Century of Success 1-21

Transcription

FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAVE HENRY TO THANK.WE HAVE RUDY.
In 1908, the first Fords rolled off Henry’s
production line in Detroit. The beginning of a
brand dynasty that endures today. Fifty years later,
Rudy was producing the first Stepper homes.
Different eras, different industries, different cities.
And yet these men had some things very much in
common. Irrepressible passion for what they did,
an unstoppable vision of how they saw the future
and a vocabulary that didn’t include the word
“compromise”. As a result, their dreams have stood
the toughest tests of time. While you’ll have to visit
a far-flung museum to see one of Henry’s original
Model T’s, you’ll find original Stepper homes all
over town. And since Rudy is still very much
involved in our vision and in our homes, even
today’s Stepper homes benefit from the vision of
our company’s founder. And you’ll find museumquality examples of these in any of the
communities listed here.
Chestermere from $238,000 235-6127, Copperfield
from $222,000 873-1795, Montreux from $305,900
247-3004, Saddlecrest from $185,900 280-8615
www.stepperhomes.com
AA532551.M
A Century of Success
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Stepper Homes
Message from Premier Ralph Klein
Message from Mayor Dave Bronconnier
A city built on pride – Calgary’s colourful past
Amery Denture Clinic
Apex Hearing Systems
Brenda Strafford Foundation
Carma Developments
Carati
100 years of retail – From hardware to big-box stores
The Consignment Gallery
Genesis Land Development Corp.
Homes by Avi
Honda West
Driven to success – Calgary’s auto history
Kramer Mazda
La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries
Maclin Ford
McArthur Fine Furniture & Interior Design
Morrison Homes
Olympia Liquor Stores
Paradise Bay Hot Tubs & Billiards
Penthouse Furniture
Calgary ‘For Sale’ – The city’s housing history
CONTENTS
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52
54
56
58
60
64
66
68
70
72
74
76
78
80
82
83
Qualico
Re/Max Western Canada
Resiance Corp.
Royal LePage Foothills
Silverhill Motors
Alberta Crude – Our energy industry
Spruce Meadows
Stampede Nissan
Stampede Pontiac
Taming the Wild West – Calgary’s agriculture story
Standen’s Ltd.
Sunridge Nissan
T & T Honda
Tower Chrysler
Willowpark Wines & Spirits
Calgary’s historic firsts
Calgary Herald
CONTENTS
A CENTURY OF SUCCESS is a Calgary Herald
advertising publication produced by the Special Projects
Department and distributed August 28, 2005.
It celebrates Calgary’s success in Alberta’s Centennial.
MANAGER: Barb Livingstone, 235-7339,
[email protected]
CO-ORDINATOR: Jennifer Worley, 235-7119,
[email protected]
CORPORATE PROFILES AND PHOTOS:
Wil Andruschak, Alex Frazer-Harrison and Don Molyneaux
PRODUCTION: Michelle Bowers, Liz Titmarsh
A Century of Success — An Overview
A city built on pride
Settlers came with determination, intelligence and guts
by Shannon Sutherland
S
trolling down the streets of Calgary in
1905, buildings did not yet scrape the sky,
horsepower was yet to be found under the
hood, and Calgarians were connected by dreams
and sacrifices rather than by modems and wireless devices.
It was a modest beginning to be sure, but it
was to be the beginning of something spectacular for the 30-year-old community, which was
established as a fort in 1875, as a town in 1884
and finally as a city in 1894.
“In 1905, Calgary was just beginning a huge
boom period, which saw its population shoot
from 4,400 or so in 1901 to 44,000 in 1911 —
a tenfold increase in 10 years,” says author and
University of Calgary history professor Donald
Smith. “This was largely a consequence of the
opening up of the agricultural frontier.”
The community had been built on ranching
in the late 1800s, but as the potential of farming became evident, settlers streamed into the
area to find their fortunes on a family farm at
the turn of the century.
Calgary had been established in 1875 as a
fort by a contingent of the Northwest Mounted
Police, and was officially named Fort Calgary
after Calgary Bay on Scotland’s Isle of Mull.
A few years later in 1883, Canadian Pacific
Railway’s (CPR) transcontinental rail line arrived in Calgary attracting thousands of settlers,
businessman and tourists, and it was becoming
evident that what had begun as a makeshift
cluster of tents was going to become a major
force in the Canadian economy.
Maybe it was the CPR rail lines, maybe it
was the burgeoning agricultural opportunities,
or maybe it was simply the Calgary can-do and
will-do attitude — an attitude that has
changed little over the last 100 years — but regardless of the root of it, unbridled optimism
was in the air.
Early settlers who decided to
take on the west brought
with them a spirit of
The sandstone
Alberta Hotel going
up (circa 1889). A.J.
Ross, photographer.
NA-1315-13
Glenbow Archives.
— Calgary Herald
Archive photo
adventure and courage, says Diana Ringstrom,
president of the Chinook Country Historical
Society.
“We’ve always had very passionate people
here in Calgary, and coming out west to an unknown land required a certain temperament
and personality,” says Ringstrom. “For an individual or an entire family to come out west
from another part of the country or from the
U.S., he had to be a pretty determined and intelligent individual — and very gutsy too.”
It seems Calgarians have always been fiercely
indomitable and proud of their city, and this
has undeniably been a significant contributor
to the city's success over the years as residents
have fought mightily for everything from fair
political policies for the west, to the privilege of
hosting an Olympic event.
In 1905, Calgarians fought wholeheartedly
to become the provincial capital, but Edmonton was instead given that honour even though
Calgary’s population was close to quadruple
that of Edmonton’s.
If Calgary wasn’t to be the political hub,
however, it was going to be the commercial
capital.
It was the principal wholesale and distribution point between Winnipeg and Vancouver,
and most major enterprises were represented in
the city by the early part of the last century.
While ranching had been almost exclusively
the route to riches or at least to some modicum
of self-reliance for early arrivals to the area, the
agricultural frontier and the
promises of the homestead
began to overshadow
all else not long
after Al-
berta was declared a province.
As is often the case, growth fueled more
growth, and as the agricultural frontier developed, the Canadian Pacific Railway built
branch lines from Calgary to carry local grain
to potential markets, which contributed to Calgary’s emergence as the regional headquarters
for retailers and financial services.
As the city’s economic potential grew, so did
the architecture, and the city truly began to
look like a modern metropolis — buildings in
Calgary began to reach six stories by about
1910.
Calgary’s street railway system, built in
1909, began to contribute to a burgeoning bigcity atmosphere, and commercial districts began to emerge outside of the city centre and
new residential districts developed along the
streetcar’s route.
Long before that, however, Calgarians had
shown they weren’t all about commercial development, but social responsibility as well. They
were eager to provide health-care services early
on, and the first hospital was set up in 1890
with two doctors and facilities to accommodate
12 patients. By the time the boom set in,
the larger Calgary General Hospital
was well established.
07
A Century of Success — An Overview
Oilman dethrones cowboy king
08
“The city was probably a little
rough back then, since the
population was increasing so dramatically at
that time,” says
Ringstrom. “A situation like that almost always attracts transient
types, but there
were also a lot
of families
coming to the
area, and
many of these
would be the people
to help build the community.”
Calgary’s business
and social leaders
included residents
such as William
Pierce, Judge
Charles Rouleau,
James Lougheed and
Senator Patrick Burns.
These names continue to resonate
throughout the city today, just as do many of
the early events and societies formed almost
100 years ago.
The Calgary Stampede, for instance, has
grown from a small agricultural show and rodeo
started in 1912 by four
wealthy ranchers to “the
greatest outdoor show on
earth.”
But while Calgary seemed
to be an up-and-coming
Canadian city, it would stumble through the Depression
along with all the other cities in
the country, and it would take a little time
to find its footing again.
“The boom crashed in 1913,” says
Smith. “Over the next three decades the
city’s slow growth came from its central location in a primarily agricultural area —
with oil and gas backup from the Turner
Valley. By 1945, its population had only really doubled (to about 100,000) from the
top of the boom around late 1912 or early
1913.”
For the first time, during the Depression,
the city began losing citizens. The situation
would stabilize, but the boom was over and
growth became much more modest.
During this time, the cowboy was king,
but the oilman was poised to dethrone him
after the first decade of the last century and
did so with authority by the middle of the
century.
In 1914, William Stewart Herron, an
Okotoks farmer, discovered gas at Turner
Valley southwest of Calgary. It was an interesting development and certainly worth
watching, to be sure, but the black gold
rush had yet to take hold.
“Turner Valley had been pumping away
for many years, but it wasn’t until Leduc
came along (in 1947), that it became evident that agriculture would be outpaced by
oil and gas,” says Smith. “It was in the
1950s that the city really changed with a
large influx of Americans interested in the
energy industry. Up until that time the city
had seen a primarily British influence.”
By 1965, 30,000 Americans had moved to
the city, and it was predominantly oil and related opportunities which had brought them.
The oil discovery at Imperial Oil’s famous Leduc field near Edmonton was one
of those defining moments in time for a
city. Not only did it change the economic
future of the city, it also drastically shaped
its skyline.
“Within 10 blocks in either direction
from the downtown core, there are well
over 500 oil and gas companies with
headquarters in Calgary,” says
Greg Stringham, vice-president of markets and fiscal policy at the
Canadian Association of Petroleum
Producers. “That
doesn’t include
all the businesses
with indirect connections to the industry, including accounting
firms, legal firms and geology firms. Per capita, we
are undoubtedly
the head
ABOVE: Guy Weadick, promoter of the first Calgary Stampede in
September 1912. Courtesy, Glenbow Archives — NA-446-98
RIGHT: Early ’80s picture of the late oilman and rancher Bill Herron, son of
William Stuart Herron, an historic player in the Alberta petroleum industry.
— Calgary Herald Archive photos
office capital of Canada.”
Calgary had five corporate head offices
per 100,000 people in 2003 — over onethird more than the second-ranked city of
Toronto, according to the Fraser Institute.
Of course, despite great expectations, the
energy industry brought both the best of
times and worst of times.
In the years leading up to the deep recession of the early 1980s, community leaders
did try to diversify the local economy to minimize the impact of fluctuating oil prices, but
the city was still left very vulnerable.
Fortunately, Calgary is now home to a
wide range of businesses including a very
strong information and communications
technology sector, which is now considered
middle-aged, according to a March 2005
survey by Calgary Technologies Inc. More
than 65 per cent of the companies surveyed
had been around for between two and 10
years. One-third had been in operation for
10 years or more.
Throughout the first 50 years of the last
century though, it seemed the city was all
about agriculture, and then of course oil,
but all kinds of industrialists had always
been there along the way to make the best
of the west’s opportunities.
Manufacturing had gained momentum
in the city quite quickly after the province
was created. In 1901, there were 10 manufacturing firms in Calgary employing more
than five people, and by 1911 there were 46
manufacturers producing more than $7.7
million in goods, according to the Censuses
of Canada.
Sixty years later in 1971, there
were more than 500 manufacturers producing goods
with a value of more
than $500 million.
Today, manufacturing employs about 10
per cent of the
workforce in Calgary, according to
Calgary Economic
Development.
But while capitalism
was alive and well in the
wild west, there was also no
shortage of citizens who
were eager to develop
the arts as well as recreational opportunities.
For instance, as early as 1911, the Calgary Public Library was holding instructional sessions and
providing exhibition space for students of the arts,
and the Calgary Zoological Society was incorporated in 1929. Like many of the venues and attractions in the city, the zoo expanded steadily over
the years, and by 1959, it was home to 1,099 individual animals representing 353 species.
It was in the 1970s that the arts community really started to make its presence known in Calgary.
Alberta Theatre Projects, for example, was
founded in 1972 as a small theatre for children. It
has long since broadened its audience and introduced international plays while continuing to
support Canadian playwriting.
Theatre Calgary became a fully professional
theatre company in 1968, although its earliest beginnings date back to the 1940s.
In addition to dance and theatre, Calgarians
were also introduced to forms of sport and entertainment that had previously had little or no presence in Calgary.
In May 1980, the Atlanta Flames became the
Calgary Flames, although it was the Calgary
Stampeders that first gave Calgarians an appetite
for professional sports.
“In 1948, the Stampeders won the Grey Cup,
and they essentially made it the celebration it is today,” says Ringstrom. “It was a legendary party.”
Calgary has been on the world’s stage many
times — thanks to its involvement in hosting all
kinds of elite athletic events.
In 1975, Spruce Meadows was unveiled, and it
has since grown to become a destination for
horse-lovers from around the world.
It has also been a significant draw for tourists as
has the legendary Calgary Stampede. The Stampede was attracting crowds of more than one million by 1976.
“The Stampede is just one of many events in
Calgary that reminds us of our roots in agriculture,” says Carolyn Stuparyk, public affairs officer
for Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. “The continued success of the Stampede illustrates its role both today and in Calgary’s earliest years.”
It was in 1912 that cowboy Guy Weadick decided he wanted to develop a wild west cowboy
show similar to ones he had seen produced in the
U.S. He made arrangements for financing of
$100,000 from the “Big 4” — George Lane,
Archibald McLean, Albert Ernest Cross and Senator Patrick Burns — and the first Calgary Stampede was hosted that fall.
One of Calgary’s proudest achievements, how-
ever, will likely always be winning the bid to host
the hugely successful 1988 Winter Games.
“The Olympic Games was certainly one of the
highlights for Calgary, but really, the city has had
so many memorable moments,” says Ringstrom.
“I’m just glad that Calgarians are committed to
preserving our history. That’s probably the greatest testament to our heritage of all.”
— Shannon Sutherland is a Lloydminster-based
business writer.
ABOVE RIGHT: More than 500 oil and gas companies established their headquarters in Calgary, including the new Imperial Oil head office announced late in
2004. BOTTOM LEFT: Closing ceremonies of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games held in Calgary. BOTTOM RIGHT: Michael Whitaker of Britain, the winner of
the 2005 Nexen Cup held at Spruce Meadows.
Dr. Hussein Amery, president
of the Amery Group.
to
something
smile
about
Denturist enriches community with youth mentorship
When
Council of Calgary and the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) on the
Alberta first became a province back in 1905,
issue of how to address and prevent school violence. In it, he suggests a
Dr. Hussein Amery’s family had already put- down roots in
“multidimensional and holistic” approach. He also prepared a paper for
Western Canada.
the CBE on the topic of violence and ethnicity in
Originally from Lebanon, the family migrated at
the public school system., and he was a featured
the turn of the century and began homesteading in
speaker at the International Human Rights Day
1901 near what is now North Battleford, Sask.,
Program at the University of Calgary in December
but back then, was still a part of the Northwest
Amery Denture Clinic
2004.
Territories.
Amery’s commitment also extends to charitable
Eventually, the family settled in Alberta, and
■ Founded in 1989.
Amery says he’s proud to call himself a third gener- ■ Dr. Hussein Amery gives back causes and community involvement. He currently
serves as a representative for an international aid
ation Canadian.
to the community with talks at
“I definitely view my family ancestry as part of schools about youth violence and organization; as a fundraising co-chair for a local
non-profit organization; as a director for the Muslim
the true Canadian heritage, as they were founders anti-discrimination issues.
Council of Calgary; as a special adviser to the
of this community,” he says. I have always seen
■ Office:
National Council on Canada-Arab Relations; and
myself as a Calgarian and a Canadian.”
Suite 112 - 2675 36 St. N.E.
as a director of the Exporters and Importers
Amery, a consultant and entrepreneur and a
Ph: 291-2272.
Association of Alberta (EIAA).
practicing denturist founded Amery Denture
Website:
“I’ve been involved in helping to coordinate some
Centres in 1989, but his background in business
www.amerydenture.com
significant events designed to increase cross-cultural
and community involvement goes even farther
trade and understanding between the Middle East
back than that.
and Canada. Namely, hosting the Prime Minister of
With degrees, diplomas and programs under his
Canada and the Saudi Arabian ambassador during a
belt from five post secondary institutes in Canada,
visit to Calgary, on behalf of the National Council
plus three graduate and post-graduate degrees from
on Canada-Arab Relations. Additionally, I have led
American universities, it’s evident that Amery has a
and organized several trade delegations to the
love of learning.
Middle East,” says Amery.
Also evident is his desire to contribute to the
But he demurs when it’s suggested that he might
community that has been his lifelong home. “I was
be considered a role model.
raised with the notion that everyone plays a role in building healthy
“It’s all about sharing your experience and knowledge with others in
communities,” he says. “There are social issues facing every community.
the community whether it’s at a local, national or international level.
I believe awareness and education are the keys to achieving balance in
That’s what being a Canadian is all about.” he says.
society.”
Professionally Dr. Amery researched two Doctoral theses on geriatrics
For example, recently, Amery has been invited to give presentations at
and is a consultant to a renowned pain clinic outside Atlanta, Georgia.
several Calgary junior and senior high schools on the issues of diversity
Amery has also lectured at denturist conferences in Europe and the
and discrimination.
United States. He spent six years as executive director of the Denturist
“I think the reaction from the students has been very positive,” he
Society, was a provincial examiner and is vice-chair and instructor
says. “I can speak to these issues with knowledge, experience and
emeritus at the Canadian Academy of Denturists.
acceptance and young people feel connected
“Calgary is not just a great place to call home, it’s
to my message.
also an exciting place to be,” says Amery.
People don’t realize how young our
“I have traveled the world, but Canada is the best.
province and country is in comparison to
Just look around. You have the mountains and the
the eastern hemisphere and what the
foothills, sharing the same space” he says.
positive ethno-cultural make-up means to us
“Economically, politically, socially...Calgary is one of
as a new and diverse country.”
the greatest places in Canada, and with the third-largest
Fighting youth violence has been the
cultural mosaic in Canada, it is truly becoming a
theme of many of Amery’s presentations. In
diverse metropolitan centre.”
2004, Amery wrote a paper for the Muslim
11
Jenny and Paul Marsonnette (top right)
From left: Dorothy McLeish, Leighanne
Hebein, Sarah Gee, Logan McMeekin and
Patricia Auger.
hearing
the
difference
Company has seen amazing technological advances
When
“We also provide a five-year service and maintePaul Marsonette went through
nance plan. We provide our clients with a tentative
the exhausting experience of trying to find a
Apex Hearing Systems
schedule of all their appointments, so we can see
hearing aid for his mother, he knew there had
them on a regular basis and make sure their hearto be a better way.
ing aid is functioning the best it can.”
With a background in sales, marketing and ■ Offering clinics of the future
Another innovation at Apex was the introducmanagement, Marsonette saw an industry that here now.
needed better client service.
■ Three clinics in Calgary and in tion of aural rehabilitation classes.
“We invite people with hearing aids — or those
“I saw that service was really lacking, espeOlds and Okotoks.
thinking of making the step to hearing aids — to
cially the level of service available after fitting
■ Addresses:
come and learn what it’s like to live with a hearing
the hearing aid.”
103-8330 Fairmount Dr. S.E.
aid, and how to get optimum use out of them,”
So, in 1997, Apex Hearing Systems Ltd.
500-2303 4th St. S.W.
says Marsonette.
opened its doors and it has been at the fore113-4820 Northland Dr. N.W.
Today’s hearing aids are far from the stereotypifront of amazing advances in hearing aid tech- 202, 40 Elizabeth St., Okotoks
cal “tin ear” amplifiers of years gone by. Dependnology ever since.
5023 50 Ave. Olds
ing upon the level of hearing loss, many hearingThousands of Albertans have come to rely
Phone: 228-4124 or
aid models are very discreet. The technology used
on the audiologists and practitioners at Apex to toll-free 1-800-255-0687.
today would have looked like science fiction 25
make sure they enjoy all the sound that suryears ago, says Marsonette.
rounds them.
