When Frank Lovsin opened the first Freson Bros. in Hinton, Alberta in 1955, he started not only a long, successful business in Alberta’s highly competitive grocery market, but also a tradition of giving back to the communities they were serving.

“Our dad is a Member of the Order of Canada for philanthropy and entrepreneurship,” says Doug Lovsin, one of Frank’s sons, and the President of Freson Bros.. Doug’s brothers Mike and Ken are also a part of the family business. “We feel that we carry a responsibility in our communities to be a leader in community giving. Really, if we don’t support each other, we can’t expect someone else to look after us. We’ve always lived by that.”

With the passing of their father due to congestive heart failure in November, 2022, came a growing awareness of the need for ongoing support for cardiac care, which led to their sponsorship of the University Hospital Foundation’s 2025 Heart Month.

“We want every person who goes to the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute to get the best care possible,” says Lovsin, who also has a fine appreciation for the research that’s happening at the Maz.

“It’s impressive when you hear of a place right here in Edmonton having impact around the world or contributing to the study of heart conditions around the world. The part we play in that is tiny, but we believe it’s what we’re meant to do.”