Awards and Recognitions
Since 1995, The Quick Cobbler has won 10 Shoe Service Institute of America Craftsmanship awards, in categories ranging from Casual and Dress Shoe Repair, to Orthopedic Footwear Modifications. The Quick Cobbler has achieved the Canadian Blue Ribbon for Top Canadian and a Certificate of Achievement for Highest Standard of Excellence.
In 2013 The Quick Cobbler Staff won GOLD and BRONZE in the Bi-Annual International SSIA Silver Cup Shoe Repair Competition. In 2015 Ronald Nijdam won another GOLD and in 2017 Ronald won a third GOLD and his son Patrick Nijdam a BRONZE. This was followed in 2019 by Patrick winning a SILVER and Ronald winning the Robert DiRinaldo Grand Silver Cup (The top North American prize: better than GOLD!), as the first ever Canadian to win this prize. In 2023, Patrick Nijdam followed up with his own win of the Grand Silver Cup, making him the youngest Cobbler and the ONLY Father and Son Duo in history to receive this award!
The 2023 Robert DiRinaldo Grand Silver Cup Winner
Patrick Nijdam (Owner -4th Generation)
Patrick Nijdam of Quick Cobbler, Ltd. in Vancouver, BC has been honored by his peers and awarded the Robert DiRinaldo Grand Silver Cup in the Shoe Service Institute of America’s 2023 Silver Cup Contest. The top prize in the contest, the Grand Silver Cup has been the most sought-after prize in the shoe repair industry since the 1930s. Patrick follows in the footsteps of his father, Ronald Nijdam, who won the cup in 2019, making them the only father and son team to win the Grand Silver Cup in the contest’s 80-year history. Patrick Nijdam is one of the youngest winners of this award.
“He’s a Sole Man” - The Vancouver Sun (Gordon McIntyre)
“Patrick Nijdam captures the Grand Silver Cup” - CBC (Rafferty Baker)
2019 Robert DiRinaldo Grand Silver Cup Winner
Ronald Nijdam (3rd Generation Expert Shoe Repair)
In 2019, Ronald Nijdam was the first ever Canadian to win the Grand Silver Cup. Ronald had already participated in the North American competition many times, always coming up just short of the Grand Silver Cup, but in 2019 he managed to finally break through and claim the top prize.
“I finally won the big one.” - Vancouver Is Awesome (Vicente Biancardi Da Camara)
“His win was 50 years in the making.” - Vancouver Sun (Denise Ryan)