“We’ve gone way past things being just an amApex president Marsonette uses an
plifier,” he says. For example, “the Oticon Syncro
automotive analogy to describe the advances in
has artificial intelligence. It thinks about the signal
his industry.
coming in and mimics the way the brain handles
“In the last eight years, we’ve gone from
sound.
fitting the equivalent of Model A Fords to Fer“We’re working with a company on developing a data logging deraris,” he says. “That’s how far and how fast the technology has advice you’d wear for a week prior to getting your hearing aid. Without
vanced, and I see even more improvements in the future.”
recording conversation, it will gauge how often you normally visit
Marsonette founded Apex Hearing
Systems and before long started hiring some of the most talented au- quiet or noisy environments, and at the end of the week we download the data and use it to program your hearing aid.”
diologists and hearing-aid practitioners in Alberta.
Part of Marsonette’s team includes scheduling manager
“We needed people who believe in the culture of this company,”
Dorothy McLeish, and audiolhe says. “That culture is all about
ogists Sarah Gee, Logan
the client. Our staff recognizes
McMeekin, Patricia Auger and
our job is to help people hear
hearing aid practioner
better and to improve their
Leighanne Hebein.
lives.”
Marsonette says Calgary is
Apex revolutionized the heara great place to do business
ing-aid industry in Alberta by
and live.
offering a number of “firsts,” in“Maybe it’s because of the
cluding a lot of services other
Stampede, but people are
clinics either charge extra for or
generally happy here,” he says.
simply don’t do. Marsonette says
“Alberta is the best province in
Apex was the first to offer a 45Canada, no doubt.
day trial period, two-year warHappy 100th Anniversary,
ranties and optional 5 year warAlberta!”
ranties.
13
Dr. Barrie Strafford.
Right: Brenda Strafford.
devotion
to
community
service
Caring organization helps locally and globally
From providing quality care for seniors
tional facilities — our level of professional
care from nurses to housekeepers recognizes
in Calgary to medical support for people in
Brenda Strafford Foundation
that.”
need in the Caribbean, the Brenda Strafford
Jackson says she has seen many improveFoundation has been sharing the spirit of Al■ Founded in 1975.
ments to senior’s care since joining Dr. Strafberta for 30 years.
■ Serves those in need locally,
ford’s organization in 1971.
Locally, the foundation owns and operates
in the Caribbean — Haiti,
“The care needs of residents have changed,
Bow View Manor, a long-term care facility in
Dominica and Jamaica.
and the expectation of residents and family —
Montgomery, and Wentworth Manor, a multi- ■ Also operates the Brenda
level care facility in Christie Park supporting
Strafford Centre to assist women awareness of the whole environment of
long-term care — is higher than it used to
the “aging in place” philosophy.
and children leaving abusive
be,” she says.
But the range of the Foundation’s good
relationships.
Bow View Manor, for example, offers health
works goes far beyond Calgary, stretching to in- ■ Phone: 288-4446
and wellness programs, physiotherapy, an
clude projects in Haiti, Jamaica and Dominica. Website:
adult day program, a chapel, and other ser“The breadth of this organization is quite
www.straffordfoundation.com
vices, many of which were virtually unheard of
extensive — and it started right here in
30-40 years ago.
Alberta,” says Foundation executive viceAdds Sakundiak: “The elimination of
president Adrian Sakundiak.
wards was a major change which led to
The roots of the Foundation date back to
improved care standards and a more homethe early 1960s when Dr. Barrie Strafford
like environment.”
began his quest to improve quality of life for AlThe Foundation also operates the Brenda
berta’s seniors, says vice-president Norma
Strafford Centre, established in 1996 to help
Jackson.
provide transitional housing for women and
“Dr. Strafford was one of the pioneers of the
children leaving abusive relationships.
Alberta Nursing Home Plan,” Sakundiak says.
“We provide a six-month program of
“He and his wife, Brenda, came to Canada
counselling and accommodation,” says
from England in the 1950s. They settled in
Jackson. “When people go to shelters, they
Calgary, and in 1965, Dr. Strafford opened his
usually only have a 21-day window. Our serfirst nursing home in Medicine Hat.
vice is for people who are looking at starting
“The foundation was created in 1975 in honew lives.”
nour of Brenda, who died in a car accident in
In its first year of operation, 90 percent of
1974.”
the residents at the Brenda Strafford Centre
In 1967, Dr. Strafford took over operations
went on to establish independent lives.
of Bow View Manor in Calgary, which had
The Brenda Strafford Foundation also
been built in 1961. Strafford worked to imserves to provide aid to those in need in the
prove the quality of care at Bow View and toCaribbean, and is directly involved in the opday, the Manor has 193 beds and is preparing
eration of programs such as the Institut
for an expansion that will increase its capacity
Brenda Strafford in Les Cayes, Haiti, which
to an estimated 250 residents.
provides eye, ear, nose and throat care to
Wentworth Manor opened in 1996 and of3,000-5,000 patients every month.
fers 215 multi-level care units, combining
“In Dominica, we provide an eye care
designated assisted living, long-term care, and
program and four small rural medical
secure dementia units.
centres, providing primary nursing care,”
“Wentworth Manor supports the philososays Sakundiak.
phy of aging in place — allowing residents to
“In Montego Bay, Jamaica, we established
grow older without having to move,” says
The Village of Hope in a joint venture with
Sakundiak.
the Catholic Diocese of Montego Bay.”
“Norma and Barrie were pioneers in bringing this philosophy
This program provides a medical centre, an AIDS hospice, and
to Alberta. Day in and day out, our staff recognizes that the facilia teaching orphanage for children.
ties we operate are homes for many people. They are not institu-
15
The community of Tuscany
in northwest Calgary is one the
city’s fastest growing and most
desirable neighbourhoods.
A name
household
City developer has made its mark on Calgary
Rosemont, Varsity Acres, Westgate, Canyon Meadows,
Bay,” says Dutczak, adding Carma also established its homebuilding
divisions Heartland Homes and Hawthorne Homes in 1989 and
Castleridge, Millrise, Cranston.
1995, respectively.
What do these neighbourhoods have in common? They were all,
Before long, Carma was back on top, and today homebuyers flock
in whole or in part, created by Carma, one of Calgary’s most
to its latest developments, including the innovative McKenzie
established community developers.
Towne, and the recently opened Auburn Bay,
Founded in 1958, the company has survived
south of Highway 22X.
the ups and downs of the Alberta economy, and
“We have a great industry,” says Dutczak.
today is poised to embrace the future residential
“We get to create things that’ll be here for the
and commercial needs of Calgary.
Carma Developers Ltd.
rest of our lives.”
“One in five Calgarians lives in a Carma comDutczak says the drive towards higher denmunity,” says Michael Dutczak, senior vice-pres- ■ Founded in 1958.
ident of Carma’s Alberta Land division.
■ One in five Calgarians lives in a sity development and narrower lots is one of
the biggest changes he’s seen in the last 20
Carma’s story begins in 1958 when a group of Carma community.
businessmen established a builder-shareholder
■ Seton community coming soon. years.
“Housing styles have changed,” he says.
co-operative. A few months later, Carma’s first
■ Head office: 7315 8th St. S.E.
“There’s more energy efficiency, and we’re seeing
Parade of Homes opened on Roseview Drive
Phone: 231-8900
themed areas emerge. For example, New
N.W. in Rosemont.
Website: www.carma.ca
Brighton has an English theme, while Auburn
Over the next 20 years, the company continBay is cottage country.”
ued to grow. Neighbourhoods such as Mayland
Carma is developing Seton, a major Towne
Heights, Charleswood, Huntington Hills and
Centre south of 22X that will grow around the
Varsity Acres welcomed residents under the
proposed southeast hospital over the next 15
Carma banner. In the 1970s, the company exyears.
panded to other cities across North America, and
“Seton will be a downtown core for southeast
by the early 1980s had an asset base of nearly
Calgary,” says senior development manager, commercial, Warren
$1 billion.
Paulsen.
“When I joined in 1982, Carma had just acquired another com“The vision is not your classic suburban shopping centre. It’ll be
pany, and it had interest in real estate, petrochemicals, auto dealermore of an urban environment.”
ships, restaurants, life insurance and hundreds of
When complete, Seton will provide an urban
other assets,” says Dutczak.
community in a suburban location, offering a
“Then the National Energy Program dismantled
vibrant, dynamic environment for people to work,
the Alberta economy (in the early 1980s). When I
shop, play and live.
joined, Carma had 1,000 employees. By 1984-86,
As many as 40,000 people are expected to evenwe were down to 16 people and sold off everything
tually call Carma-developed communities home
except our core assets.”
south of Hwy. 22X, says Dutczak, adding Carma
But Carma, like Alberta, survived the bust. Even
has also set up an Infill division which is helping to
in a depressed market, it still managed to sell 260
develop projects in the inner city.
lots during 1984.
For Carma, Alberta’s second century looks
By 1989, the company had weathered the storm
bright.
and was ready to rebuild as Alberta’s next boom ap“We’ve seen almost half of Alberta’s hundred
proached.
years, and we’ve been proud to have been involved
“It was a vision of Murray Fox, Alan Norris, and
in community development in both Edmonton
David Harvie, who purchased close to 4,000 acres
and Calgary,” says Dutczak.
around Calgary and that’s where our new commu“We could not have had this success without the
nities developed: Tuscany, McKenzie Towne, New
support of the people of Alberta.”
Brighton, Cranston and most recently Auburn
17
From left to right, Justin Ng,
Susan Barrera, Angela Prout,
Elaine Ng, Norman Ng of Carati.
all
that
glitters
Jewelry business runs in the family
Elaine
and Canadian diamonds.
Ng started working Saturdays around the glitAnd if you think diamonds come in only one colour, think
ter of the jewelry business when she was just 13. So, to say she
again — coloured diamonds are all the rage, and Carati offers
already had a bit of experience behind her when she opened
a wide selection.
Carati is an understatement.
“I have always enjoyed the coloured
Carati is one of Calgary’s newer jewelry
stones. I think they’re very interesting,”
stores, having opened in Banker’s Hall in
says Ng.
November 2003, but owner Ng has
Carati
“That is the beauty of it. If you have an
already amassed plenty of pleasant memointeresting piece of jewelry it is something
ries since starting the business.
■ Opened in 2003.
to show off and to talk about.”
“The pleasure that it brings people is
■ Wide selection of coloured
Carati also offers a large selection of
what makes this a very happy business,”
diamonds that are all the rage.
she says.
■ Carati is a family business that wristwatches and jewelry accessories.
“It is a place where you find things that are evolved into a private boutique. Custom designs are also available for cussymbolic and sentimental. It is great to be ■ Address: 121 - 315 8 Ave. S.W. tomers wanting something unique.
Customer service is an important aspect
able to make people happy.”
Main level, Bankers Hall.
of Carati’s business, no matter what the
Ng grew up around the jewelry business. Phone: 264-5557.
customer is buying.
Her uncle founded Henry’s Jewellers,
“There are only about five or six of us
which opened in TD Square back in 1979.
working in the two stores, so we get to
Her father, Norman Ng, still owns the
know the customers,” says Ng. “They
store.
become more than just customers to us.
“I started working at Henry’s part-time
And at our other store, we are starting to
on Saturdays when I was 13,” says Elaine.
see next generations of customers —
“My dad was always in the business, so
people whose parents shopped at Henry’s,
you could say I really grew up in it.
and now their kids are getting married.”
“I went to school and took communicaThe evolution of Henry’s Jewellers and Carati
tions, but when I graduated I decided to get into the jewelry
has been a real success story for Elaine Ng’s
business. My family wanted to grow the business, so we
family.
expanded by opening Carati in Banker’s Hall.”
“My dad has been here since he was
Ng is a graduate gemologist with accreditation with the
18,” she says. “He came here to go to
Gemological Institute of America (GIA). What this
school and he’s now celebrating his
means for her customers is that they can
50th birthday this year. I was born here
be confident buying a diamond from
and my brother attends univerCarati.
sity and works here part-time,
“Our store is more intimate and
plus my mother also helps
private than most,” says Ng. “It’s
out.”
more of a boutique store. We try
“I think we are very close
to carry items that are different
as a family because we
from what you might find
work together.
anywhere else.”
We mesh well and it’s
Ng is proud to be
nice for us to be able to
able offer jewelry
build something tofrom all over the
gether. Alberta has been
world and support
good to us.”
Canadian designers
19
A Century of Success — Retail
20
From whiskey to Big Box
Calgary grows from trading post to urban shopping hub
by David Parker
P
eople have been shopping in Calgary for
more than a century — but not much
more. It was only in 1871 that Fred Kanhouse opened the first trading post by the Elbow
River but although regular merchandise was
stocked, his biggest sales appear to have been
whiskey and rifles.
Donald David was also a whiskey trader but when
the North West Mounted Police reached the area in
1874 he became manager for I.G. Baker & Co., a
major merchandising firm based out of St. Louis, Mo.
As population grew, more traders opened stores,
still primarily for the necessities of life, supplying
food and clothing.
At a time when Calgary was little more than a
collection of tents and rough wooden buildings,
the decision was made to route the railway
through it. That news attracted all kinds of new
merchants and speculators and before the first
train arrived in 1883 Calgary could boast a hotel,
watchmaker and photographer.
Incorporated as a town in 1884, its first mayor,
George Murdoch, was a harness maker.
Retailers believed the population of around 500
would swell as trains brought more immigrants to
the west and when the official town site was selected around the CPR station, Stephen Avenue
became the central business district.
One of the first to build there was the Calgary
Herald, located at 8th Avenue and 1st Street S.E.
Period postcards, that are still readily available,
show some fine sandstone buildings constructed
as banks, law offices, drug stores and western outfitters — many of which are still in use today. A
fine example is the Alberta Hotel that was built in
1888 and today, renovated and restored, houses
retail on the lower and main levels, a restaurant on
the second floor and offices above.
When Alberta became a province in 1905, Calgary had already undergone rapid growth as an urban centre and merchants began to prosper. Pat
Burns, one of the original Big Four who launched
the Calgary Exhibition & Stampede and later became a senator, was a cattle dealer and butcher. He
sold dressed meat, owned a packing plant and
opened retail shops around Alberta and into
British Columbia.
The Hudson’s Bay Company built a huge department store on Eighth Avenue but family enterprises were still the destination for many selective shoppers. Riley & McCormick began by selling locally made saddles in 1901; direct descendants of McCormick’s still run the firm today, and
its main store is still along Stephen Avenue.
Hardware stores also thrived but as the city spread
they ventured out into new suburbs. Chesney Hardware opened its doors at Centre Street and 16th Avenue on the north hill in 1909. It since relocated further north but is still in operation today.
Jenkins Groceteria also opened in 1909 and became one of the best-known firms in the food distribution business. By 1954, it had 21 stores in Calgary
eventually selling out to Western Grocers of Winnipeg. Safeway arrived in the first half of the 20th
century and had 11 stores in Calgary by 1939. With
1,000 members, Calgary Co-op opened its first grocery store in 1956 across the south side of the downtown CPR railway tracks. As it approaches its 50th
Downtown retail:
did you know?
■ The historic Downtown
Bay store is the largest department store in Alberta.
■ There are seven indoor
shopping centres in the
downtown core — Bankers
Hall, Calgary Eaton Center,
TD Square and Scotia Centre, Bow Valley Square, Eau
Claire Market and Penny
Lane Mall.
■ There are more than
1,000 shops and services in
the downtown core, making
it larger than the West Edmonton Mall.
■ Downtown’s Chinatown is
the third largest in Canada.
■ Stephen Avenue is one of
the most successful pedestrian malls in North America.
21
TOP LEFT: Stephen Avenue, looking east in 1910.
LEFT INSET: Postcard of Hudson Bay Store. Courtesy, Calgary Public Library
MAIN PHOTO ABOVE: Pedestrians on modern
day Stephen Avenue.
ABOVE: 2004 Christmas crowds at Market Mall.
anniversary, it can boast 20 stores, two more on the
planning boards, and 396,000 members.
Many ethnic stores served the multicultural city,
primarily in the Bridgeland district, and Chinatown became a reality in 1910. Ten per cent of Calgary’s population is still made up of ethnic Chinese
so the geographic area of Chinatown has burst
across the Bow River and now has sprawled all the
way up Centre Street to 16th Avenue North.
Downtown has never lost its attraction as a retail
area but, with the spread of new housing estates further away, shopping malls sprang up to serve them.
North Hill Shopping Centre, Southcentre, Chinook, Brentwood and Market Mall were among
the earlier ones developed.
Chinook Centre opened in 1960 with Woodward’s, a now extinct Vancouver-based retailer as
its anchor tenant. The entire mall consisted of
250,000 square feet of retail space — huge for its
day and a real show of confidence in the city and
the area of south Calgary where it was built.
The investment certainly paid off. There have
been several major renovations and additions to the
centre, the last in 1998 that brought it up to
1,200,000 square feet and added an IMAX and 16screen movie theatre — the busiest in Canada —
with 4,500 seats; a food court that does $14 million
in sales annually by serving 2.5 million customers;
and it has parking spaces for almost 5,000 vehicles.
All of the larger shopping centres have undergone major renovations to add more stores and
trendy shopping areas have evolved and prospered
in the beltline districts of Kensington, Uptown
17th Avenue, Fourth Street and Inglewood. But
downtown kept pace with the growth and in 1977
a new anchor for Stephen Avenue was built.
TD Square was constructed as a retail centre
spanning between The Bay and Eaton’s beneath
two high-rise office towers and Devonian Gardens, allowing shoppers to wander through three
levels of shopping stretched along three blocks.
Downtown planners also enhanced shopping
convenience by designing a Plus 15 system of
pedestrian walkways — indoor connections 15
feet above the sidewalks that allow people to cross
between buildings in climate-controlled comfort.
The other big change that helped was the development of Stephen Avenue as a restricted traffic,
pedestrian-only mall in the late 1960s. In 1982, vehicle lanes were re-modeled into attractive walkways from Fourth Street S.W. all the way to city
hall. Then Third Street S.W. was redesigned into
Barclay Mall, a pedestrian pathway linking Stephen
Avenue with Eau Claire Market and Prince’s Island.
The new phenomenon of big box retail centres
has resulted in major new shopping areas in all
quadrants of the city, yet Calgary’s downtown —
one of the most dynamic, attractive, clean and safe
cores in North America — is still the largest shopping centre in the city with more than 1,000 shops
and services, dining and drinking establishments.
That’s where the retail sector was established more
than a 100 years ago and it has been able to maintain
its position with department stores and many oneof- a-kind outlets that thrive in a bustling area where
it’s a fun place to live, work, be entertained and shop.
The city enjoys the status as a shopping hub for
southern Alberta and southeastern British Columbia and continues to attract major new retail chains
from Canada and the United States eager to establish a presence in such an affluent city.
— David Parker is a Calgary-based business columnist
From left to right, Consignment
Gallery staff Henry Bonneville,
Lorraine Gleisner, David Boyko sit
with owner, Marvie Giordano.
where
treasures
are
found
Contemporary to antiques: sooner or later it all comes through the door
For
completely furnished their homes with Consignment Gallery
Marvie Giordano , founder of the Consignment Gallery,
items,” Giordano says.
every day brings new surprises.
“Not long ago, if you bought a sofa you were stuck with that sofa
Since starting the Consignment Gallery more than seven years
and its style for years. Now, if you want, you can
ago, Giordano continues to be amazed at the
keep changing the décore of your home and you
type of merchandise that comes through her
can do it at a reasonable cost.”
door. One day it might be an ornate table from
When a piece of furniture no longer works for
China; the next, a huge rock elephant fountain The Consignment Gallery
you, you can bring it into the Consignment
from Thailand.
■ Opened seven years ago.
Gallery rather than try to sell it at a garage sale.
“I was a single mom with two kids living in
■ The first business of its kind,
“We look after everything — you can just call
Vernon B.C., when I came up with the idea of started small and has grown
us for a quick, convenient and safe way for you
the Consignment Gallery,” Giordano says.
dramatically.
“This was a unique concept for Canada, and I ■ New and consigned furniture, to sell your treasures. We make everything easy,”
says Giordano.
knew Calgary was a very progressive city that
accessories, art and antiques.
The Consignment Gallery has become a
would embrace the idea of a consignment fur- ■ Address: 533 58th Ave. S.E.
tourist attraction in Calgary, with local regulars
niture store.”
Phone: 253-7880
bringing their friends and family in from around
Giordano opened her first shop on Centre
the globe.
