Woodridge Ford marks 40 years with continued progress

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Gerry Wooden didn’t intend to remain when he arrived in Calgary from Glasgow in 1969, but circumstances led him to run a really profitable enterprise, obtain the Order of Canada and be feted as certainly one of Calgary’s humble philanthropists.

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Wooden says his intention was to go to his brother in Australia. However he had buddy from residence who was dwelling in Guelph, Ont., so determined to go to him, and the friends purchased an outdated automobile aspiring to drive to Vancouver and get a job on a ship certain for Sydney.

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However once they arrived right here, they’d run out of cash. With a twinkle in his eye, Wooden says he despatched a telegram to his father again residence: “No mon, no enjoyable, your son”. After the reply — “Too unhealthy, so unhappy, your dad” — he figured he’d higher get a job, and labored in building till he fell off a roof and broke his arm.

His father had a Ford dealership in Glasgow and Gerry had helped him in his specialty of changing vehicles to be used by individuals with disabilities.

Figuring his unhealthy arm wouldn’t be a hindrance in promoting vehicles, he approached the late Danny McCullough of Maclin Ford and inside 5 years was the brand new automobile gross sales supervisor. One other 5 years on, he deliberate on proudly owning his personal dealership.

Ford had none regionally however he was in a position to buy a Common Motors dealership in Vulcan. Onerous work paid off in reaching a gross sales quantity of 500 vehicles in his third 12 months — and that caught the attention of Ford.

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Southridge Lincoln Mercury was on the market and with assist from Ford, Wooden purchased it in 1983 and altered the title to Woodridge, and that new entity is now celebrating 40 years in enterprise.

An awesome determination by Ford and by Wooden because the Wooden Automotive Group has grown to incorporate Woodridge Ford Lincoln, Okotoks Ford Lincoln, Benefit Ford, Large 4 Motors, Village Honda, South Centre Volkswagen and Okotoks Volkswagen. The group additionally runs a collision restore centre and an internet pre-owned gross sales lot, plus Cavalcade Auto Acceptance and Wooden Auto Leases.

Early on in his enterprise enterprise, Wooden turned a pioneer in leasing for Ford in Canada after sending his administration group to Seattle to study concerning the new alternatives for purchasers in leasing their automobiles.

With this sort of creativity, management and exhausting work, it’s little surprise that Ford Canada has bestowed upon Wooden the Prime President’s Award 15 instances.

In 1987, the group diversified its manufacturers with the opening of Village Honda, and in 1996 bought Large 4 Motors. Volkswagen was added to the number of dealerships in 2021 with the acquisition of South Centre Volkswagen, and final 12 months a second was opened in Okotoks.

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After 40 years, Wooden plans to decelerate, and as chair he’s blissful to cross on the management of the manager group to sons Rory as vice-president of elements and repair, and Cailean as vice-president of gross sales and advertising.

There’s no slowdown in progress, as after promoting the Large 4 Motors lot on Macleod Path, a brand new 60,000-square-foot dealership will open in September in Taza Park, south of the Gray Eagle On line casino. And the corporate not too long ago has introduced it would constructed a brand new Volkswagen dealership on its adjoining land.

The group has donated greater than $11 million into the group — primarily via its charity golf event — and Gerry Wooden and his spouse, Elaine, proceed to direct funds to many charities, together with longtime assist for PREP Faculty that has applications for people like their daughter, Megan, with Down syndrome — who additionally works at Woodridge — and the Salvation Military.

Notes:

Our architectural group is mourning the dying final month of William (Invoice) Taylor Perks. Born in 1934, he grew up within the multi-ethnic neighbourhood of Notre-Dame-de-Grace in Montreal. After attending McGill College for his civil engineering diploma, he obtained a grasp’s in civic design on the College of Liverpool. After practising in Montreal, Perks was invited, as founding dean, to create and develop the brand new school of environmental design on the College of Calgary and performed a management position in lots of academic, design and planning initiatives throughout 40 years.

David Parker seems usually within the Herald. Learn his columns on-line at calgaryherald.com/enterprise. He could be reached at 403-830-4622 or by e-mail at [email protected]