AIA Canada: Ed Coates of Lordco Parts Ltd. – An Icon Fondly Remembered

Ed Coates, founder and owner of Lordco Parts Ltd., is being fondly remembered by his many friends, colleagues and admirers from across the country, including members and staff of the Automotive Industries Association (AIA) of Canada. Ed passed away early Tuesday morning surrounded by his loving family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Marlyn; their children Samantha, Sarah, Ian and Candace; and the entire Coates family. Ed was a valued and respected member of the AIA Board of Directors and a past recipient of the AIA Distinguished Service Award.

Ed started his company in 1974 along with his founding partner Roy Lord by opening up a modest 900 square foot store in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. From its humble beginnings, Lordco has grown to become the largest, privately held automotive parts distributor in Canada, with over 100 retail locations across British Columbia and over 1,800 employees.

“The vision that Ed had for Lordco was that of a company built on a simple but strong formula of people, parts and passion,” noted Marc Brazeau, president and CEO of AIA Canada. “Lordco quickly became an industry leader because Ed surrounded himself with great people, worked with leading parts suppliers and personally brought a high level of commitment and passion to everything that he did at Lordco,” added Brazeau.

AIA’s Chairman of the Board, Robert Hattem, fondly remembers Ed as someone who was brilliant and innovative in selling auto parts and in building a loyal customer base through service excellence. “Ed was an icon in the industry who built a large and successful company while never forgetting the importance of the personal, hands-on approach in running his company,” said Hattem. “Our industry has lost a visionary leader, but the legacy that Ed leaves behind will forever be remembered.”

“Ed was always very proud to say that Lordco Parts Ltd. was B.C. owned” said Brazeau. “But he was also a proud Canadian, and we now mourn the loss of one of Canada’s greatest business entrepreneurs of all time from our industry.”