Street in a relatively small 3,600-square-foot
“We have customers coming in every week to
space.
see what’s new,” she says. “There’s a real social
“I started by putting my own furniture into
atmosphere here.”
the store,” she says. “In Vernon, I had lived in a
David Boyko, an interior designer by trade, is
six-bedroom house and had a lot of leftover furone of the staff members involved in “discoverniture. I remember my first employee, Betty,
ing” new pieces to sell at Consignment Gallery. He says every piece
saying, ‘I don’t know about this.’”
the store sells has a story behind it.
Before long, Giordano was able to double the size of her original
“A young couple brought a large elephant fountain from
store, but soon even this became too small and two years ago she
Thailand,” he says. “We have a gong that comes from an antique
relocated to an 18,600-square-foot site at 533 58th Ave. S.E.
oxcart — very few people can walk by without
“People are amazed when they walk through
banging it.”
the door,” says Giordano. “With fabulous
Giordano says Calgary has been a great place
items arriving daily, we have something for
to do business.
everyone. We want people to have fun with
“I found that the atmosphere here was
our store.
really positive,” she says. “People here
“Every time you come into our
are very helpful, even other business
store, it’s a different experience.”
people.
Giordano receives items from
“The thing about consignment furCalgary homes, interior decorators,
niture is, no matter what the economy
show homes and even from world
is like, people will want to buy furniture
travellers.
at better prices. We were extremely fortu“This has truly become a world
nate to locate in this city.
market,” she says, adding that her
“We haven’t yet reached the potential
friendly and helpful staff make sure all
of what we can do here. I’d like to conitems brought into the store meet
gratulate Alberta, for its centennial, and
Consignment Gallery’s standards of
best wishes for the future with many good
quality.
years ahead.”
“We have customers who have
23
Gobi Singh, president and CEO of
Genesis Land Development Corp.
part of the
Calgary
buzz
Leading city land developer looking to expand
You never know where Alberta’s opportunities will lead you.
commercial and light industrial development,” says Singh. “We’ve
gone to great efforts to incorporate a linear park into this community
For example, take Genesis Land Development Corp. Founders
Gobi Singh and Arthur Wong weren’t planning on becoming one of to allow people to enjoy their work place environment, where most of
us spend 8-10 hours per day. This development
Calgary’s top land developers when they started
offers a rural cross-section with meandering
the company back in 1992.
pathways and lakes that tie into Nose Creek.”
“We were both entrepreneurial professional
Add to all this an ongoing 400-lot developengineers in the oil and gas industry,” says Singh, Genesis Land Development
ment in Taralake in northeast Calgary, and the
now president and CEO of Genesis. “We were
Corp.
staff at Genesis aren’t likely to get bored anytime
positioning ourselves to buy some oil reserves
■ Started in 1992.
and were outbid. However we used some of that ■ Currently owns 4,600 acres in soon.
Singh says that, despite Calgary being known
capital to buy future development land, and here Calgary-Airdrie.
in the past as a boom-bust city, he’s confident it
we are as land developers.”
■ A homebuilding industry
and the province are well-positioned to continue
Genesis currently owns 4,600 acres of land in Award winner.
their strong economic performance.
the Calgary-Airdrie region, and its name has be- ■ Head office:
“I have been in Calgary since 1975,” says
come associated with some of the area’s most
2nd Floor, 2882 11 St. N.E.
Singh, who originally hails from the Missisunique residential developments.
Calgary, Alberta T2E 7S7
sauga-Toronto area. “I went through the bust
For example, there’s the SAM Award-winning Phone: 265-8079
Sherwood in northwest Calgary, which is being Website: www.genesisland.com period in 1982, and I remember when the market picked up in 1984-86 and softened again,
developed around its very own sandstone castle
and finally picked up in 1997 again. I believe in
ruin.
the Alberta economy and I am convinced the
Bayside and The Canals, two of Airdrie’s
dynamics for Calgary today are different than
newest communities, make unprecedented use of
they were in 1982, based on the significant diwater features — including the unique amenity
versification I’m seeing.”
of private docks behind many homes.
“The last seven or eight years have been huge
“We definitely try to think out of the box,”
for this city and I don’t think the Calgary engine
says Singh. “We’re environmentally sensitive and
is slowing down. It is amazing how much energy
recreation conscious in what we try and implethis place has. Every time I come back to Calgary
ment in our subdivisions. The Canals of The
from a trip I can feel the energy starting at the airport,” says Singh.
Canals community in Airdrie was based on such thinking and its
Genesis is looking to expand its operations beyond the Calgary returning out to be a very attractive and unique development.”
gion. Singh says areas such as Kamloops in British Columbia appeal
Another example of “thinking out of the box” is the introducto the company. Meanwhile, he
tion of “Fonzie suites” in The
also sees Genesis getting involved
Canals. “These are garages with
in the development of more comsuites on top with separate legal timercial and industrial properties,
tles and separated from the main
such as the North Calgary Comresidence, we refer to these suites
mercial Campus.
as the Happy Days concept,” says
“We just have a blast coming up
Singh.
with all these ideas,” says Singh.
Genesis is also developing the
“Genesis has become a major
North Calgary Commercial Camplayer and we are here to stay
pus, located by the junction of
and contribute towards creative
Highways 2 and 566 near Balzac.
community development in
“The campus covers 247 acres
this city.”
and we’re hoping to attract quality
25
Avi Amir stands in his
Homes by Avi office.
homes
and
building
dreams
Builder gives back to community that brought him peace
Just over 30 years ago, Avi Amir came to Canada to find his
“I asked my lawyer what name I should use,” says Amir. “He said if
you’re confident what you’re doing is right, put your own name on it.
dream home.
It shows you are committed.”
Today, his stock-in-trade is helping Calgarians build dream homes
Homes by Avi projects can be found from one end of Calgary to
of their own as president and founder of Homes by Avi.
the other, and is currently building in twelve communities including
Born in Czechoslovakia, Amir’s family moved to Israel after the
inner city projects such as Garrison Woods and
Second World War, and it was there that Amir
The Bridges.
trained to be a civil engineer. In 1974, he immi“Garrison Woods has been a huge success archigrated to Canada.
tecturally and in terms of community design,”
“I didn’t want to go to Canada to make lots of
Amir says. “It’s brand new but it looks like it has
money,” he says. “I just wanted to come to
Homes by Avi
always been there.”
Canada to live in peace.”
Another major inner city project is the Olive in
Amir was barely in Edmonton a week before
■ Incorporated in 1978.
The Bridges of Bridgeland, built by Amir’s new
he applied for and got a job with Calgary-based ■ Gives back to the community
subsidiary Homes by Avi Urban.
Anthes Equipment, designing forms for concrete with projects like the Calgary
“The lifestyle of many people is changing,” says
structures. In February 1975, he and his family
Stampede home lottery, Canaput down roots in Calgary.
dian Breast Cancer Foundation, Amir. “The demographic is moving
towards more families that are only one or two
“I worked on different projects in Calgary, Ed- supporting education and
people, who prefer to be close to downtown with
monton, Winnipeg, and Vancouver,” Amir says. training at local schools, Handi
the safety and security of a multi-family
“But after a year-and-a-half, I decided to take the Bus and many more.
project.”
jump and start my own construction company, ■ Head office: 245 Forge Rd.
Amir says he’s seen many changes in the
which I incorporated in 1976.
S.E. Ph: 259-2122.
“I started as big as I could, which means I
Website: www.homesbyavi.com industry over the last 30 years.
“The way communities are designed now and
started very small.
the way we design our houses is altogether differ“When I approached my boss at Anthes to say
ent from the way it was 25 years ago,” he says.
I was looking for an opportunity to start my own
“We continue to watch the trends and the needs of
company, he was very supportive. We still keep in
our customers.”
touch,” Amir says.
Amir takes pride in his company’s community
Amir started out taking on jobs such as renoinvolvement. Homes by Avi is in its 12th year of
vating classrooms in Morley and building an
supporting the Rotary Dream Home lottery at
RCMP detachment in Fort Smith, NWT. But
the Calgary Stampede (shown below), and is
the partnership ended in 1978 at which time
also involved with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
Amir incorporated a smaller company of his own.
through their Home of Hope. The Home of Hope is sold and the
“I had no doubt I would be able to satisfy my own desire to connet proceeds are given to the Foundation.
tribute to the housing market in Calgary,” Amir says. “One of my
Homes by Avi has also invested more than $300,000 to
goals was to establish something that adds value to the
support education and training programs
customer and to the industry.”
at several Forest Lawn area schools
Avi Construction’s first showhome apand other educational programs and
peared in Woodbine in 1980. Over the
has also built projects for Habitat for
next decade, Avi weathered
Humanity (1993).
the economic downturn of
“I’ve been here to see the big boom
the mid-1980s, managand I’ve been here to see the
ing to sell homes at a
crash,” says Amir.
time when other com“We started with nothing
panies were folding. In
and we have really grown with the
1985, the company was recommunity.”
named Homes by Avi.
27
Christopher Simpkins,
dealer principal of
Honda West.
like
father,
like
son
Dealership the offspring of automotive dynasty
Nothing
and expanded its building to 14,000 sq. ft. and increased its
could be more challenging than running
service capabilities to 12 bays.
an auto dealership from two tents — but how about working
In 2003 Honda West expanded and completely rebuilt its
from two tents when it’s -35 degrees Celsius?
facility to comply with Honda’s latest image program. The
That’s just what Honda West did in 1982 when it ‘opened’
current building covers 28,000 sq. ft. and has
its doors on April 6, months before its
more than 20 service bays.
dealer facility located at Glenbrook
Honda West is unique in the Calgary auto
Place — facing Sarcee Trail and Signal
market. None of the new vehicle inventory is
Hill — was constructed.
Honda West
received at its Glenbrook Place facility. New
“We were probably selling 10 or 13
vehicles are, in fact, delivered to an off-site loHonda’s a month in those days,” says
■ Opened in April 6, 1982.
cation where they are prepped for delivery,
dealer principal Christopher Simpkins. ■ Started selling out of two
fuelled and trucked to the dealership for cus“Today our volume would be in the
tents.
tomer pick-up.
neighbourhood of 105 to 110 new
■ Currently in 28,000 sq. ft.
“The off-site inventory of vehicles allows
Honda’s a month.”
building with 20 service bays.
us to better serve our customer base,”
Simpkins knows the auto industry.
■ Address: 55 Glenbrook Pl.
Simpkins says.
His father Clarke started with Ford in S.W. Phone: 249-9100
In the early 1980s Simpkins says his comthe early 1920s and went on to create a
Website: www.hondawest.ca
pany pioneered what he calls the ‘second deveritable automotive empire. Between
livery.’ When a customer purchases either a
1946 and 1983 the Simpkins portfolio
new or used vehicle they are excited, and just
encompassed 22 automobile franchises,
want to get the keys and start driving. But
including Rolls-Royce and Ferrari.
A Trusted Name, A New Vision.
Honda West brings all of its customers back
Simpkins started in the industry in
for a second delivery to help answer any ques1959 as a clerk for Rootes Motors
tions that might have cropped up after the
Canada. He then worked with his father
first few weeks behind the wheel.
from 1962 until 1967. At that time he was presented the
When Simpkins created Honda West he says he had a simopportunity to head up a new division that would oversee
ple philosophy which is expressed by what the company calls
the importation and distribution of Honda motorcycles in
Service Plus. This is a trademarked slogan to Honda West that
Western Canada.
simply demonstrates its dedication to excellence in people,
His involvement with Honda motorcycles lasted until
product and service.
1975, and he left the Simpkins empire in 1977 to strike out
“It’s a commitment to building long term personal relationon his own. He arrived in Calgary in 1982 with his wife
ships with our customers,” Simpkins
Gloria to set up Honda West.
says, adding, “Honda is a quality
“My father was my mentor,” Simpkins explains.
product and a quality company.”
“He let me find my own way and gave me every
opportunity to succeed in this industry.”
Honda West moved out of the
tents and into its building in
October 1982. It started with
8,000 sq. ft. and eight service
bays on a one-acre parcel. By
1992 Honda West had acquired an additional acre of land
29
A Century of Success — Auto
J.J. Young and his McLaughlin, the
second car in Calgary, circa 1905.
— Calgary Herald Archive photo
30
Auto industry driven to success
We love our wheels – from Model T to Smart car
by Greg Williams
C
algary has had a long-standing love affair
with the automobile. But before the love
affair could flourish, the city needed automotive facilities.
To be sure, these pioneering outfits were likely
to be a repair garage that simply held an auto
agency, and were nothing like a modern full-service retailer.
Garages had to be able to service a wide variety
of products from numerous manufacturers at a
time when automotive technology was in its infancy. For example, in 1901— before Alberta was
even recognized as a province — the first car ever
imported was a steam-powered Locomobile.
Bought by Billy Cochrane, this Locomobile literally ushered in Calgary’s motoring age.
Steam cars like the Locomobile featured a large
copper boiler which heated water that produced
enough pressure to drive pistons — creating a
silent and powerful mode of transportation.
And instead of being relegated to the scrap heap
many years ago, Cochrane’s Locomobile is today
available for viewing at the Glenbow Museum.
Newspaper accounts in the early 1900s explain
that automotive ownership was not seen as a necessity, and in fact there weren’t even many repair
facilities. The first garage in Calgary might have
been the Calgary Novelty Works, which purported automobile and typewriter repairs as their
specialty. Whether they ever serviced a steampowered Locomobile will forever be a mystery.
As the automotive industry advanced, singlemake retailers were established. In Calgary, one of
the first Ford dealers was Maclin Ford. Maclin
opened for business in 1917, at a time when early
roads in Alberta consisted of nothing more than
dirt tracks.
A lack of good roads meant motorists had to be
adventurous pioneers, as more time could be
spent extricating a vehicle from a muddy rut than
time spent behind the wheel.
With the Rocky Mountains in Calgary’s backyard, the peaks to the west have long enticed locals to drive to a favoured mountain town and
park — Banff. In the early 1900s, Calgary auto
clubs devoted to promoting the car often set out
in motorcades for weekend-long jaunts to this
mountain town.
And it could almost be guaranteed that one of
those vehicles in the motorcade would be a
Model T Ford.
Simply stated, the vehicle that revolutionized
transportation was the Model T Ford. Other
manufacturers had been producing cars for several years, but this relatively uncomplicated fourcylinder automobile brought motoring within
reach of the average buyer. Model T cars were
built for 19 years, between 1909 and 1927.
As automotive technology advanced so, too,
did the automotive dealership. In 1924, Norman A. Campbell bought Alberta Nash Ltd., a
The pint-size Smart car is receiving
rave reviews for its fuel economy.
— Handout photo
dealership that was located in a little garage on
17th Avenue. and Eighth St. S.W. In August
1926, Campbell moved the Nash franchise to a
building he designed and built at the corner of
Seventh Avenue and Fourth Street S.W .— right
in the heart of Calgary. His facility featured a
self-contained showroom and parts and service
departments.
Right up until the late 1960s the majority of
Calgary’s auto dealers were located in the downtown core. As downtown real estate started to be
developed for high-rise office towers, a good number of auto retailers started to relocate — some as
far away as possible from the centre of the city.
Today, there are more than 350 automotive retailers in the province of Alberta, with close to 70
of those here in Calgary. And the nature of the retailer has changed dramatically.
Many automakers now have image programs to
which their dealers must adhere. From the physical
size and presence of the facility to architectural details and interior paint colours, each aspect of the
individual image program is defined. The idea? To
ensure customers can recognize any of a single
manufacturer’s retail locations.
And while many of these dealerships are not
selling luxury automobiles, the facilities now offer
an upscale environment in which business is conducted. In the early years of the automotive industry, a customer lounge with Internet hook-ups and
a fireplace would simply have been unheard of, as
would a service drive-through.
Today, these items are commonplace in dealership architecture.
Calgary is witnessing tremendous growth, and
in the last 10 years the number of automotive facilities that are either brand-new buildings or
TOP PHOTO: A steam-powered car built by
Henry Seth Taylor of Standstead, Que. in
1867. ABOVE: Peter and John Prince in their
Red Rambler, said to be the first Calgary
automobile to use gasoline. The car was
purchased by John Prince in 1903. Glenbow
photograph NA-1952-I
completely renovated structures is astounding.
And today’s dealerships are selling a greater variety of vehicles than ever before. The auto market is
no longer a simple landscape with choices between a sedan, coupe or pickup truck. There are
compact SUVs, mid-size SUVs, full-size SUVs,
vans and minivans, hybrids, sedans, coupes, and
sedans that look like coupes. There are retro-roadsters, retro-wagons and retro-trucks. There are single cab, extended cab and quad cab pickup truck
configurations — the list does go on.
It’s hard to pinpoint any one vehicle that would
seem to be the most popular in Calgary. At one time
the minivan reigned supreme, and the practical family haulers remain best-sellers for some automakers.
Mid-size sport utility vehicles are also great family get-around machines, and full-size versions
seem to be required if towing a boat or a trailer is
an annual event.
The presence of more luxury auto retailers indicates Calgary’s fondness for an expensive ride,
whether it be an SUV, sedan or roadster.
But one trend that deserves watching is the
propensity for Calgary automobile consumers to try
something new and different, either in power or size.
Hybrid vehicles — cars that combine fuel and
electricity to provide an economical mode of
transport — are increasingly seen on Calgary’s
roads. And while at one time there were only a
couple of automakers offering hybrid choices,
there are now almost half a dozen.
Size does matter, and one particular little vehicle
that has received a great deal of attention is the
Smart car. These pint-sized vehicles can be seen at
the weekend markets loaded with purchases, and
then seen on weekdays plying the city’s streets as
uber-hip urban commuting cars.
It’s certainly been a century of success, and the
next 100 years should be just as exciting. So just sit
back, and enjoy the ride.
Greg Williams is a Calgary-based automotives writer.
31
Vinay Ruparell dealer principal
of Kramer Mazda.
zoomaward-winning zoom
Customer satisfaction is key for a successful business
Kramer
the front of the open-atmosphere showroom to the service centre.
Mazda has been a fixture in the Calgary auto marA large window allows customers to view the entire service shop.
ket for more than 30 years, making it one of the longest-standing
Ruparell feels the new dealership is a significant contribution to
Mazda retailers in Canada.
this city.
During that time the dealership has steadily built upon its suc“Calgary’s growing, and that’s both due to
cesses-moving and expanding.
and reflected in investments like ours,”
The store started out on Macleod Trail and
Ruparell says.
38th Avenue, where the sales location and ser“And we’re now in a position to better serve
vice centre were separate. Dealer principal
Kramer Mazda
our community.”
Vinay Ruparell took over Kramer Mazda in
Some of Kramer’s staff have been with the
1989 and says they quickly outgrew that small
■ Has sold Mazda vehicles for
dealership for all of its years in business, and
facility in the same year.
more than 30 years in Calgary.
Ruparell is proud of the staff loyalty the reA consolidation of sales and service occurred ■ Largest Mazda facility in the
tailer has fostered.
when Kramer Mazda relocated to a building
nation, boasts record sales in
Kramer also boasts the greatest number of
near Chinook Centre — still on Macleod
Western Canada.
Mazda master technicians working in one
Trail. Several renovations took place in this lo■ Received Mazda’s Dealer of
dealership in Western Canada.
cation, to accommodate continued growth in
Distinction and President’s Club
“We invest a great deal of time and money
sales and service.
awards.
to ensure our staff members are well-trained
Even with upgrades to the facility, it became
■ Address:11888 Macleod Tr. S.
and have the best equipment with which to
apparent another move was needed. In 2002,
Phone: 259-0500 Website:
work,” Ruparell says.
Ruparell started the search for land where
www.kramermazda.com
Although Mazda went through a bit of a
Kramer could build a brand new facility.
sales lull in the mid-1990s, a number of reHe found his location at the corner of
cently introduced products have helped put
Macleod Trail and Anderson Road, a
the automaker back on the map in a big way.
highly visible location on two easy-to-get-to
The new Mazda6 series continues to rethoroughfares.
ceive critical acclaim, and the latest RX-8
Kramer Mazda started construction on a
with its rotary engine offers a tremendous level of sport and
29,000-square-foot facility in 2004, and moved in the fall of the
performance.
same year. This new building sets a benchmark with Mazda’s new
“Mazda’s cars have come quite a way in the last little while,”
image program, and is the first from-the-ground-up built in WestRuparell says.
ern Canada.
