Chilliwack’s Canadian Tire dealership has earned recognition shared by only two other dealerships in the country this year.
It was recently awarded the company’s Award of Excellence – the highest honour that any Canadian Tire store can attain.
“It’s like the Academy Awards,” says a humble, but extremely proud owner Marcel Nadeau.
With more than 500 dealerships across Canada, being chosen as Canadian Tire’s western representative is an honour, Nadeau says. But it’s not his alone.
“It is a total team effort,” he insists. “We are very fortunate, my wife [Stella] and I, to be blessed with such a great team.”
The award recognizes “outstanding focus on customer service, retail leadership, store team development and outreach in the community.”
Since opening the first Canadian Tire store in Chilliwack over 13 years ago, Nadeau has helped shape the local Canadian Tire store’s presence in the community through his support of several charities and organizations, the company says.
For example, the Chilliwack store is a strong proponent of Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart program which provides sport and recreational opportunities to youth who might not otherwise be able to afford them. The store was also recognized for its support of local sporting organizations at all levels, including the minor sports teams and Chilliwack Chiefs, as well as the Chilliwack Cultural Centre and the Fraser Valley Philharmonic Society.
Nadeau first opened his Chilliwack dealership on May 19, 1999. Since then, the store has doubled its size and undergone a major reorganization in 2010 to better serve its customers.
More change is coming, Nadeau says. There are plans to redesign the store layout, making it more vibrant and more exciting for customers.
“Retail is always in motion,” he says enthusiastically.
And certainly Nadeau is no stranger to the business. His father owned a Canadian Tire dealership for 20 years. Today his two children, Charles and Melissa, both chose careers with Canadian Tire after university.
“It’s a family business for sure,” he says with a laugh.
The experience has taught him the importance of having a good team. The Chilliwack dealership has about 80 people on staff, including the automotive team in its 10-bay service department.
To show his appreciation, Nadeau recently took out his entire staff to Frankie’s Italian Kitchen.
“My name may be on this [award],” he says, “but it belongs to the whole team.”