Across Canada Report: Improving Your Outlook

My best wishes for the holiday season and a Happy New Year to all.

This month, the AIA released its new Outlook Study to members. Each member will receive a copy in the mail. For additional copies contact the association.

First let me salute former AIA chairman John Baragar, who is retiring from the UAP/NAPA organization after more than 30 years of service. For the past eight years he served as vice-president, UAP/NAPA West/Pacific Region. Many of his friends and associates came to a special retirement function in Calgary in early December. John’s involvement as a volunteer within AIA has been extensive. He served on many committees and councils before becoming the 1996/97 chairman of the board. He has also been involved with volunteer boards including the Canadian Automotive Institute in Barrie, Ont., Centennial College, Scarborough, Ont., and most recently in a fundraising effort on behalf of Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. He deserves our gratitude and respect. I offer my congratulations and best wishes in all his future endeavors.

NOTES FROM AROUND:

This from Peter Gilchrist in the B.C. Interior: Lordco opened its Oliver, B.C. store and Sarah Stricker is the branch manager. Lordco also started construction of a new store in Grand Forks, B.C. It is expected to be in operation by mid-December. Gilchrist says the B.C. Interior Division meeting in Kelowna–to honor Garrett Tanner of Dayco and Phil Broderick of Tenneco who have both recently retired–was well attended.

Bob Tippe, who operated a UAP/NAPA store in Revelstoke, B.C., sold his business to Ray Dhillon who operated another UAP/NAPA store in Revelstoke. Dhillon has now combined the two stores into one.

Lloyd Reynard, the field representative for Vancouver Island and British Columbia, reports that Derek and Pat McGregor sold their store, M & D Auto Parts Ltd. in Port Alberni, to some staff members. Lloyd notes that Lower Mainland AIA social committee chairs Brian Miller and Sean Chursinoff invited all members to a four-hour Christmas boat cruise and dinner which departed from the Vancouver waterfront. The cruise was scheduled for early December.

Doug Dawson informs us that the Northern Alberta Division Fall Classic Golf Tournament at the Raven Crest Golf Course in Edmonton raised close to $4,000 for scholarship programs. About 90 golfers took part. He also reports that the Alberta Automotive Booster Club and the AIA Northern Alberta Division planned a joint venture to put on a Christmas party for jobbers and WDs. Proceeds will go to the Christmas Wish and Camp For Underprivileged Children Funds. This is the division’s 39th annual Christmas party.

Cor Verbeek, the field representative in Southwestern Ontario, reports that Universal Ignition, a long-established company with stores in Sarnia and London, has ceased operations. He notes that UAP/NAPA has relocated a store in London East to bigger premises. Similarly Bob Jones Auto Parts, also in London, has also moved to larger premises.

AIA vice-president Marc Brazeau has announced that Ozzie Babineau, formerly with Quaker State, is the new AIA field representative for the Atlantic Division. He took over from Don Lothian effective December 1. Brazeau conveyed thanks to Lothian on behalf of AIA for his years of service and his contribution. “Don represented the association very well in Atlantic Canada and also served the members very well,” Brazeau stated.

The Quebec Division will be holding its first Automotive Forum on Saturday, March 2, 2002 in Drummondville, Que. The Forum is designed to update jobbers and their installer customers on various industry issues and trends. About 100 jobbers and installers are expected to attend.

Note: If you have any information to contribute to this column please call Bob Blans at (905) 844-8616, Fax (905) 844-8731, E-Mail to rblans@sympatico.ca or write to Across Canada Report c/o Jobber News Magazine, 1450 Don Mills Rd., Don Mills, ON M3B 2X7. In addition to AIA Division activities we are interested in hearing from you about the opening of a new business, change of ownership, expansions etc.