Kramer Mazda is an
“We outgrew both of
award-winning dealership
our previous facilities, and
— receiving Mazda’s
although we did a partial
Dealer of Distinction and
renovation in the late
President’s Club awards
1990s to the last building,
and the independent
we had to start planning
Consumers Choice
for a new endeavour,” Ruaward, all for several years
parell says. “Mazda also
running. It is also enjoywants the dealership expeing record sales, making
rience to mirror the ‘zoomCalgary’s Kramer Mazda
zoom’ image of the cars.”
No. 1 in Western Canada,
The building features
and closer to becoming
the “Road to Performance”
No. 1 in Canada.
— a path that leads from
33
Cam Davidson relaxes in the
Todd Oldham section in one of his
La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries.
home
fashion
sense
Local entrepreneur brings luxury home design to the masses
For Cam Davidson, keeping up with the latest trends in
“You dreaded buying furniture like you dreaded buying a car.
You had sellers trying to force people into buying furniture that
home furnishings doesn’t happen by just sitting around.
Although at La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries, the thought of kick- was not suited for their needs.
“All that has changed, and the industry has
ing back is mighty tempting.
become extremely fashion-oriented. We sell
An entrepreneur since 1975, Davidson is
things today you’d never have expected to find
known as the man who brought the La-Z-Boy
in a La-Z-Boy store.”
brand to Calgary in a big way, eventually openFor example, La-Z-Boy offers the Todd
ing two showrooms that are among the largest La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries
Oldham Collection. Oldham is an internaof their type in North America.
“We were the first in Canada to introduce
■ La-Z-Boy dates back more than tionally recognized name in women’s fashions
and home decorating.
the La-Z-Boy Furniture Gallery concept,” says 75 years; Calgary’s Furniture
“He designed and built everything from end
Davidson. “We’ve been around for just over 11 Galleries date back 11 years.
tables to accessories — products you’d never
years and the concept evolved in the United
■ Sells solid wood dining room
expect to find at La-Z-Boy,” says Davidson.
States about four years before that. The first
and bedroom furniture and a
Calgary’s two showrooms continue to grow.
furniture gallery was in Las Vegas.”
wide selection of leather
The 11th Street store is now at 34,000 square
“Originally, La-Z-Boy was just another
furniture.
brand of furniture sold out of our Calgary’s
■ Two showrooms with a total of feet, while the Northland location is expanding to 24,000 square feet.
Williams Brothers store,” he says. “The name 58,000 sq. ft.
“In our south store, we have 69 individual
itself is the most recognizable in the furniture
■ Locations: 7300 11 St. S.E.;
room settings, so you can view how these
industry, dating back more than 75 years.”
5111 Northland Dr. N.W. Webpieces all fit together,” says Davidson. “The
A change in the industry in the early 1990s
site: www.lazboy.com/calgary
way you present your product has totally
led to the then-owners of Williams Brothers
evolved over the last 10 years. You can’t just
deciding to focus our energies in a new
line the furniture up in rows. And 10 years
direction.
from now, the presentation will probably look
“The concept of the old full-line furniture
completely different.”
store was waning,” says Davidson. “We felt it
What hasn’t changed is La-Z-Boy’s commitment to
was time to sell off our Williams Brothers opservice.
eration and devote all of our energies
“Customer service is number one on
towards the La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries
our hit parade,” says Davidson. “You
Concept.”
can’t just sell something to a cusToday, Davidson oversees two La-Z-Boy
tomer today and forget about
showrooms at 7300 11th St. S.E. and in
them tomorrow. You need to proNorthland Village Shoppes.
vide good service if you want to
“For most customers who walk into our
grow and expand .”
store, there’s always a ‘wow’ factor,” he says.
Davidson says he is proud to be
“People used to think of Grandpa’s recliner
in business during a golden age of
when they thought of La-Z-Boy, but recliners
Alberta’s economy.
are such a small part of our business now.
“We have such a healthy,
People don’t realize we have as wide a variety of
vibrant economy and I don’t see
product as we do.”
that changing for the next whoFrom dining room sets and bedroom suites to a wide seknows-how-many years,” he says.
lection of leather furniture, this isn’t your grandpa’s La-Z“You talk to people and everyone is alive and
Boy anymore, says Davidson.
energized. It is a totally different environment than any“Our business certainly wasn’t a fashion business years
where else.”
ago,” he says.
35
Shelley McCullough, Maclin Ford
vice-president and dealer partner.
past,
present
and
future
Auto dealer part of Calgary history
Maclin Ford has been owned by the McCullough family since
Danny McCullough decided the entire dealership could be housed
under one roof and operate much more efficiently. To meet that goal,
1917 — making this Calgary retailer the longest operating Ford deal- Maclin was one of the first five retailers in 1987 to build and locate in
ership in Canada with continuous ownership.
the Calgary Auto Mall at Glenmore and Deerfoot
Ernest McCullough (below left) began selling
Trails.
Ford cars in 1915, at a time when the automaker
“Danny has always had good foresight and
didn’t have any dealerships. The vehicles were
Maclin Ford
could see how the city was developing,” says Shelsold directly by salesmen — and McCullough
ley McCullough, who happens to be Danny’s wife.
did so well he was the top Ford salesman in all of ■ Franchise opened 1917.
Maclin Ford is one of the best-performing Ford
Canada from 1915 to 1916.
■ Still owned by the same family. retailers in the region, having reached the top Gold
“We believe that's why he was awarded a Ford ■ Currently ranked in the top
level of Ford’s Blue Oval program. Of the 26 Ford
franchise in 1917 — when Ford started allowing three dealers of 26 in the western retailers in western region cities, Maclin is
retail facilities,” explains Shelley McCullough,
region.
currently ranked in the top three. The Blue Oval
Maclin’s vice-president and dealer partner.
■ Address: 135 Glendeer Circle initiative focuses on customer surveys for product
Maclin Ford spent its first few years located at S.E. Phone: 252-0101
and service satisfaction.
15th Avenue and First Street S.E., then moved to Website: www.maclinford.com
“At Maclin Ford, it’s all about you,” Shelley
215 11th Ave. S.W. The company stayed on
explains. “And that philosophy has resulted in
11th Avenue from 1920 to 1960, with Ernest
great gains in customer satisfaction. We
acting as dealer principal. His son Danny (below
continuously strive to satisfy our customers and
right) became general manager of Maclin in
keep them coming back.”
1960 when the dealership moved to Macleod
Tiede says Ford is introducing new products
Trail and 61st Ave. S.W., just across from where
that are creating excitement for the brand, such as
Chinook Centre now stands. In 1965, Danny
the 2005 Mustang.
became president and general manager.
“The Mustang is a hot seller, and the car certainly brings people in
This dealership facility consisted of five buildings spread over seven to take a look at other Ford products,” Tiede says. “There are
acres of land, with the new-car showroom separated from the service
Mustang enthusiasts who might have driven the car in their younger
centre and used-car sales operation.
years and are re-visiting that — as well as a
To help promote Maclin Ford in
whole new generation who’s getting
the early 1970s, Danny created a
excited about the car.”
unique advertising promotion.
This fall Maclin is anticipating
He purchased a hot air balloon
the introduction of the Fusion,
— one of the first commercial
a mid-size sedan with distincadvertising balloons in
tive European styling.
Alberta — and floated the
“We’re a family business,
Maclin name over the city
and we see our customers
for more than 10 years.
coming back,” Shelley says.
“As Macleod Trail became
“We had a gentleman in
busier, our old location
the other day who has been
started to become really
coming here for more than 30
congested,” recalls general
years, and his children are now
manager Mel Tiede. “And the
visiting us.”
traffic patterns weren’t working.”
Ernest McCullough
Danny McCullough
37
Ted and Theresa Pound
and family.
creating
lasting
relationships
Fine furniture a family tradition for more than six decades
With over 66 years in business, McArthur Fine Furniture &
your home,” says Theresa. “Some of the styles are more than 300
years old — they never go out of fashion.”
Interior Design has become a mainstay in Alberta — surviving re“Our manufacturers are of such quality that it actually belocations, boom and busts and even a 1972 devastating fire.
comes a bit of a challenge for us in this line of business,” says
Today, stronger than ever, McArthur’s is continuing to bring
Ted. “It is said only wealthy people can afford to buy cheap furcustomer’s homes to life through the relationships that they foster
niture. We believe everyone should be able to afford good qualand the quality products they carry.
ity. If you buy a dining room suite from
“Our business is built on relationships,” says
McArthur, it might be the only one you will
Ted Pound, who became full owner of McArthur
ever buy.”
earlier this year along with his wife Theresa
McArthur’s clientele isn’t just local homeownPound (Sissons). “Our underlying mandate is to
ers. “We have become a destination furniture
provide excellent service to the customer.”
McArthur Fine Furniture
store,” Ted says. “With clients in Hawaii and
Gerry McArthur founded the company in
& Interior Design
other parts of the U.S, the Middle East,
1938. Theresa’s father, Ernie Sissons, took over
Australia and China.
the store in 1963, along with his wife Caryl.
■ A three-level store, largest of
“These families usually have Calgary roots,
Ted and Theresa have been associated with
its kind in Alberta.
and are confident that the products we carry will
McArthur since 1986. A few years earlier, in
provide them with years of enjoyment.”
1981, the business moved from its downtown ■ Offering interior design
McArthur has also become known for its
location into its distinctive, Georgian-style,
service.
interior design service.
45,000 square foot showroom at 67 Glen■ Address: 67 Glenbrook Pl.
“This is a complimentary service, with no
brook Pl. S.W., just off Sarcee Trail.
S.W. Phone: 246-6266. Website:
obligation,” says Ted. “We’ll help customers do
Today that location places McArthur within www.mcarthurfurniture.com
space planning, as well as colour and furniture
easy reach of many of Calgary’s most prestiselections...we take you through the whole degious new communities. But back then, it was
sign experience.”
a different story.
The McArthur showroom is undergoing reno“When we opened, there was virtually nothvations to make it more customer-friendly and
ing out here,” says Ted. “Looking at the surprovide a better shopping experience,” says Ted.
rounding development, it’s obvious that every“We take a great deal of pride in how we’ve
one wanted to build near us!”
served Calgary in the past, and it’s time to polish up that diamond
McArthur specializes in “traditional and transitional furniture,”
and make sure it sparkles for everybody,” he says.
says Ted. That means McArthur’s selection includes unique pieces
“It’s a fashion industry, and we’re changing the showroom to rein styles to suit any taste, including traditional, contemporary and
flect new style and new ideas.”
modern.
As one of Calgary’s long-serving retailers, McArthur Furniture has
Some of the major names offered at McArthur’s include Stickley,
served Calgary for a significant
Drexel Heritage, Bernhardt, Broyperiod of Alberta’s time as a
hill, Lexington, Gloster and
province.
Mallin.
“It’s important that we
The three-level McArthur
thank the three or four
store, one of the largest of
generations of families
its kind in Alberta, inthat have been shopcludes a patio showroom,
ping at McArthur all
along with many vithese years,” says Ted.
gnettes to provide a ‘full
“We look forward to
visual’ of your desired
serving the fifth, sixth,
look.
seventh, and eighth
“We cover every categenerations!”
gory and every room in
39
The Morrison Homes team with President
Al Morrison, top row fourth from left,
shares a commitment to delivering a
high-quality product that pleases the
customer. This philosophy has earned
the homebuilder numerous awards.
an award-winning
formula
Focus on quality and people are builder’s secret to success
Morrison Homes is a true Alberta success story.
Homebuilding has given rise to far more diverse designs and styles
in recent years than there ever were in the 1960s.
Founded in the early 1960s, the company is still owned by
“Homebuyers of all ages are doing more research before buying,”
the original family and continues to build some of the best homes
says Morrison. “First-time buyers are building more dynamic
in the city.
homes; our estate buyers are using more
“Morrison Homes was started by my father,
natural, high-end products such as granite
Frank Morrison, in 1961,” says president
and hardwood.”
Al Morrison.
“Over time, we evolved and diversified. We’ve
“My father was in England, where he was
Morrison Homes
had some success with this and have realized
working as a cabinetmaker and carpenter. He
steady growth. Recently we were named (SAM
moved back to Calgary where he continued his
success in construction by starting his own
■ Operates three divisions: Dis- Awards) Builder of the Year for the fourth conhomebuilding company.”
covery Homes, Morrison Homes secutive year.”
Morrison says the key to his company’s sucThe cookie-cutter style of mass-produced
and Morrison Mountain Homes.
cess over the years is the people. “It’s all about
suburban housing, first introduced after the
■ Address: 6135 10 St. S.E.
having energetic people with positive attitudes
Second World War, was predominant back in the Phone: 279-7600
and strong work ethics. Everyone is working toearly 1960s.
Website:
ward the same goal: building homes for people
“The flavour of the day in Calgary was 1,100- www.morrisonhomes.ca
while creating a rewarding experience for our
to 1,200-square-foot bungalows and bi-levels,”
homebuyers and employees alike.”
says Morrison. “This was before the oilpatch
“To build a company around the philosophy
heyday of the 1970s.”
of treating people properly, while offering qualMorrison Homes survived Alberta’s economic
ity products and quality designs, it is essential to
slump of the 1980s thanks to the foresight of
have the right people in the right positions to
Frank Morrison, says Al.
execute these ideals.”
“Back in the early 1980s, my father was watching the climbing
Today Morrison Homes operates three divisions: Discovery
interest rates,” he says. “When others continued to grow, he
Homes (starter homes), Morrison Homes (move-up and estate), and
rolled back.”
Morrison Mountain Homes (recreation mountain homes). Morri“We came through fairly unscathed, and from then on it was a
son is currently building in and around Calgary, Okotoks, High
matter of keeping the company very lean and looking at conservaRiver and Canmore.
tive growth opportunities.”
“On the charitable side, our employees are strong supporters of
In 1983, Al took over the leadership of Morrison Homes; one
the United Way, and there are several
house was sold that year and the comother charities we support,” says Morripany had to be built back up from there.
son. “Recently we put three teams into
Morrison freely admits the constructhe Relay for Life cancer fundraiser. Our
tion industry is in his blood, “I grew up
involvement is a tribute to the spirit of
working for my dad and working for
our team members and their enthusiasm
some other construction-related compain giving back to the community.”
nies,” he says. “I started out with my own
“Over the years, Alberta has proven
framing company, contracting for my
to be on the right track; politically as a
dad and other builders for a few years.
leader within our country and with
Then a supervisory role within the comgreat entrepreneurial spirit. Happy
pany arose when my father wanted to
100th Birthday Alberta; we’re looking
take a little more time away from the
forward to mutual continued growth
business and enjoy semi-retirement
and prosperity.”
activities.”
41
Sukh and Rana Buparai,
two of the three brothers,
that own four stores.
the
spirits
moved them
Brothers discover land of opportunity in Alberta
When the three Boparai brothers arrived in Canada in July
for consumers. Selection has gone up considerably compared to
what the government used to sell.”
1981, their first destination was Calgary, and they’ve never looked
Boparai picks up a catalogue the size of a small phone book. “Back
back.
Today, the Boparais are partners in Olympia Liquor Stores, one of in the government’s time, this wholesale book was only as few pages
long,” he says. “Now there are thousands of
many Alberta business success stories.
products
“We never considered living anywhere else in
available. There are way more wines,
Canada,” says Olympia president Sukh Boparai,
beers, and spirits from around the world
who hails from the Punjab province of India.
Olympia Liquor Stores
available now.”
“Alberta is a great province and a very
This increased selection is one of privatizabusiness-friendly province, with plenty of good ■ Opened in 1997.
tion’s biggest benefits, matching growth in the
opportunities. And you can’t beat the scenery of ■ Four stores owned by three
liquor industry itself, Boparai says.
places like Banff and Lake Louise.”
brothers.
“I remember 12 years ago, there were a relaSukh, Rana, and Laddie Boparai worked hard ■ More than 3,000 items availtive few wines available,” he says. “There were
to get established in Alberta along with their
able per store.
some Canadian, Italian, and French wines. Look
brother-in-law, Sam Chatha, who paved the way ■ Four locations:
now and you can buy wines from
for the rest of the family by first settling in British 20-6624 Centre St. S.E.;
Australia, New Zealand, and Eastern Europe.
Columbia and then moving east to Calgary.
140-1830 52 St. S.E.;
And Canada’s wine industry has really taken off
The road to success in the liquor store
3708 17th Ave. S.W.;
in places like British Columbia and the
industry began for the Boparais in 1993 when
15116 Bannister Rd. S.E.
they established a partnership in the OK Liquor Website: www.olympialiquor.com Niagara region.”
Each Olympia Liquor Store location boasts
Store a few months after the provincial
about 3,000 items for sale, ranging from familgovernment privatized the liquor store industry
iar domestic products to more exotic products
in Alberta.
such as Transylvania wine.
“That partnership split up on 1997 when we
“We specialize in discount pricing,” says
decided to go into business for ourselves, and
Boparai. “Our goal is to keep the service and
that’s when we started the Olympia Liquor Store
the selection at the lowest price.
chain,” says Sukh. “Our second store opened in 1998, our third in
“Customer service is also very important. We try to help our cus2002, and our fourth in 2003, mostly in the south end of the city.
tomers if they need anything. We’ll help them pick the right botWe hope to expand to the north eventually.”
tle of wine, and help them take the stuff out to the car. For
Many Albertans
our older customers we’ll help them open doors. That
remember the
service makes all the difference.”
controversy over the
The Olympia stores are also community
government’s decision to
minded, contributing to charity
privatize its liquor stores,
events and raising money for
but Boparai says it ultiAsian tsunami relief.
mately worked out for
“That’s the best thing you
the better.
can do in life — share with
“Privatization had a
other people,” says Boparai.
positive impact on the
“We’d like to congratulate Alwhole industry,” he says.
berta on its 100th anniversary.
“There was some fear that
It’s a great province and Calgary is
prices would go up and selection wouldn’t be great, but
the greatest city.
it went the other way.
We should all appreciate Alberta.”
“There was a lot of job creation and it became more convenient
43
Pete Morissette,
general manager,
of Paradise Bay
Hot Tubs & Billiards.
some
like it
hot
Recreation lifestyle includes hot tubs, saunas, gaming
Calgary
“About eight years ago we began selling billiard tables in the winis a city that works hard and plays hard, and for
tertime to keep things busy during what is usually a slow time for
many people, there’s nothing better than coming home from a day
hot tubs, and billiards have since grown to be an integral part of
at the office and unwinding in a hot tub.
our business,” says Morissette. “We’re now one of the largest bilParadise Bay Hot Tubs & Billiards can barely keep up with the
liards retailers in Western Canada.
demand for hot tubs and spas, which is
“Plus, we have foozball, air hockey, and other
nothing new for this business which first
games tables. We also carry patio furniture, some
opened its doors back in 1992.
swimming pool accessories, and barbecues.”
“This industry has exploded in the last few Paradise Bay Hot Tubs
When it comes to hot tubs, Paradise Bay supyears,” says general manager Pete Morissette. & Billiards
ports a homegrown Alberta manufacturer.
“When we opened we were the only hot tub
“We specialize in the Arctic Spa brand,” says
store in the area, and now we’re surrounded. ■ Opened in 1992.
“When we started, we were probably the ■ Named Arctic Spa’s Dealer of Morissette. “It’s an Alberta-made spa that is available around the world, with plants in Edmonton
smallest guys in all of Calgary. Now we’re
the Year for 13 years running.
and Coleman.
the largest.”
■ Expanded over the years to
“What makes Arctic Spa special is it’s designed for
Founded by Brent Macklin, Paradise Bay include hot tubs, saunas, barbecold weather use. It draws heat from the motors into
moved into its current location at 6201
cues, backyard recreation and
the water, which reduces your total operating cost.”
