed him a photo excitedly after meeting the player.
(Kevin) always had positive things to say so I just wanted to honour him. He was just a really good spirit, a really good person. He affected a lot of people positively, I think, when they walked into that place.
Bobby McMann
Community response and funeral fund
News of Wilson’s death prompted an outpouring from customers and colleagues. In the days after his passing, shoppers placed cards and Leafs items at the cart area as a makeshift memorial. A crowdfunding page to help cover funeral costs raised more than $20,000 quickly, reflecting community support for his family.
Wilson is survived by his wife, Margaret. Funeral arrangements and service details have not been announced.
What his neighbours remember
People who frequented the store described Wilson with words that emphasise everyday kindness: charismatic, outgoing and attentive. For many, interactions with him were brief, but memorable. Those small exchanges, repeated over years, shaped the way customers experienced a grocery run.
- Worked at Loblaws on Lake Shore and Bathurst for about five years
- Known for greeting customers and remembering faces
- Avid Toronto Maple Leafs fan who connected with fans in the store
- Community set up a fundraiser that surpassed $20,000 to assist his family
McMann’s choice to wear Wilson’s vest at the arena turned a simple gesture into a public acknowledgement of the smaller ways people matter to one another. For customers, coworkers and the player, it was a reminder that local workplaces can hold quiet forms of community and care.
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