Graeme Parker has relied on Ottawa cobbler Muhamad Merhi for shoe repairs for nearly a decade, highlighting the craftsmanship that keeps his Blundstone boots functional. Merhi, whose shop has been in the C.D. Howe Building for 25 years, learned the trade from his father in Lebanon and has witnessed changing fashion trends among public servants, who comprise most of his clientele. Despite the decline in the shoe repair trade, Merhi plans to continue for at least another decade, valuing the personal connections he builds with customers. He also faces the challenge of advising clients when shoes are beyond repair while combating the damaging effects of sidewalk salt on footwear.