Centre St. S. about five years ago. It has also gaming.
For 13 years, Paradise Bay has been named Arcexpanded to include stores in Edmonton, ■ Renovating and expanding to
tic Spa’s Dealer of the Year, beating out shops in
Saskatoon, and Regina.
50,000 square feet.
Toronto, Boston, and Chicago.
Morissette says Paradise Bay is another
■ Address: 6201 Centre St. S.
“Hot tubs have improved dramatically since we
example of a Calgary entrepreneurial suc- Phone: 640-4011 Website:
opened, just like computers and automobiles,” says
cess story.
www.goparadisebay.com
Morissette. “They’re far more energy efficient and
“Brent was working for a big corporation
RADISE BAY
there’s less maintenance involved.”
and wanted to be in business for himself, so
A
P
Paradise Bay was one of the first dealers to offer
he started Paradise Bay,” he says.
“test soaks.” Customers are invited to come down
Morissette, for his part, has experienced
and take a dip in one of the many working models
the hot tub business literally from the
on display.
ground up.
“Sometimes this is the only way to find a hot tub
“I started here in 1993 as a delivery perthat’s right for you,” says Morissette.
son. I then moved up to the service end,
Paradise Bay is undergoing renovations
then to sales and management, and
that will add a mezzanine level to betnow I’m a partner,” he says. “I was
ter showcase its billiards and gaming
very much self-schooled in the hot
division and offer more display
tub industry.
space for the many models of hot
“As a delivery guy, I saw first
tubs in stock, doubling its floor
hand how happy people were
space to 50,000 square feet.
when we installed their hot
“We’re lucky to be selling a
tubs, and the benefits hot
leisure product,” says Moristubs brought to people. I fell
sette. “And a philosophy I
in love with the industry and
learned from Brent is to go that
I’ve been stuck in it ever since.”
extra mile for our customers.
Paradise Bay has expanded to in“The key for us is to take care of our
clude more than just hot tubs and saunas.
clients. We’ve built up a lot of trust with them
The store has also become known for its backover the years.”
yard recreation and gaming departments.
45
Brothers David, left, and Earl Adelman are
at the helm of three leading furniture
stores: Thomasville Home Furnishings,
Penthouse Fine Furniture and Leather
Express. Right: The Hemingway
Tanganyika ottoman from Thomasville.
in a
brotherly
fashion
Siblings blaze trail west for family furniture business
For three generations, the Adelman family has been in the
and working in the warehouse in Winnipeg, and I learned every
facet of the business.”
furniture business.
David Adelman says the nature of the furniture business has
Ever since Chaim Adelman started the North End Furniture Co. in
changed over the years, although NEFCO
Winnipeg 80 years ago, the family has dedicated ithas always tried to maintain a higher stanself to providing quality home furnishings.
dard than its competitors.
Today, NEFCO, includes three stores in Win“We’ve always prided ourselves on having
nipeg and four stores in Calgary, each with its
Penthouse Fine Home Furnishings
well-maintained displays,” he says. “Even back
own personality and focus.
Thomasville Home Furnishings
in the first generation we were never a ‘line“My brother, Earl, was the first to come to Cal’em-up’ store. When product is lined up you
gary,” says David Adelman. “He came here in
■ Penthouse Opened in 1978.
can’t picture what it’ll look like in your room.”
1978 and started Penthouse Fine Home Furnish- ■ Thomasville Opened in 1994.
Themes are strong elements of furniture
ings. I followed in 1994 and opened Thomasville ■ Thomasville is located at 7315
design. For example, Thomasville offers the
Home Furnishings.
11th St. S.E. Phone: 244-0210
“We saw Calgary as a growing, resource-rich
■ Penthouse Fine Home Furnishings Ernest Hemingway Collection, inspired by
locations in the author’s travels, and the Bogmarket, so we figured we would expand and trail- is located at 4120 Blackfoot Trail
art Collection, inspired by the Art Deco deblaze west.”
S.E. Phone: 243-1405
signs of the Casablanca era.
Combined with NEFCO’s two Leather
Strong customer service is also a cornerExpress stores, the company has become a major
stone of how NEFCO does business.
player in the Calgary home furnishings market“Our philosophy is no matter who the cusplace.
tomer is, everyone gets treated with the same
“We have very little product overlap,” says
respect and professional courtesy. In good or
David. “Thomasville is a 100-year-old company
bad times we never get complacent or disthat focuses on finely crafted, traditional furnishings. Over the last five years, we have introduced more contemporary criminate, “ says David. “Our company stays true to itself and has
survived all the depressions and the recessions over the years.”
offerings, so it’s not just the traditional hand carved pieces as some
The four NEFCO stores are located in the heart of Calgary’s furniwould believe.
ture district. David says he loves having the
“Penthouse focuses on more contemporary to modern
competition.
furnishings — Italian imports, leather, bed“I think it’s good for the customer
room suites, dining room sets — but still
to have a lot of selection,” he says.
carries an assortment of traditional collec“In the end, even if stores have simitions such as
lar products, our customers are
Bernhardt.
drawn by the staff and the service
“Leather Express is a leather specialty
they’re going to get.
store,” says David. “We carry a fantastic
“I’m a big believer in that. All of
range of fine leather upholstery in all price
our stores transmit a very relaxed
levels but still focus on quality and value.”
and welcoming environment.
All these stores add up to increased mer“Calgary is a great place to live
chandise buying power for NEFCO, meanand do business and we’re looking
ing higher-quality selection and better prices
forward to many more years of enjoyfor consumers.
able service to the community.”
“We have a tradition to keep up that was started long ago,”
The two Leather Express stores are at 120 58th Ave. S.E., and
says David. “It’s in our blood.
beside Penthouse on Blackfoot Trail.
“I’ve been working in the industry since I was 11 years old
47
A Century of Success – Real Estate
Calgary ‘For Sale’
Housing rides ups and downs to strong future
by Marty Hope
J
48
ohn Emerson wasn’t shy about throwing parties. As mayor of Calgary when Alberta
joined Confederation in 1905, Emerson
hosted no table social gatherings for countless
international dignitaries, including the future
King George V.
He was in charge when Calgary’s population
passed 10,000 and the province’s population was
closing in on 100,000. He was also at the helm
when a 1906 Herald real estate article revealed
“some astonishing advances in certain parts of the
city — some of them justifiable, some otherwise.”
Egads. Twenty-five-foot lots on the west side,
that five years earlier fetched $25, were selling for
$400. East of the Elbow River, land appreciation
saw lot prices rocket from $35 to between $200
and $1,000.
Calgary was off and growing.
Between 1910 and 1919, demand continued
to drive land prices up as the population climbed
to 44,000. Neighbourhoods like Roxborough,
Sunalta, Elbow Park, Bankview and Bowness
were born. But it was American Hill, now called
Mount Royal, that was the place to live.
The outbreak of the First World War dominated
the news, but 1914 also heralded a change to Alberta’s economy with the Turner Valley oil discovery. By that fall, 500 oil companies — most of
which did not last — had been formed.
Good times rolled for most of the 1920s. The
city’s population was nearly 66,000 and $4,000
would buy a six-room house on 11th Avenue
S.E. or a seven-room house on 17th Avenue S.W.
Then, in 1929, the boom busted with the collapse of the financial markets and the onset of the
Great Depression.
The 1930s weren’t good years for Calgarians.
Along with the Depression came hailstorms,
drought, hordes of locusts and the Second World
War. Oh yes, and there was a flood that saw the
Elbow and Bow Rivers overrun their banks,
flooding southwest homes. A couple of months
later, sod was turned for the Glenmore Reservoir
— too late for some homeowners.
In 1933, the Depression ended. One year later,
a brick bungalow on the North Hill sold for
$2,200. Earlier it had carried a price tag of
$4,950 but had been repossessed.
War and its aftermath dominated the first half of
the 1940s. Then in 1945, the Calgary House
Builders Association was formed and its first challenge was to provide housing for returning veterans.
Federally subsidized housing was built and
rented out for $27 to $37.50 per month. By
1949, Central Mortgage and Housing Corp. was
landlord to more than 40,000 families in Canada.
Then came the post-war explosion that forever
changed Alberta’s economy. The massive Leduc No.
1 oil well blew to the surface in Devon in 1947.
That same year Calgary, now with 100,000
people, welcomed new neighbourhoods like
Tuxedo Park and West Hillhurst. It was also the
year Bill Jager, patriarch of Jager Homes, built his
first home in Killarney and sold it for $9,000.
After the Devon discovery, people came to
Calgary from all over the continent hoping to lay
claim to oil riches. As the 1950s opened, Calgary
boasted 25,000 owner-occupied homes and another 16,000 rental units.
As the influx continued, so did housing demand — leading to the city’s very first show
home parade with 26 builders taking part.
Around this time, Stepper Homes’ founder
Rudy Stepper was buying up lots in Bridgeland.
In 1957 Nu-West was founded. A year later
Carma Developers opened.
There was so much happening internationally
through the 1960s that housing changes paled.
Uri Gagarin orbited the earth; JFK was assassinated as was his killer Lee Harvey Oswald; Pierre
Trudeau was elected prime minister; Canada
turned 100; Martin Luther King and Robert
Kennedy were gunned down; and millions saw
Neil Armstrong dance on the moon.
In Calgary, Midnapore, Forest Lawn and Bowness were annexed and the 1964 population hit
300,000. An 1,100-square-foot house sold for an
average of $17,400.
Unprecedented growth highlighted the 1970s.
In the nine years since 1961, population swelled
to 385,000 from 250,000. By the end of the
decade it had soared to 600,000 and housing demand kept pace. For the first time, starts passed
10,000 with 11,360 recorded in 1976.
Throughout the decade, Homes by Jayman
(now Jayman MasterBuilt), Shane Homes, Albi
Homes, and Homes by Avi opened for business.
In 1974, Alberta builders beat back a federal
proposal for a national home warranty program.
Shortly after, Calgary builder Klaus Springer
joined a committee that led to the formation of
what is now called the Alberta New Home Warranty Program.
By 1979, a new 1,200-square-foot home in the
northeast could be bought for $95,000 and the
average city-wide price for a resale home was
$76,289 — triple the 1972 price.
The rollercoaster ride that is Calgary took
some wild twists and turns in the 1980s.
As 1981 dawned, Calgary continued to see
amazing growth in housing. In fact, building
permits that year topped $2 million — the same
as Toronto and Houston.
That summer, five-year interest rates soared to
22 per cent and a month later the National Energy Policy, that gave Ottawa increased revenues
from Alberta’s oilpatch, was in place.
But it wasn’t until two or three years later that
the full impact of the NEP hit home.
More people were leaving Calgary than were
coming in and between 1983 and 1985 the city
recorded as many as 5,500 foreclosures. The average price of a resale home dropped $10,000
and new housing starts went from 9,600 in 1982
to 1,803 in 1984.
It didn’t take long for the recession of the early
1980s to claim a big-name victim.
Nu-West Group Ltd., one of the city’s most
high-profile housebuilding and land development companies, died.
e
With major investments in developed and undeveloped land, primarily residential land in Alberta
and the U.S. sunbelt, the company was hit hard by
the prolonged North American recession.
But by the end of 1989, starts were up to 6,200
and the average resale price gained $16,000 from its
1986 low of $83,000.
The 1990s welcomed the Goods and Services Tax
— and added seven per cent to almost everything
purchased.
Except for some intensive lobbying by the Canadian Home Builders Association, new home buyers
would have had to pay the full shot as well. Instead,
the tax hit was cut to 4.5 per cent. Resale housing
was exempt.
Part of what government took away in 1991 was
given back in 1992 with two home-buying incentives.
The first reduced the minimum down payment to five
per cent from 10, and the second was the Home Buyers’ Plan that allowed a tax-free withdrawal of $20,000
from RRSPs for a down payment.
These incentives helped boost demand, but it
wasn’t until 1996 that a major rebound in housebuilding started and carried on for the rest of the decade.
The first four full years of the 21st century saw
housing records broken and broken again. And the
major force behind it all has been mortgage rates unseen for more than 40 years.
A related story has to be the voracious demand for
condominiums — particularly among first-time
buyers who are taking advantage of low rates to get
out of rental housing.
The rate declines began following the Sept. 11,
2001 terrorist attacks of the World Trade Centre in
New York, when the Bank of Canada ran off a string
of 10 consecutive drops. Even in 2005, five-year
money is available at under five per cent.
Condo appeal has kept growing to the point that by
the end of 2004, 5,775 multiple starts had been
recorded. For 2005, the forecast is for a decline to 5,200.
On the single-family side, a record 9,413 starts
were reported in 2002. Activity has since backed off
but remains well in excess of 8,000 per year. For
2005 the outlook calls for 8,500.
You want records?
In 2001, the Calgary Real Estate Board set a sales
market of 22,512. Twelve months later that was
shunted aside when sales climbed above 25,000.
That mark held for two years before 26,463 sales
were counted in 2004.
And with demand continuing strong, the forecast
for 2005 is for more than 28,000 sales.
As for prices, CREB figures show that the year-end
average price in 2000 was $176,305 and by the end
of last year it had climbed to $222,801. By the end of
this year, it could be at nearly $243,000.
On the new side, the average price of a single-fam-
ily home has been climbing in $20,000 increments
for the past few years and is expected to vault to
$307,00 by the end of this year.
— Marty Hope is a Calgary Herald New Homes
and New Condos writer
MAIN PHOTO: View of tent town at Calgary on east
side of Elbow River, 1883. Public Archives of Manitoba. ABOVE: Today’s downtown skyline is dotted
with skyscrapers and highrise condos.
The Qualico team in the Calgary branch.
creating
communities
Building and development company has seen dramatic changes
market has carried on ever since.”
Schienbein’s career dates back to the 1950s when he started with the
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. He got into homebuilding in
building high-quality homes and creating communities throughout
Regina in 1965.
Calgary and across Western Canada.
“There have been a lot of changes in the industry,” he says. “In the
Founded as Quality Construction Ltd. in Winnipeg in 1951, the
early years, homes were simpler. The majority of homes were probably
company arrived in Calgary in 1954.
bungalows.”
“This company was founded by David and Katherine Friesen, who
We’re also seeing mortgage interest rates lower than they’ve been in
came to Canada from Russia,” says Len Schienbein, vice-president of
years, says Schienbein.
Qualico’s Calgary branch office. “It is a real Canadian success story.”
"When I got into the homebuilding business,
Today, the Qualico name — adopted in 1972
the rate was around six per cent, but today the
— can be found in up-and-coming Calgary subdirates are even lower than that,” he says.
visions such as Crestmont, Evanston, Taradale and
The rise of apartment-style condominiums has
Royal Oak.
Qualico
been a major change in the industry, one that
As the Qualico Group of Companies, Qualico
has diversified to include some of the biggest names ■ Founded in 1951, with Qualico Qualico’s Streetside Development division has addressed to great success. Schienbein predicts the
in single- and multi-family home construction,
name adopted in 1972.
number of multi-family units as a percentage of
land development, commercial properties, build- ■ Home construction, land deing supplies and marketing.
velopers, commercial properties, the overall housing market in Calgary will con“Qualico is unique, as we don’t operate under
building supplies and marketing. tinue to grow, and Qualico/Streetside will be
ready.
one name,” says Schienbein.
■ Address: #200, 5709 2nd St.
There’s more to Qualico than building homes
“Sterling Homes and its Pacesetter Homes divi- S.E. Phone: 253-3311 Website:
and developing land.
sion, Broadview Homes and NuVista Homes
www.qualicocommunities.com
The company has been a longtime supporter
cover our single-family developments. Streetside
of Habitat for Humanity, and employees can ofDevelopment Corp. takes care of multi-family.
ten be found participating in local fund-raising
Creative Zone offers marketing and advertising serevents such as Walk for Breast Cancer.
vices.
“I think the province has been good to Qualico.
“We also have Qualico Commercial, Qualico
In return, we should be good corporate citizens
Communities (land development), Star Building
and put something back into the community,” says Schienbein.
Supplies and Rancho Property Management.”
A key to Qualico’s success over the years has been its relationships
Schienbein joined Qualico in 1992, just as Calgary was heading out
with customers.
of a housing slump brought on by the economic downturn of the
“We treat the customers as we
1980s.
would like to be treated ourselves
“The market was certainly not as
— with respect,” Schienbein says.
good then as it is today,” he says.
“Alberta is a great place to do
“We were probably doing only 300
business, and we wish all the peohomes a year.
ple of Alberta a good future and we
Qualico’s diversification across
hope to be part of that future for a
Western Canada helped the comlong time.
pany survive the slump, and
“I often say I’d like to be 20 or 30
Schienbein says by 1997 the boom
years younger, because I think
was back.
Qualico has some interesting times
“In 1998, we had record sales
ahead.”
and record occupancies, and the
For more than half of Alberta’s first century, Qualico has been
51
RE/MAX Calgary and area broker owners , pictured left to right: Lowell Martens, John Riseborough, Diana
Zaytsoff, Rick Bumphrey, Sarah Belcher, Dennis Driscoll, Karen Marks and Michael Cain. Missing: Pat Hare, Paul Mair,
Jean Buchanan, Martin Zacher, Afshin Devani, Brian Carlin, Dan Sidhu, Sunny Banipal, Delores Hart, Don Sackett
service
to the
max
Pioneer spirit brings new real estate concept to Canada
It
associates who serve the citizens of the Calgary area.
all started with a chance meeting between a Calgary real
“In Western Canada, we have 206 independently owned and
estate broker and the founder of a fledgling American-based real
operated offices and 5,030 sales associates, and we’re the largest reestate chain 28 years ago.
altor in the country with some 15,000 sales associates,” says Ash.
Today, RE/MAX offices can be found coast-to-coast and
With Alberta reaching its 100th anniversary,
RE/MAX of Western Canada is one of the
it’s a great time to be doing business here, he says.
most successful regions in the entire company.
“The economy of Calgary and Alberta is
“Our first office in Canada was set up in
extremely vibrant and with tremendous
Calgary in 1977,” says Regional Vice-PresiRE/MAX Calgary & Area
depth,” says Ash. “This is not a one horse town,
dent Elton Ash from the region’s headquarters
in Kelowna.
■ First Canadian RE/MAX office either. The oil industry is driving Alberta’s
economy but you also have high-tech, service
“Don Fernie was our first broker. He met
opened in Calgary in 1977.
industries, and other resources such as the coal
Dave Liniger, the founder of RE/MAX in
■ Western Canadian region
industry and all that helps the Alberta and Cal1976 and was quite impressed and decided to formed in 1980. Today it boasts
gary marketplace. And look at the recreation
be a pioneer and bring the RE/MAX concept 206 offices and 5,030 sales
industry — Banff, the Rocky Mountains, the
to Canada.”
associates.
RE/MAX stands for “Real Estate Maxi■ Nearly 40 per cent of Calgary Stampede — it makes
Alberta a very exciting place to be and as a
mums” and was founded in 1973 by Dave and homes are sold by RE/MAX
realtor we benefit from that because people
Gail Liniger in Denver. Their idea was to pro- professionals.
want to live here.”
vide quality real estate professionals with an at- ■ Website: www.remax.ca.
Ash estimates nearly 40 percent of homes
mosphere in which to develop their sales posold in the Calgary area are sold by RE/MAX
tential, while providing maximum service to
professionals.
the consumer.
RE/MAX associates are very involved in their
“The synergy of being in a positive environlocal communities, and the RE/MAX name can
ment is the idea behind how the Linigers
often be seen attached to charity events, from
founded this company,” says Ash.
sponsorships to special appearances by the company’s distinctive hot
The Western Canada region formed in 1980 when the Cherot
air balloon.
family of St. Albert purchased the rights to RE/MAX for
“We have a local committee of sales associates that
this part of the country, says Ash. “They started frandetermine what we should support,” says Ash.
chising RE/MAX throughout the Western
“Our membership is behind us 110 percent in
provinces.”
giving back to the community, such as supBob Cherot Sr. had retired to Kelowna by
porting the Children’s Miracle Network and
this time but was excited to be asked to run the
the Alberta Children’s Hospital, organ donanew Region.
tion, and the Grade 12 Quest for Excellence
“He had retired somewhat young and was a
student bursary program.”
pretty active guy who found retirement sort of
RE/MAX also sponsors the Spruce Meadboring, so he thought it was a great opportuows Family Care Centre, and the Women of
nity,” says Ash. “But he said, I love the winters in
Vision program. “We also support Raise a
Kelowna and I’m not moving back to Edmonton,
Reader, the Mother’s Day Run, the Olympic
so that’s how we ended up being headquartered here
Oval, and we provide our hot air balloon for
instead of in St. Albert or Edmonton.”
fundraisers,” says Ash.
