The Redmond Family Takes Over Sydenham Pet and Farm Supply

Jemma Dooreleyers | Jul 10, 2025

With raffles, door prizes and discounted pet supplies, Olivia Redmond and her husband, Corey, officially kicked off their ownership of Sydenham Pet and Farm Supply with a grand re-opening on Saturday, July 5, 2025, a day that has been a long time coming. 

A little over two years ago, Olivia Redmond was newly pregnant with her second child and in need of a change.

Commuting daily from Godfrey to downtown Kingston to a job where she felt disconnected from her community and her passions was taking its toll.

“Every day when I woke up, I would just feel dread.”

So Redmond and her husband, Corey, began throwing around “what-ifs”.

“We started to have conversations about how we can shift this and what would satisfy that desire to work, to still contribute to society and contribute to our family.”

What would it look like if she could follow her wildest dreams?

In these conversations, Redmond was reminded of what she loves most: living in a rural community and animals.

“I have a Bachelor of Health Sciences so I’m more in the medical realm but I have always loved animals, and it was always more of a hobby and something personal. My husband is the same.”

This hobby is what led the Redmonds to Sydenham Pet and Farm Supply ten years ago.

“Our dog, who is now 10, had some really bad gut issues early on, so I was already passionate about what I fed him and the quality of food that he ate, which is what led me to start buying only from Billy and Kerry in the first place,” said Redmond.

The quality of the food, the fact that the ingredients and the suppliers were as close to home as they could get and the care and service the previous owners, Bill and Kerry Arthur, put into their business for 13 years, is what prompted the Redmonds to make it a priority to shop at Sydenham Pet and Farm Supply for all of their pets from the get-go.

“That’s where my passion started, and then I was able to branch into these other options.”

So, when Corey learned (on a fishing trip) that the Arthurs were thinking of retiring, he returned home and said “what-if.”

After approaching the Arthurs, things moved quite quickly.

“The transition itself started quite a few months ago with training with Billy and Kerry to have a good grasp on everything and not just research on the foods. I was learning why you would recommend something or how something would be connected to another food and all those kinds of tips.”

“I wanted that expertise that they’ve built over the past 13 years and I really wanted to follow suit and be able to build my knowledge.”

While some things about owning a new business were difficult to wrap her head around, Redmond felt confident that her excitement to be in this new position would carry her through the initial stress.

“I remember my husband saying, ‘are you scared? Are you nervous?’ because this is a really big commitment, and I said no I’m so excited, this is the first time in my life that I feel really excited about my career. Even though I’ve had a lot of great positions, I didn’t have a passion for them and the store has flipped that on it’s heels for me.”

She is grateful for the opportunity to provide for people and their pets, she said.

“The love of animals and living in the country has always been something that we’ve both admired so it was a win-win for us to buy a store that is beautiful and successful and getting to share that love and desire with other people.”

“The love I feel for providing good quality food for people and their pets is something that took me by surprise.”

The only other thing that Redmond was nervous about was the reception she would get from customers as a new owner, but, just like they showed her the ins and outs of owning a pet and farm supply business, the Arthurs took care of that aspect as well.

“I was nervous that people would be sad that they’re losing two people who were staples for us in the community for so long. I was nervous that people would be apprehensive with the new owners but I think what really helped was that I was there with Billy and Carrie and they were endorsing and introducing me.”

“They made it very known that they were intentional with who they let buy it because they wanted to continue the same thing they had started, and I think the community can tell Corey and I are both from here. We grew up here, we still live here, and we’re raising our boys here.”

This re-opening has confirmed the Redmond’s love for rural Frontenac and reminded them of why they want to contribute to the local community and raise their family here.

“We’ve had so many people I can’t even tell you the number of people coming through the door and offering well wishes and support.”

To learn more about Sydenham Pet and Farm Supply, visit their Facebook page of the same name.