“Chip Off The Ol’ Rock”® (COTOR®)

“Chip Off The Ol’ Rock”® is a clothing line bearing a unique logo representing the “pieces of granite” known as the Canadian Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The logo is embroidered – not stamped or ironed on – and is beautifully presented on fine quality clothing items as outlined below. The clothing is durable, colourfast, shape-retaining and well-designed with today’s consumer in mind. It is quickly becoming in demand for residents of the province, those forced to move away to gain a source of livelihood, and others who have come to love the best of Canada’s provinces and territories.

But the COTOR line is not just about clothing.

HOW IT ALL STARTED

The line was launched Christmas of 2003 by Regina Penton, a native of Stephenville, NL. After growing up and moving away to mainland Canada, she traveled, lived and worked extensively throughout our Nation’s provinces, spending a great deal of time in the Alberta and North West Territories.

In 1997, Regina “Gina” Penton, returned to her home town having decided she needed to return to her roots, inhale the crisp, clean Atlantic air, and begin to work on a vision she’d long held; she was convinced that the uniqueness of Newfoundland & Labrador’s sense of community, not only needed to be preserved but strengthened, in order to withstand increasing pressures of urbanization and modern ways to which she’d seen many other parts of Canada yield and lose their sense of purpose and identity; she became determined to do whatever required to stem the tide of self-destructive change among her own people.

Hence, “Chip Off The Ol’ Rock”® became one of her lines of defense. among other initiatives.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

When Regina recounts how she coined the phrase, “Chip Off The Ol’ Rock”®, she immediately speaks of her father Clarence “Clar” Penton (Mr. Penton passed away July 16, 2004), whom she describes as a crusader for community spirit and values. 

She says, “What I want to bring attention to is that I got my community spirit being raised by a father who thought community was very important. He was always there to extend a helping hand to neighbors, friends and local committees. He organized boxing, broomball, baseball and hockey teams at the local college, and felt that community organization was the key to raising good kids, keeping them off the streets and out of trouble,  and creating a healthy society. He believed in hard work and taking care of his family,”

Regina had prided herself in being “a chip off the old block” as the well-known saying goes. She realized early on there was something special about the people and their ways in Newfoundland and Labrador. And since, according to theory, both the island of Newfoundland and the mainland of Labrador were, before the Continental Drift, “one piece of granite”, Regina says, “We share a lot of the same characteristics and we are all alike in so many ways.”

Thus she coined the phrase honouring the pride, that we are all "A chip off the ol' Rock". And so, her logo was born.

Along with the traditional values she supports through her work, Regina also, of course, hopes to develop the potential of her “Chip Off The Ol’ Rock”® clothing line in fine quality outerwear that is reasonably priced, and that it will provide her the means to develop other community-oriented enterprises.

The clothing items are ideal gifts for your loved ones and others for any occasion throughout the year. You are encouraged to see the itemized list below with accompanying prices and it is hoped you can wear your “Chip Off The Ol’ Rock”® with pride as only Newfoundlanders and Labradorians know to do best.