The Western Canadian region continued to grow
“Alberta is the key to the vibrancy and success of the
and today, the Calgary area boasts 15 office locations with
whole country and we wish the province all the best for its
nearly 880 sales associates. This growth can be attributed
100th anniversary.”
to the network of professional broker owners and sales
53
Wallace and Barry Chow
of the multi-family
homebuilder, Resiance Corp.
Inset photo, right:
The Gateway South Centre
presentation centre won
the 2004 SAM award for
Best Sales and Information
Centre.
building
on a
can-do
attitude
Brothers proud of family’s pioneering history
Wallace
Resiance Corp. has attracted acclaim, and strong sales, for
and Barry Chow were the first generation of their
family to be born in Canada, but their roots run deep into the history projects in Garrison Woods, Marda Loop, Erin Woods, and most
recently the groundbreaking Gateway Southcentre (award-winning
of Alberta.
presentation centre pictured below) — a 500-suite project that
As president and executive vice-president, respectively, of
incorporates a cutting-edge, environmentally
Resiance Corp., the Chow brothers make it their
friendly heating system called “geo-exchange.”
business to build prosperity in Calgary,
Geo-exchange uses hundreds of boreholes
constructing some of the most innovative
drilled 200 feet below the building, with loops of
multi-family projects in the city. But as they look Resiance Corp.
pipe filled with a water-and-methanol mixture to
to the future, Wallace and Barry make sure never
prevent freezing. During winter the heat stored in
to forget the sacrifices of their ancestors.
■ Multi-family homebuilders
the earth is extracted to keep the place warm,
“We’re very much Alberta pioneers,” says
started out in the grocery
while during the dog days of summer, the system
Barry. “Our family was part of the group that
business.
provides cooling — all at a substantial reduction
came over from China in the 19th century to
■ Family has long history in
in fossil fuel consumption.
build the CPR.
Alberta.
“We are an innovating company, and that’s why
“Those men lived a lonely existence. With the ■ Address: 1460–10655 Southwe are introducing things like geo-exchange,” says
Chinese Exclusion Act and a $500 head tax, the port Rd. S.W. Phone: 278-2388
Barry. “Our goal is to create an environment in
men came over while their families stayed in
Website: www.resiance.com
which our homeowners and our staff will prosper.
China. When their sons were old enough, they
And we feel our homeowners will prosper by purwere sponsored to come here and work on the
chasing from us.”
railroad.”
Another upcoming project for Resiance is the
After immigration rules were relaxed, the
500-suite Gateway Midtown, the latest
Chows’ parents came over in the 1950s.
addition to the revitalization of Calgary’s
“They didn’t know a word of English,” says
inner city.
Barry. “At the time there were only three things
“If you want your business to survive, you have to provide good
you could do (as a Chinese immigrant): open a laundromat, a
sales and good value,” says Wallace. “We try to build projects that
grocery store or a restaurant. They started a corner grocery store and
reflect that sense of ongoing value. If you look at one of our projects,
expanded it into a supermarket chain.”
you’ll see everything has a function. We won’t put in ornamentation
Food City became one of Alberta’s biggest grocery chains, at its
for the sake of ornamentation.”
height doing $100 million in sales annually. But the recession of the
Wallace and Barry say they have enearly 1990s hit the chain hard and it
joyed seeing Alberta and Calgary grow
folded.
and prosper over the years.
The Chow brothers took what
“Seeing Alberta come of age has been
they’d learned from developing
very gratifying,” says Barry. “I still
commercial land for Food City
remember when Calgary was a little
outlets and shifted into multiover 200,000 people — even Winnipeg
family housing.
was bigger!”
“We still run the company like a
Adds Wallace: “I think Alberta has a
couple of grocers,” says Wallace.
very good future ahead of it, not just
“Grocery is a very detail-oriented
because of the oil in the ground, but
business. An 8 a.m. doughnut is not
because of our ‘can-do’ attitude. The
the same as a 5 p.m. doughnut. You
key building block in Alberta is the
have to watch these little details, and
attitude of its people that we can make
in the construction business it’s the
anything happen.”
same thing.”
55
Ted Zaharko, owner
Royal LePage Foothills
committed
to
excellence
Real-estate firm pioneered practices now taken for granted
As
Alberta reaches its 100th anniversary, the staff of Royal LePage Melton believed that if you treat your clients the way you would expect to be treated, the rest of the business should take care of itself.”
Foothills is proud of its long record of helping Calgarians plan their
In 1984, A.E. LePage merged with Royal Trust
futures.
to become Royal LePage and, in 1999, Zaharko
The more than 200 real estate agents who
became owner of a local franchise that was named
work for the locally owned franchise of Royal
Royal LePage Foothills Real Estate Services.
LePage have amassed an incredible amount of ex- Royal LePage Foothills
“Our clients have the advantage of more than
perience in making sure prospective homeowners
10,000 agents in Canada, and our agents have
get the best value for their dollar.
■ Royal LePage’s history dates
(access to) an organization that is on the leading
“We are very proud of the fact that when you back to 1913.
edge in today’s technical world,” says Zaharko.
add up the total years of service, we have over
■ More than 10,000 agents
But even more important, he says, “the
1,900 years of experience in the organization,”
across Canada.
says broker/owner Ted Zaharko.
■ Six offices in the Calgary area. money is held locally, and decisions are made
that reflect the needs of Calgary and town-and“That means our agents are not only commit- ■ Addresses: 321 12445 Lake
country clients and agents. To that end, we are
ted to the concept that we subscribe to, but they Fraser Dr. S.E.; 200 37 Richard
are loyal, and we are very proud to have their out- Way S.W.; 308 5419 Country Hills totally independent.
“We still maintain the highest level of service
standing qualities in our organization.
Blvd. N.W.; 50 805 5 Ave. S.W.;
excellence.”
“They are the only true asset we have, and they 127 3 Ave. West, High River; 2,
Royal LePage Foothills now has four branches
are outstanding people.”
74 Elizabeth St., Okotoks
in Calgary, as well as offices in High River and
The company has a long history in Canada,
Website: www.rlfoothills.com
Okotoks, collectively handling more than 4,000
dating back to 1913, and a record of setting
properties annually. A seventh office is planned
many of the standards real estate providers confor Bragg Creek.
tinue to follow along the way.
Community involvement is also a strength at
Albert E. LePage was based in Toronto, and
Royal LePage Foothills.
was the first agent in that city “to turn buying
Says Zaharko: “Corporately and locally, all
and selling homes into an accessible and profesRoyal LePage offices support the Royal LePage
sional enterprise,” says Zaharko. LePage did
Foundation, and in Calgary we are working on
things that were unheard of at the time, such as
the funding of Discovery House, a shelter for abused women and
taking buyers from house to house by car, placing descriptive ads in
children. Our agents have organized and worked on local commitnewspapers, and actively seeking clients.
tees to see that these goals are met.”
LePage helped establish the Toronto Real Estate Board, which beZaharko says this is an exciting time to be
came a model for similar boards across the country.
in the real estate business in Alberta and in
By the mid-1970s, the A. E. LePage Co. had
Calgary.
become a major player in Calgary’s real es“Calgary is growing and will soon extate market, acquiring Melton Real Estate.
ceed the magic million, which might
“When it was acquired, Melton was
mean we will inherit some of the
one of Canada’s largest independent
problems of a larger city, but we will
real estate companies,” says Zaharko,
also have the benefit of our own
who started his real estate career with
built-in economy, because one
Melton in 1971. “The common trait
million-plus people creates that kind
between the companies was service exof economy,” he says.
cellence. Both Mr. LePage and Mr. L.T.
L.T. Melton
A.E. LePage
57
Marilyn Sheftel
owner, Silverhill Acura.
trust
and
integrity
Dealership’s winning formula a tribute to founder
Silverhill
“My daughters all wanted to stay on Macleod Trail — this is
Acura stands as a tribute to a husband
what their father built,” Sheftel says. “They wanted to keep it as
and father.
a monument to their dad.”
Co-founded by Harvey Sheftel, Silverhill was one of the
So Silverhill literally went underground. A massive 20,000first five Acura stores to open in Canada in February 1987.
square-foot expansion saw the dealership
When Harvey died in 1991, his wife
build a new service centre under the current
Marilyn was left to look after the dealership.
showroom and upper parking lot, bringing
“Acura assumed I would take over,” Marilyn
the number of hoists from eight to 15. There
recalls. “They thought I knew what I was doing
are now 11 Acura technicians and four
— when I really didn’t. But before they found Silverhill Acura
apprentices.
out I didn’t, I did.”
During the service centre renovation, valet
She admits she did a lot of homework to
bring herself up to speed regarding the
■ One of first five Acura dealers parking attendants were employed to receive
and deliver customers’ vehicles before and
operation of the Macleod Trail dealership and to open in Canada.
after service.
also gives a great deal of credit to the staff she
■ Won the ACE (Acura Client
When the construction was completed, the
inherited.
Excellence) Award five years in a
valet attendants were retained, even though
In fact, many of those same staff members
row.
the renovation included a service drive
are still with her. She likes to think that’s
■ Address: 5728 Macleod Trail
through.
because she runs her business as if everyone
S.W. Phone: 253-6060
“Once you initiate an added customer
who works for her is part of an extended
Website: www.silverhillacura.com
convenience, it’s hard to give it up,” Sheftel
family.
explains. “I don’t know what we’d do without
And she’s proud that Silverhill has grown to
our valet drivers now.”
be able to support 62 employees and their own
And the renovations aren’t quite finished.
families.
While the 18-year-old building still looks
Sheftel credits her employees with helping
great, the entire upstairs showroom and office
to earn Silverhill Acura a great deal of
level are undergoing a makeover. Sheftel is
recognition. The dealership was acknowledged
expanding the showroom and adding more sales offices.
earlier this year for its leadership in business acumen
“When we started, there were only two models that Acura had
and community and industry involvement with the
to offer. We now have seven,” Sheftel explains.
2005 Motor Dealers Association of Alberta
Of 47 Acura dealers nationwide, Silverhill
Dealer of Excellence Award.
Acura is ranked in the top four, and the
Silverhill has also garnered the
dealership is consistently number
prestigious ACE (Acura Client
one in Alberta and in the top two
Excellence) Award five years in
in Western Canada. Sheftel herself
a row — one of only two Acura
has achieved tremendous recognidealers in Canada to have won the
tion. On Profit Magazine’s latest list
ACE for five consecutive years.
of top 100 female entrepreneurs, she
Sheftel’s three daughters,
placed seventh, and she has made this
Tracey, Danielle and Carrie and
list five times.
all work at the dealership in
“Clients comment that they feel
various capacities. And when it
comfortable in our dealership, and
came time to expand the business,
I believe that trust and integrity go a
none of them wanted to see the
long way in helping people feel
dealership move from its
comfortable,” Sheftel says.
present location.
59
A Century of Success – Energy
60
Alberta crude
A tale of wildcatting, booms and Calgary cash
by Brian Burton
T
hrough good times and bad, Calgary
has been home to more than 500 oil
companies, from the tiniest upstarts to
mighty EnCana Corporation, currently boasting $45 billion in market value.
Calgary is exclusive headquarters to a Canadian oil industry that, were it to join the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OPEC), would immediately place third in total production. And when it comes to natural
gas, Canada’s Calgary-based industry places
third in the world, behind only Russia and the
United States.
Oil and gas commodity exports were valued
at $59 billion in 2004 and the net export
value, after subtracting imports, was more
than $34 billion, according to the National
Energy Board. Those figures, of course, do not
include the value of expertise and high-tech
equipment exported to other petroleum regions, worldwide.
It wasn’t always so.
When Alberta became a province 100 years
ago, its tiny oil industry was truly a pioneer af-
fair. Eight producing oil wells had been drilled
in 1902 within the area now covered by Waterton National Park, on Alberta’s southern
boundary. The first well produced 350 barrels
of oil per day (bpd) and gave birth to a little
boomtown optimistically christened Oil City.
But the oil and the town both played out
quickly.
Gas had been discovered by CPR water
drillers near Medicine Hat in 1883 with mixed
results. The gas caught fire and torched the
wooden derrick but by 1904 city fathers had
formed a gas utility for the municipality. The
only other gas well of note had been drilled by
the Dominion government in 1897 near the
Athabasca River in a search for oil. The Pelican
Rapids well struck a huge, high-pressure gas
find that blew wild for the next 21 years, perhaps presaging government misadventures
that followed.
Overall, Western Canadian oil and gas were
small operations and destined to serve only
very modest local markets for decades to
come.
The Canadian petroleum industry, to the
degree that there was one, was based on middling and quickly dwindling reserves in Southern Ontario.
When geologist Eugene Coste’s Southern
Ontario gas business foundered due to commodity shortages, he decamped to Southern
Alberta in 1909 where he drilled for gas at
Bow Island, near Lethbridge. This time gas reserves held up and in 1911 Coste’s Canadian
Western Natural Gas (now ATCO) built a
280-km pipeline to move gas to Lethbridge
and Calgary. At about the same time A.W.
Dingman formed the Calgary Natural Gas
Company, drilled a well east of the city and began supplying natural gas to the Calgary Brewing and Malting Company.
LEFT: Oil well workers weld equipment at Bow
Island in 1930. Photo: Courtesy, Glenbow
Archives — NA-711-156. ABOVE: Land around
the Imperial Oil drilling rig in Leduc turned into
an impromptu parking lot on Feb. 13, 1947,
when a driller struck oil and changed Alberta’s
fortunes and future overnight.
But, as the world lurched toward the Great
War, there was still no sure sign that oil would
play a significant role in Calgary’s future. The
railroad was by far the leading economic force,
but it had brought west a restless band of adventurers and entrepreneurs, who were looking
for opportunity in any form.
The first chance came on May 14, 1914, at a
place called Turner Valley, just south of Calgary. The Dingman #1 well, named for driller
Archibald Dingman, struck gas and naphthenic liquids (resembling refined gasoline) at a
depth of 2,000 feet.
“So great was the excitement that in one 24hour period promoters formed more than 500
‘oil companies,’” says The Great Oil Age, a
Canadian oilpatch history book by Alberta energy writers Gordon Jaremko, Peter McKenzieBrown and David Finch. The authors note that
three years later there were only 21 oil companies listed in the Calgary business directory and
the first Turner Valley boom was over.
Two more Turner Valley booms, finding
gas and then oil at increasingly greater
depths, had come and gone before the Second World War. But, in those years, Albertans learned a lot about oil and gas development. Turner Valley lessons included natural
gas processing, managing toxic hydrogen sul-
phide, sulphur handling, sour gas metallurgy
and how to fracture difficult reservoirs for
improved production.
Perhaps most importantly, they had come to
believe that natural gas was an important resource and not just a nuisance product to be
burned off in the pursuit of oil. To back this
conviction, the Alberta government created the
Petroleum and Natural Gas Conservation
Board (later the distinguished Energy Resources Conservation Board and now the Energy and Utilities Board) to regulate industry
operations.
“The foundations of the industry were laid
in Southern Alberta, by the discoveries in
Medicine Hat, Oil City and Turner Valley,”
says Jaremko. He says that’s why the industry
remained headquartered in Calgary, even after the really big oil discoveries were made
further north and frequently within a stone’s
throw of Edmonton. He says another key to
Calgary’s enduring success is that it’s “a very
open society.
“There’s definitely an old boys’ network but
it’s not the kind that’s exclusive. It’s actually
very inclusive, with immediate admission for
new, talented people.”
Bob Bott, author of Evolutions, the online
oilpatch history of the Canadian Centre of Energy Information (www.centreforenergy.com)
adds that, after the arrival of the railroad and
the Oil City excitement, “the stock promoters
set up shop in Calgary,” establishing a riskfriendly business ethos that persists today. Since
those days, he says, the concentration of corporate activity has given Calgary another distinguishing feature.
“Today,” Bott observes, “virtually all the decision makers (in the Canadian industry) are
within walking distance of one another.” This,
he maintains, is a great advantage over other
petroleum-producing regions, where leadership is more dispersed.
In 1930, the freedom to make those decisions became a little more secure when the
Privy Council of the British House of Lords
ruled, over Ottawa’s objections, that the prairie
provinces would receive resource ownership
rights similar to those of other provinces.
Provincial governments, not Ottawa, would
levy royalties and make regulations.
In 1944, Shell drilled to a depth of 4,000
metres just west of Cochrane to bring in the
first well of the Jumping Pound natural gas
field (which still provides major gas volumes to
Calgary today). But natural gas remained a difficult resource, dependent on nearby markets
for commercial success.
Oil remained the real objective — and across
Western Canada oil was proving very hard to
find.
Emblematic of the struggle was Canada’s
largest oil and gas company, Imperial Oil. Imperial had drilled 133 dry holes by 1946.
Imperial made one last effort south of Edmonton, at Leduc. The well was a winner and
market-savvy Imperial invited Edmontonians
to witness its first production. At the appointed
hour of 10 a.m. on Feb. 13, 1947, perhaps predictably, Leduc #1 refused to flow. By 4 p.m.
most people had left but a few hopeful provincial and city officials were on hand when oil
reached the surface, ushering in a major new
petroleum basin and a new era for Alberta and
Western Canada.
Imperial’s Leduc #2 also played coy, giving
no signs of oil at the expected depth and calling
into question the extent of the discovery.
Drilling continued and, 100 metres deeper,
Leduc #2 proved a far bigger find than its older
sibling. But it was Atlantic Leduc # 3 that became a media darling. It came to life as a
gusher, briefly caught fire and attracted newsreel coverage that made Alberta synonymous
with oil abundance, worldwide.
In the months that followed, exploration
flourished.
By 1952 major oil discoveries had been declared at Redwater, Golden Spike, Wizard
Lake, Fenn Big Valley, Bonnie Glen and Westerose. These were followed in 1953 by Pembina, west of Edmonton. The largest discovery
of all, Pembina supported 1,500 producing
wells by 1956.
In those same years, big gas accumulations
were found at Pincher Creek, Cessford, Bindloss, Hussar, Minnehik, Duck Lake, Nevis and
Olds.
Clearly, Alberta was on a roll and, equally
clearly, Calgary remained its corporate heart. A
few companies originally placed headquarters
in Edmonton, while a few of the big multinationals remained in Toronto, close to their refineries and gasoline markets. But over time
they were virtually all pulled into Calgary by
the dynamics of the industry. This same trend
saw drillers and other vital service businesses locate closer to the fields, in Edmonton, Whitecourt, Red Deer and Brooks.
In the early 1950s it was also becoming very
clear that Alberta couldn’t begin to use all the
oil and gas it was producing. The industry
needed markets, Eastern consumers needed reliable fuel supplies and Ottawa was delighted
to see another opportunity for interweaving
the fabric of a young nation.
61
Oil Age authors note that, when Leduc
changed Alberta fortunes, there were only three
significant pipelines in Canada. Two carried oil
from the U.S. to Montreal and Southern Ontario and a third connected Turner Valley with
Calgary. Linking Eastern Canadian consumers
with Alberta oil and gas would require
pipelines on a very different scale.
The Interprovincial Pipeline Ltd. oil pipeline
began construction in 1949 and delivered oil to
Great Lakes tankers by 1950. When it reached
Toronto in 1957, the pipeline was briefly the
world’s longest. That title was taken over by the
TransCanada Pipelines gas line in 1958 and
held until 1980, when a Russian line claimed
first place. As TransCanada moved east, Westcoast Transmission connected Alberta and
British Columbia gas discoveries with the B.C.
Lower Mainland and the U.S. border.
Ottawa’s Liberal government took a direct
62
hand in the TransCanada effort, forcing competing proposals into a single entity and demanding that developers use an all-Canadian
route through the unrelenting rock of the
Canadian Shield. Eventually, Ottawa was
forced to take ownership of a portion of the
route above the Great Lakes, in order to ensure
completion. The political fallout contributed
to the defeat of the Liberal government, but Alberta natural gas flowed into Toronto, replacing manufactured coal gas.
As Canada completed its transformation from
an agrarian nation to a leading industrial power,
oil and gas became increasingly political. In
1961, the Conservative government of John G.
Diefenbaker announced the National Oil Policy
(NOP) and the Ottawa Valley Line, imposing
tariffs on any oil imports to locations west of the
line and thereby securing Ontario markets for
Alberta oil. Ontario paid more for oil than un-
der a competitive environment, but Alberta production climbed to 800,000 barrels per day by
1963. And the incoming Liberal government
maintained the tariff for another decade.
In 1971, Peter Lougheed and his Conservatives came to power in Alberta vowing to vastly
expand the Alberta petrochemical industry.
The plan was basi cally to strip natural gas liquids from gas bound for Ontario, keeping the
liquids and associated petrochemical jobs in Alberta — and ending the flow of both to Ontario. The government built a dam on the Red
Deer River to supply sufficient water for petrochemical development and the plan worked.
Billions of dollars of petrochemical plants were
built east of Red Deer, as well as at Edmonton,
and more were proposed, many by Ontariobased chemical producers.
The petrochemical industry was allowed to
strip liquids from the gas flowing to Eastern
Canada and replace them with additional natural gas volumes with a heating value equivalent to that of the extracted liquids. Gas producers complained bitterly that they paid the
royalties on the gas and should have ownership
rights to the higher-value liquids. But the
petrochemical policy was a success and it was
20 years before gas producers regained rights to
their liquids.
The Alberta government also announced a
new oil royalty formula, increasing or decreasing rates with international oil prices.
Then, in 1973, OPEC announced production cuts to prominent supporters of Israel in
the Yom Kippur War. First among targets of
the OPEC embargo was the oil-hungry United
States — and the first global oil crisis was underway. Oil prices rose in seemingly incessant
jumps from less than $2 US per barrel in 1972
to an unheard of $13 in 1978.
Then Iran and Iraq went to war. The carnage
was horrific but it was oil that made the headlines.
Prices shot to $30 and then above $35 in 1980.
Seeking to protect consumers, Ottawa’s Liberal government declared a made-in-Canada
oil price below the world price, creating a massive wealth transfer from Alberta to consuming
provinces. For more than a decade Alberta battled Ottawa over the price of oil and how to
LEFT: Massive pipes carry steam, bitumen, and
processed gas from the well pads to PetroCanada’s MacKay River oilsands facility processing
area about 97 kilometres from Fort McMurray in
this 2004 photo.
RIGHT: Oil continues to fuel the Alberta economy.
share resulting revenues between companies and
the two levels of government.
The Oil Great Age points out that in 1979 the
federal Conservatives, under Alberta-born Joe
Clark, briefly held power in a minority government — but little changed because the vast majority of Canadian voters lived in the East and
expected price controls. Asked in Question Period about his plans for the industry, Clark said:
“We are now actively discussing the mechanisms that will ensure that virtually 100 per cent
of the revenues that would go to the companies
as a result of the increases in energy prices will, in
fact, be regained by the Government of Canada
for the specific application by the Government of
Canada for national energy purposes.”
The whole Conservative plan — including
price controls and an energy self-sufficiency tax
— was outlined in coming days and it differed
little from what the Liberals announced months
later, after succeeding in a non-confidence motion and winning a majority in the ensuing federal election.
The Liberal budget of Oct. 28, 1980, unveiled the National Energy Program (NEP). It
contained price controls and a Petroleum and
Gas Revenue Tax that challenged Alberta’s resource ownership rights.
Lougheed and the leaders of the oilpatch were
furious. The Alberta government ordered a 15per-cent cut in oil production to back demands
for a negotiated price settlement and Ottawa finally acceded to that demand a year later.
At the same
time, the global
industry hit a wall of over-production, declining
demand, world recession, inflation and doubledigit interest rates that caught companies everywhere relying on continued high prices to support huge debt loads. Around the world, the industry went into severe retrenchment but in Alberta the entire blame was laid on the hated Liberals and the NEP.
Among the casualties of federal-provincial
wrangling and eroding prices were proposed
new oilsands plants valued in the billions of dollars. In Calgary, the personal cost was counted in
thousands of homes turned over to the banks.
A new Conservative government in Ottawa
deregulated oil prices and began untangling the
bizarrely complicated gas industry but the time
of troubles was just beginning.
In 1986, it was all made worse when Saudi
Arabia glutted the market and pushed oil to $10
a barrel. The world seemed awash in unwanted
oil and it was widely agreed, even as prices recovered slightly, that $20 a barrel was about the best
that could be hoped for on any sustained basis.
Except for a brief period during the Gulf War
of 1990-91, that forecast held true for more
than 12 years. So tough was the business environment that, in the late ’90s, a modest recovery
in gas prices to $2 per thousand cubic feet was
hailed as cause for optimism.
Hardest hit were the huge oilsands mining operations of Suncor and Syncrude, near Fort McMurray, with their enormous price tags and
high operating costs. The
media and
most of the industry declared them dinosaurs of a
bygone day. But the owners, with little other option, struggled fiercely to reduce per-barrel operating costs below the sluggish price of oil.
Their enormous scale was intended to reduce
costs per barrel but also seemed to constitute
their greatest weakness. Gigantic bucketwheel
excavators and draglines moved mountains of
ore to conveyors and processing plants but,
when the huge machines succumbed to the
punishment of the abrasive ore and the bitter
winter cold, the production ceased.
Then, in the early ’90s, first Suncor and then
Syncrude began a shift to conventional mining
equipment, including many smaller power shovels and fleets of big mining trucks with payloads
of 300 to 400 tonnes each. Individual machines
might break down but production carried on.
Operating costs dropped and, despite average oil
prices hovering just below $20, Suncor announced expansion plans, followed by Syncrude.
Despite another brief plunge in oil prices in
1998, Shell announced it would build the first
new oilsands mining operation in 20 years. By
2004, oilsands production from all sources
reached one million barrels per day, rivaling conventional output for the first time. Tens of billions of dollars of additional projects were proposed and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers forecast total production approaching three million barrels per day by the
end of the decade.
Perversely, prices that had remained uncaring
of the needs of the industry seemed almost to
applaud its defiance. New demand from the
burgeoning economies of China and India pushed daily world oil consumption to new records, just as industry
experts began to question whether
OPEC reserve estimates, unchanged
for decades, could really be taken at
face value. In 2004 and ’05 oil prices
surpassed $40 and regularly peaked
above $50 per barrel.
Gas prices exceeded $6 per thousand cubic feet and, as the provincial
centennial approached, Calgary
awaited further developments on
proposals for gas pipelines to bring
new supplies from Canada’s
Mackenzie Delta and Alaska’s
North Slope offshore.
— Brian Burton is a Calgary-based
energy writer.
63
Marg Southern, right, with
daughter Linda and fourlegged friend Daiquiri SM.
jumping
onto the
world stage
Show jumping facility has brought young riders’ dreams to life
In 2005, Spruce Meadows is celebrating its 30th Anniversary.
Internationale (FEI), the world governing body for equestrian
sports, for the right to host a Nations’ Cup event. First held at
Located on the southern outskirts of Calgary, Spruce Meadows
Spruce Meadows in 1977, the Nations’ Cup formed the
has grown to become one of Alberta’s top tourist attractions, and in
basis of the “Masters,” which wraps up the show jumping season
the last four years, it has been ranked as the top show jumping facileach September.
ity of its kind in the world.
Other tournaments were added, including
“When we started Spruce Meadows, we had
the “National”and the “Continental” in midthree objectives,” says president Marg Southern.
June, the “Canada One” held in late
“To promote top show jumping, to establish a
June–early July, and the “North American,”
breeding program to develop horses for the
Spruce Meadows
which coincides with the dates of the Calgary
sport, and to train young horses and riders.
Stampede in July.
“When we first conceived of Spruce Meadows, ■ Opened in 1975.
These show jumping tournaments attract
there were no Olympic riders from Western
■ Indoor and outdoor show
thousands of people to Calgary each year, proCanada,” Marg Southern says. Young riders,
jumping tournaments held
viding significant benefit to the local economy.
including the Southerns’ daughters, Linda and
throughout the year.
“We attract about 800 riders each year and
Nancy, had to travel to Eastern Canada to pursue ■ World-class facility hosting
the sport. “There wasn’t an outdoor facility in
conferences, business meetings, there are at least three (support) people accompanying each rider,” says Southern. “If you
Western Canada where young riders could
weddings, etc.
wanted to hold a convention in Calgary, they
train and compete, and reach the level they all
■ Located on the southern
don’t get much bigger.”
dream of.”
outskirts of Calgary.
Over the past few years, the FEI has ranked
In 1973, Marg and her husband, ATCO
Phone: 974-4200. Website:
Spruce Meadows as the top facility of its kind in
Group chairman Ron Southern, broke ground
www.sprucemeadows.com
the world.
for Spruce Meadows on the site of a former cattle
“We’re very proud of this ranking,” says Southfeedlot.
ern. “They do surveys around the world, collectWhen it opened in 1975, Spruce Meadows
ing input from officials and riders, taking into
boasted two show jumping rings, a riding hall,
consideration such things as prize money, facility
and a stable. Today that complement has grown
quality and ambience of the tournaments. Spruce
to include six world-class rings, as well as convenMeadows’ team of professionals works tirelessly to
tion and trade-show facilities that have made
ensure that internal standards are met.”
Spruce Meadows the destination for everything from company
Marg and Ron Southern’s dream of playing a role in the developmeetings to a gathering of world leaders at the 2002 G8 Summit.
ment of the sport of show jumping and hosting worldSpruce Meadows also has a busy media facility that
class athletes has come true.
produces some 130 hours of television programOlympic and World Champions, such
ming each year, broadcast around the
as Rodrigo Pessoa, Ludger Beerbaum,
world.
Beezie Madden, Ian Millar, Mario
“What we see today is not what we
Deslauriers, John and Michael
envisioned 30 years ago,” says
Whitaker, and numerous others,
Southern. “We started out with a
compete each year at the Spruce
junior program, but Ron had a
Meadows tournaments.
greater vision. He could see that
“Spruce Meadows has been a
if we wanted to grow the sport,
great adventure, and we’re proud
we couldn’t just have junior riders.
to know that young riders from
We needed to attract the top riders
around the world dream of
in the world.”
competing on the International Ring,”
The Southerns applied successfully to
says Marg Southern.
the Federation Equestre
65
Lawrence Bates, left,
with sons Greg and Alan.
all in the
family
Auto dealership celebrating an anniversary of its own
expanded retail sales area and five more service
bays for a total of 15. Office space was created
on a second level of the addition.
Stadium Nissan.
“The original building worked very well
Not only does Alberta ring in 100 years
for us until our volumes got to the point where
— Nissan celebrates 40 years in Canada,
®
we needed to expand to better serve our
while Stadium Nissan marks 20 years of
customers,” says Greg Bates.
business.
Stadium Nissan
Since the year 2000, Stadium Nissan has
Stadium Nissan started selling cars on
had a tremendous increase in sales volume
July 1, 1985. At that time, the company
■ Opened July 1, 1985.
nearly doubling its sales of five years ago. Inwas conducting business from a trailer
■ Father and sons continue to
deed, 2005 is the third year in a row Stadium
while the foundations for its retail facility
operate dealership.
were under construction.
■ Award-winner for automotive has been recognized as the No. 1 Nissan volume sales dealer in Calgary. Even with all of
Stadium’s location was chosen by Nissan education.
this growth, Stadium Nissan hasn’t lost touch
Canada to better serve the Northwest
■ Address: 2420 Crowchild Tr.
with its customers.
Calgary market. Situated on Crowchild
N.W.; Phone: 284-4611
“When a business gets big, it’s easy to lose
Trail directly across from McMahon StaWebsite:
intimacy with the customer,” Bates says.
dium, the dealership has LRT access at its
www.stadiumnissan.com
“But I think we’ve managed to maintain a
back door and is close to Foothills Hospital.
closeness with our customers and still grow at
Family is important to President
the same time.”
Lawrence Bates, and his two sons Greg and
Stadium believes in youth and education
Alan are actively involved with daily
and giving our young people a chance to learn.
operations. When Stadium opened in 1985,
Service Manager Mike Rolland, a published author now workGreg and Alan were high school students, and both have
ing towards his MBA, firmly believes in giving young people
worked as lot boys. Twenty years later, they have progressed to
every opportunity to work and learn, including placement in an
the positions of General Manager and General Sales Manager.
“This is a great location,” says Lawrence Bates. “We’re still do- apprenticeship program.
“We essentially grow our own staff, and it’s true not just in
ing business with people who did business with us in the trailer
service,” Bates says.
— we reminisce about those days when we visit.”
“Some of our sales staff started out moving cars around the lot.
Bates has 40 years in the auto industry, with a background
In 2003 Bates received a Dealer Education
largely in the service area. In fact, the first hour of his
Award from Northwood University for his
morning is often spent with service
contribution to youth and automotive
customers.
education — he was the only Cana“I’ll move cars, I’ll drive
dian recipient that year.
people home if necessary,” Bates
“It’s been a great 20
says. “And after 20 years, I visit
years,” says Bates. “You
with people who have been here
couldn’t pick a better
since Day 1 — and I now visit
place to do business
with their kids, and sometimes
than Calgary. We
their grandkids.”
have our dedicated
The original footprint of Stastaff and our loyal,
dium Nissan was 18,000 square
long-term
feet and included 10 service bays.
customers in Northwest
Last year, a 4,000-sq.-ft. addition
Calgary to thank for that.”
was constructed to provide an
It’s a year of anniversaries for Calgary's
67
Glen Bridarolli,
General Manager and
Dave Bridarolli,
Dealer Principal of
Stampede Pontiac
driven
to
innovate
Dealership thrives on change
While Alberta celebrates 100 years as a province,
nate the traditional back-and-forth haggling over vehicle
prices,” Glen explains.
Calgary’s Stampede Pontiac Buick GMC celebrates more
“So, with the Fair Deal Advantage we offer to our custhan half a century of business.
tomers, pricing based on a full disclosure of all the informaSince 1954, Stampede Pontiac has served the downtown
tion required to make a decision, including our margin on
Calgary automotive marketplace, and during that time the
the vehicle they are interested in.”
dealership has witnessed many changes.
“We know customers feel more
From a small service station at the corconfident with their purchase decisions,
ner of 13th Street and 17th Avenue S.W.,
as they have a full understanding of all
to larger premises farther west, to its cur- Stampede Pontiac
aspects of the deal. In essence, the power
rent location on Ninth Avenue in the
of negotiation is in their hands,
downtown core, Stampede Pontiac has re- ■ Founded in 1954.
mained innovative and successful.
■ Occupies 40,000 sq. ft. building completely. We don’t sell vehicles, we
facilitate purchase decisions.”
In 1969, current dealer principal Dave along with satellite operations.
Another distinctive program is
Bridarolli started his career at Stampede in ■ Received the Better Business
Stampede’s 24-hour service operation.
fleet automotive sales. He moved his way Bureau Ethics Award in 2001.
The service desk is open from 7 a.m. to
up, but left the dealership in 1979 to own ■ Address: 1110 9th Ave. S.W.
midnight Monday through Thursday, and
and operate a GM facility in Brooks.
Phone: 265-2277
vehicle technical service occurs around
His dream of owning a metro dealership Website:
the clock.
became a reality in 1988 when he rewww.stampedegm.com
“Calgary’s a vibrant city with a very
turned to Calgary and purchased what
vibrant economy,” Glen says. “And there’s
was then Stampede Pontiac Buick. He
a very viable market for night service —
brought with him his vision for a viable
in fact, it gets stronger every month.”
future, and that included negotiating sucStampede Pontiac Buick GMC occucessfully with General Motors for a
pies a 40,000-square-foot building, but
GMC truck franchise. Prior to 1991,
there are also satellite operations includthe dealership had sold only Pontiac
ing a pre-owned vehicle lot and a body
and Buick cars.
shop estimating centre.
The company’s largest move took
Having the used car department six
place in 1993 when it relocated from its
blocks away from the new vehicle showbusy but congested location on 17th
room does present its challenges, but
Avenue to its highly visible site on
Stampede Pontiac is enamoured with
Ninth Avenue.
the downtown community.
“This location gave us the lifeblood
The Bridarollis and their staff are
we required,” Bridarolli says. “As soon
doing something right, as in 2001 the
as we moved to Ninth Avenue we were
dealership received the Ethics Award
able to increase our profitability.”
as presented by the Better Business
Bridarolli’s son Glen has been
Bureau.
working with his father for 12 years,
“Until that time there had never been
and is now general manager of
an auto dealer to win the Ethics Award,”
Stampede Pontiac.
Dave says.
The pair has instituted a number
What else could be expected from a
of unique programs, including the
dealership that tells its employees,
Fair Deal Advantage.
“Only promise what you can deliver
“We’re trying to be innovative with
and then deliver on that promise.”
our customers, and we wanted to elimi-
69
A Century of Success — Agriculture
Taming
the wild, wild west
Homesteaders endure unforgiving environment
70
by Shannon Sutherland
T
ABOVE:
Ranching in
Alberta,
circa 1883.
INSET:
Cattle in pen
— Calgary Herald
Archive photos
he wild west couldn’t quite be tamed
back in Calgary’s earliest days, but settlers were able to harness at least some
of its economic power.
Rancher Sam Livingston was the first
recorded settler in Calgary in the early 1870s,
and he soon built up a cattle operation that
was very successful by any standards.
With 300 head, there were 15 times as many
cattle on the Livingston ranch as there
were children in the local
schoolhouse.
“Settlers back then had
to work incredibly hard
to make a life for themselves in the west,” says
Diana Ringstrom, president of the Chinook
Country Historical Association. “But they did
their best, and often they
thrived not only in earning a
living but also in helping to
build the community.”
Like many of his peers at the time, Livingston,
the founding director of the Calgary District
Agricultural Society in 1884, was an innovator,
and that was certainly a necessity for success in
an industry in its infancy in western Canada.
Livingston brought the first threshing machine to the area in 1882, and in 1883, he introduced the first binder to the area. In 1886,
he brought fruit trees from Minnesota into his
operation which was situated where the Glenmore Reservoir is today.
Livingston’s strategy to diversify his operations
showed great insight, and many farmers and
ranchers at that time would learn to regret keeping all their seeds in one satchel, so to speak.
Between 1905 and 1930, almost half of
homesteaders who took out claims in Alberta
failed to prove up and secure a title. It was a
crushing reality for thousands of settlers who
had endured incredible hardship as they tried to
make a go of it in an unforgiving environment
where sometimes a warm home and food to eat
were unparalleled luxuries.
Despite this, in 1884, the Calgary Herald predicted that Calgary would become the Chicago of the west evolving into a livestock clearinghouse,
and optimism ran high throughout the region.
But even as romance was replaced with reality, many were
still able to realize their dream of
land ownership.
Indeed, by the turn of the century,
the situation seemed to be looking up
for farmers in particular. Improved seed
strains, mechanization and new farming techniques all helped contribute to the success of
agriculture in the early 1900s, according to
Maxwell Foran’s book Calgary: An Illustrated
History.
A growing European demand for wheat
had also elevated wheat prices and expanded
the market. The railway was bringing better
farm machinery into the area, and researchers
had developed early-maturing wheat, which
was a critical advancement in an area where
frost often arrived early.
Wheat production grew from less than
800,000 bushels in 1900, to more than nine
million bushels by 1910, according to the
1932 Census of Canada. The same year, the
value of Alberta field crops was more than $17
million equaling the total value of cattle in the
province.
“There was just a phenomenal boom as farming started to edge out ranching, and the excitement would have been contagious as the population grew by thousands over just a few years between 1901 and 1911,” says Donald Smith, author and University of Calgary history professor.
More challenges were to come, however, and
as agriculture became big business, it became
very obvious that action would be needed.
Farmers were frustrated with unstable wheat
prices, a banking system that seemed more concerned with its own earnings than with investments in agriculture and with rising freight rates.
Calgarians, however, sought out their own
solutions to these issues.
“Calgary has always been at the forefront of
agricultural movements with its involvement
in projects such as the Western Hog Exchange,
grain pooling and the United Farmers of Alberta (UFA),” says Carolyn Stuparyk, public
affairs officer with Alberta Agriculture, Food
and Rural Development. “It’s a very innovative
city and always has been.”
For example, farmers were desperate for solutions since during the First World War, the
government controlled prices through a wheat
board, but when that board closed in 1919,
farmers again had to contend with unpredictable pricing.
In 1923, after some serious debate, farmers
“
It might be a big city, but its support
of the industry shows that agriculture
is still a big source of pride in Calgary.
formed the Alberta Wheat Pool, which
built a modern storage elevator and terminal system. By 1928, it was the province’s
largest grain company.
The post-war era was an incredibly difficult time for farmers. During the First
World War, the price of wheat skyrocketed, leading to an increase in production
but also increasing the costs for labour,
land and machinery.
It was during this time that farmers initiated much change in the province.
As farmers invested their earnings back
into their operations, high wartime interest rates had created a dangerous business
environment.
When wheat yields fell after the bumper
crops of 1915 and 1916, many farmers
wound up overextended and the patience
of the banks was less than bountiful.
In reaction, farmers turned to the
United Farmers of Alberta (UFA), an
amalgam of local clubs formed in 1906 as
well as a political lobby group. Consequently, the organization formed Alberta’s
government from 1921 to 1935.
But probably the greatest source of contention during agriculture’s early years was
when farmers and the Canadian Pacific
Railway (CPR) finally clashed.
Rail lines had always been an essential
link between farmers and their markets,
and eventually the power of the railway
gave rise to resentment.
Rising freight rates, boxcar shortages
and inequitable treatment at grain elevators were all contentious issues.
In 1898, monopolistic freight rates
”
were at the root of the federal government
decision to negotiate the Crow’s Nest Pass
Agreement with the railway to provide
lower transportation rates on wheat and
flour moving eastward as well as on settlers’ possessions moving west.
During the Depression, wheat prices
plunged and farm incomes fell from $102
million in 1928 to $5 million in 1933, according to the University of Calgary’s history department.
Drought, dust storms, soil erosion, pest
infestations and poor cultivation all
worked together to create insurmountable
circumstances.
But despite the move to fewer, but
larger farm operations after the Second
World War and the larger role oil would
play in the local economy after the Leduc
discovery in 1947, agriculture still remains the second most important activity
in Alberta’s economy after oil and gas exploration and production.
“I think one of the most telling events in
recent history was the BSE crisis,” says Stuparyk. “The support for the cattle industry
in Calgary was unbelievable. It might be a
big city, but its support of the industry
shows that agriculture is still a big source of
pride in Calgary, and it should be. From its
agricultural-related research and development initiatives, to the 125 food processing companies in Calgary, there is evidence
everywhere that agriculture continues to be
a major force in the city.”
— Shannon Sutherland is a Lloydminsterbased business writer.
RIGHT: A farmer combines a field of wheat near Acme.
BELOW: Willow Creek roundup crew in camp, 1895, relaxes in front of tents. L to r: Charlie
Vaile, Mike Herman, Charlie Haines, Jim Johnson, George McDonald, Captain of the
roundup Duncan McIntosh, Rancher George Lane, Walter Wake and two unknown. Glenbow
Museum photograph/NA-118-3
71
From small beginnings forging
cowboy boot inserts in a basement
shop, Standen's is now a global
player in the manufacturing
industry.
heavy metal
thunder
Forging global relationships and career opportunities
From cowboy boot inserts to the latest in high-tech suspen-
distribution centres in Edmonton, Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto,
sions and springs, Standen’s Ltd. has seen a lot of changes since it was California and Indianapolis, and its goods are shipped worldwide.
“One of our goals is to promote the transformative manufacturing infounded by Cyril Standen back in 1924.
dustry as a good career choice,” says Simpson. “In our organization,we
At that time, the company concentrated on producing items such
employ a wide range of people, from entry-level
as forged steel inserts for boots and rims for
positions to tradesmen. We have people working
wagon wheels. Today, Standen’s manufactures
with us who have PhDs and master’s degrees.
heat-treated metal automotive products, includ“The career path in this industry is substaning high-quality suspension components and off- Standen’s Ltd.
tial. Many people started at Standen’s at entry
highway equipment.
level and moved up to senior positions — in“Our main customer base is in the transporta- ■ Founded in 1924.
cluding one owner of the company.”
tion industry, as well as the agricultural industry,” ■ Employs more than 500
Simpson says one appeal of a career in manusays John Simpson, director of personnel and hu- people.
facturing is its stability. “You can find lots of jobs
man resources. “If you see a semi-trailer with a
■ Eight distribution centres in
that pay you a quick buck, but the job might disleaf spring, the spring is probably one of ours.”
Canada and the U.S.
appear in a year or two,” says Simpson. “We have
When you think of Alberta industry, petro■ Address: 1222 58 Ave. S.E.
people working here for 30 to 40 years. That’s due
leum, agriculture and mining probably come to Calgary
to our company culture of stability, honesty and
mind. But the manufacturing industry is a vital ■ Phone: 403-258-7830
respect, and creating opportunities so our empart of the economy, says Simpson.
■ Website: www.standens.com
ployees can grow and have fun in their jobs!”
“One misconception in Calgary and
Standen’s prides itself in the diversity of its
provincewide is that there’s not a lot of what we
employee base.
call ‘transformative manufacturing,’” he says.
“We once tried to count how many countries
“That’s when you take raw material and transare represented in our company, and we stopped
form it into something different, as opposed to
counting at 40,” says Simpson.
simply assembling components.
The transformative manufacturing industry in
“In this industry, the actual economic impact
Alberta is always on the grow. In fact, in Standen’s 81-year history, there
in Alberta is huge for every dollar spent.”
Transformative manufacturing offers more spin-off benefits to the has only been one year in which the company didn’t realize a profit.
“On Saturday, July 13, 1991, a fire wiped out three-quarters of our
economy than most other industries, says Simpson.
manufacturing plant,” recalls Simpson. “It looked like a bombed-out
“Standen’s employs over 500 people,” he says. “The Alberta steel
building in World War II. But our employees voluntarily came in on
mill (we use) employs another 400. We utilize Alberta companies to
their day-off to help and within a few
transport the raw materials, to supply
days we were manufacturing again, and
the electricity, oil, and gas, and to suprebuilt in 18 months what the insurance
ply many other products and services
company said would take 36 months.
creating numerous spin-off jobs.
Not one person lost their job, and not
For every one person directly emone major customer’s shipment was
ployed in the industry, there are spinmissed.
off benefits to another 20 with a job
“Good people are the core of our
creation ratio of 3.2 spin-off jobs for
business.”
every manufacturing job.
Says president and CEO Mel Svend“And 80 to 90 per cent of the product
sen: “From all the staff at Standen’s, we ofwe manufacture in Alberta is shipped
fer Alberta a wish for success for another
out of province, so we’re bringing outside
century of growth, and we’re looking formoney into the provincial economy.”
ward to helping make that happen.”
Standen’s has expanded to include
73
Jaymal Ruparell, owner
Sunridge Nissan
what
matters
most
Businessman found his passion – serving customers
Remember when Nissan
to the future, has gone beyond what
Nissan requested.
was Datsun?
Instead of a 10 car showroom, Sunridge
Calgary’s Sunridge Nissan started life
Nissan now boasts a 15 vehicle showroom.
as Marlborough Datsun, tucked away
®
And an extra four service bays brings the
on 33 St. and 8 Ave. N.E., and dealer
total service capacity to 16 operating bays.
principal Jaymal Ruparell purchased the
Any future expansion, such as more office
franchise in 1983.
Sunridge Nissan
space, can be accommodated.
Ruparell came to Canada in 1973 and
“We designed in extra storage rooms
enrolled in the University of Calgary.
■ Opened as Sunridge Nissan
that can easily be converted to offices if the
Upon graduating he pursued a career in in 1983.
accounting with Deloitte, Haskins &
■ Fifteen vehicle showroom and need arises,” he says. “We maintained the
sloping ceiling in the renovation, and I
Sells. This line of work proved satisfying a total of 16 service bays.
think that gives us one of the most unique
for Ruparell, but he wanted to be doing ■ Address: 3131 32 Ave. N.E.
buildings Nissan has in Canada.”
something a little different — like
Phone: 291-2626.
Sunridge Nissan’s commitment to
entering the auto business.
Website:
honesty and integrity is reflected in their
It was right after Ruparell bought the www.sunridgenissan.com
working philosophy and slogan — It All
dealership that the Nissan name
Matters.
replaced Datsun, and he started
SUNRIDGE NISSAN LTD.
This simple slogan has helped Ruparell’s
drawing plans to build a new facility on
employees earn Nissan Canada’s highest
32 Ave. N.E.
award-the Award of Merit — for the last
“Nissan had changed its name, and
four years. This consecutive earning is a
the manufacturer was looking for a
feat rarely accomplished by any Nissan dealer, as was noted
larger market share and wanted a new building,” Ruparell
by Brad Bradshaw, president of Nissan Canada Inc.
says. “We had to take that risk-but I saw that the future in
Bradshaw was on hand for the grand opening of
the auto business could be good.”
Sunridge’s renovated facility in April, 2005-Alberta’s centenRuparell built his new dealership in 1985 on a two-acre
nial year. This Nissan Award of Merit is based greatly on cusparcel. With 16,500 sq. ft. and 12 operating service bays the
tomer opinion together with all other aspects of the business.
new facility was unique as it featured a sloping roofline that
A strong supporter of his own family, Ruparell treats his
allowed the showroom to have an open, airy feeling.
employees as though they were also family members.
“The early years were tough, but Nissan really took off in
Ruparell believes in giving back to the community and has
the late 1990s under the leadership of Carlos Ghosn,” Rudonated to numerous educational and charitable benefits.
parell says. “We believed in the franchise, believed in the
He has served on the boards of many
product, and believed in the future.”
institutions, including StrathSo much so that Sunridge Nissan undercona Tweedsmuir School, the
went a complete renovation in 2004 to
Kiwanis Music Festival and
bring it up to the latest
the Alberta Children’s
Nissan image program
Hospital Foundation.
specifications.
Sunridge Nissan is fast
An additional
approaching its own
10,000 sq. ft. was
quarter century of
added to the existsuccess with over 22 years
ing building and
in the auto business.
Ruparell, again looking
75
Izzie Manji, owner
T&T Honda
roomto
grow
Dealership keeps focus on people and community
T&T
customer comfort, and that goes for our employees as well. Larger
Honda is big — they are the largest volume Honda
facilities in the new building will allow them to be more comfortdealer in all of Canada.
able in their work environment – happy employees mean happy
And to maintain the professional level of sales and service that
customers,” Manji says.
has garnered them the Honda Total Quality Dealer Award seven
T&T Honda is Alberta’s oldest Honda franchise. In 1973 the
years running T&T will soon relocate to one of the largest autoretailer opened its doors to a facility on 17 Ave
motive retail facilities in Calgary.
S.W., and moved to Centre St. North, shortly
On September 6, T&T Honda will move
thereafter. In 1983 T&T moved to its current
into a 62,000 sq. ft. purpose built facility that
location at 32 Ave. N.E. Manji started selling
is the brainchild of dealer principal Izzie
T&T Honda
cars at T&T Honda in 1986 and was proManji. After visiting dozens of North Amerimoted to sales manager in 1988. He left in
can automotive retail locations Manji picked
■ Opened in 1973.
1990 when he purchased an out of town
the best features of each one and sketched his
■ Alberta’s oldest Honda
Honda facility, only to return in 1991 to buy
ideas. It took an architect to turn his sketches dealership.
the T&T franchise.
into blueprints, and the building is all that
■ September 6 moving into a
“At that time T&T’s new car volume was
Manji hoped for.
62,000 sq. ft. building.
“It’s satisfying to see your dreams turn into
■ Address: 888 Meridian Rd. N.E. about 500 new and 250 used a year,” Manji
recalls. “We will sell close to 3,000 vehicles bereality,” Manji says.
Phone: 291-1444
tween new and used this year.”
Built on eight acres of land on Barlow Tr.
Website: www.tandthonda.ca
The current 22,000 sq. ft. T&T location
and 7 Ave. N.E. the new facility sees T&T
will house Contemporary Motorsports, a perHonda triple in size. A massive 35 vehicle inT & T Honda
formance accessory store for import vehicles
door showroom-which includes an indoor veincluding Honda, Acura, Toyota and Volkswahicle delivery pod – will allow T&T the ability
gen. More than just parts and equipment
to showcase the Honda lineup with ease.
Contemporary Motorsports will also specialize in used perforNot only will the retail side expand –T&T’s service capacity
mance cars together with a new lease division called Contempowill double from 17 technicians to 34.
rary Leasing.
And Manji doesn’t hesitate when he says he has invested close
“The import performance side of the business is an expanding
to $1.5 million on computers and related technology for the new
market,” Manji confirms.
retail facility. This technology includes service equipment, cusMani loves to give back to the community, and says he does so
tomer relations management software and sales and delivery prowith just about every opportunity he gets. In fact, he’s concessing hardware.
structed a separate boardroom in the new store to be used as a
“We’ll set a new standard of customer service within the automeeting space for
motive industry
non-profit organizawith the help of this
tions – there’s no
new technology,”
charge, all they have
Manji explains.
to do is book the
While T&T
room.
Honda has built a
Manji invites
reputation for lookeveryone to come by
ing after every need
and visit the new
a customer may
T&T Honda facility
have the company
on Sept. 6.
also looks after its
“We’d love to see
employees.
our friends, both
“We’re very proud
new and old.”
of our standard for
77
From left to right, Mr. Edward Rewucki President,
Dan Rewucki General Manager and Mike Rewucki
Sales Manager stand with a brand-new Chrysler
300. Right: 2006 Dodge Charger
always
better
together
Family-run dealership continues to strive for excellence
Calgary’s Tower Chrysler is a pioneering auto retailer.
ship that features 40 service bays and an eight-car showroom. His
design has stood the test of time, as no major expansions of the
Founded immediately after the Second World War, Tower has been
dealership have had to take place. For almost 30 years the building
owned by current dealer principal Ed Rewucki since 1971.
has only required regular maintenance and upRewucki came to Calgary to take over operadates, a
tions of the Chrysler dealership, which was
testament to Rewucki’s retailing vision.
located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and CenBoth of his sons, Mike and general manager
tre Street — now the site of the Petro Canada
Tower Chrysler
Dan, have chosen to pursue automotive retail
building.
careers. They are actively involved with Tower
“Our advertising used to read ‘Five blocks
■ Open in 1946 and under
Chrysler’s daily operations.
north of the Calgary Tower,’” Rewucki recalls. current ownership since 1971.
The Rewuckis are proud of the fact that Tower
At one time just about every auto retailer in ■ Used to be five blocks north of
Chrysler is the one of the first automotive
Calgary was located in the downtown core.
the Calgary Tower.
dealership in the world to receive ISO9000 certiBut as the city grew, dealers began to move
■ Won Maclean’s Magazine’s
fication. This is a major achievement, as ISO ceralong with the expanding boundaries.
Dealer of Excellence Award in
tification signifies a tremendous investment on
When it came time to relocate Tower Chrysler, 1996.
Rewucki made a monumental decision.
■ Address: 10901 Macleod Tr. S. behalf of the company being recognized.
And of course, Tower is also a Chrysler Five
In the mid-1970s he purchased land as far
Phone: 278-2020
from the downtown core as possible, south on Website: www.towerchrysler.com Star facility.
“Just like any other major corporation, we want to
Macleod Trail at Anderson Road. There were
become better at everything we do,” Mike explains.
no commercial buildings between Southland
“We have a controlled program of consistency
Drive and Anderson Road and no Southcentre
throughout our entire auto dealership.”
shopping mall. In fact, Rewucki’s youngest son
Tower Chrysler has a Customer Development
Mike — Tower Chrysler’s new car sales manCentre that allows constant customer communiager — can remember cattle grazing in fields
cation. Telephone follow-up occurs
surrounding the dealership.
after any purchase or service transaction, and any complaints are
“I was anticipating the city’s long-term growth,” Rewucki senior
resolved as quickly as possible.
says. “And the land was available.”
The Rewuckis believe in being involved with the community and
The new Chrysler facility featured a double-lane service drivesupport many causes and charities including SAIT and St. Mary’s
through, something that was relatively unheard-of at that point.
College. In 1996, Ed
Now, a service drivewas recognized by his
through bay would
peers with the
seem to be a requireMaclean’s Magazine
ment of modern dealerDealer of Excellence
ship architecture.
award — recognizing
“I’m sure our service
outstanding perfordrive-through was the
mance in business
first of its kind in
acumen and commuCalgary, if not Western
nity involvement.
Canada,” Rewucki says.
“We’re here for the
Rewucki was buildlong run,” Mike says.
ing a family business
“Not just for ourselves,
when he constructed
but for our community,
his retail facility. He
Calgary and Alberta.”
created a unique dealer-
79
Members of the staff at
Willow Park Wines & Spirits
take pride in their product,
and in their community.
A
vintage
passion
From unlikely beginnings to business and community leadership
Willow
Park Wines & Spirits was born from the dream of choose from, as his chain has amassed one of the largest selections
of beer, wine and spirits — including single-malt scotches — in
a former construction company owner who once couldn’t tell a
Western Canada.
chardonnay from a merlot.
Willow Park specializes in fine and rare wines, with its main
And for Wayne Henuset, purchasing the first Willow Park
wine cellar containing some of the most
Wines & Spirits location was very much a
sought-after bottles in the world, including
homecoming.
Chateau Mouton Rothschild and the 1990
“I was working in land development — I had
Chateau d’Yquem.
an office in London, England, and I was also
Willow Park Wines & Spirits
Since being purchased by Henuset in March
doing work out of Florida,” he says.
“A friend told me there were so many busi■ 16 locations in Calgary, Airdrie 1994, Willow Park Wines & Spirits has grown
beyond just selling liquor.
ness opportunities in Calgary, ‘why can’t you
and Edmonton.
The main store has become a social hub of
do something in your own city?’
■ Last government-run liquor
the community, regularly hosting special
“The best thing is, I grew up only 12 homes store to be sold off after
events, such as wine and whisky tastings, as
away from this store,” says Henuset of Willow privatization came into effect.
well as auctions for charity.
Park’s head office at 10801 Bonaventure Dr.
■ Head office: 10801 Bonaven“We do a lot of work with charities,” says
S.E.
ture Dr. S.E. Ph: 296-1640
Perry. “We created our own charity trust fund,
Since it was founded a little over a decade
Website: www.willowpark.net
the Vintage Fund, which helps us to give
ago, the company has grown from its original
something back to the community.”
location in Willow Park Village to include 16
Established in 2001, the Vintage Fund earns
locations in Calgary, Edmonton and Airdrie,
interest which is donated each year to numeroffering its customers a huge selection of beers,
ous causes in the Calgary area, such as the
wines and spirits.
Calgary Health Trust, the ALS Society and
The 20,000-square-foot location was one of
Breast Cancer Care Research and Education at
the last government-run Alberta Liquor
the University of Calgary. Last November, Willow Park hosted
Control Board stores to be sold off by the province after it
its 12th annual Charity Wine Auction in support of the Fund.
privatized liquor stores in 1993-94, says Peggy Perry, vicePerry refers to Willow Park as “a playground for the winepresident of purchasing and marketing, and Henuset’s right
drinker” and says her expert staff is often called upon to share
hand since day one.
its knowledge with curious customers.
“This was a hard store for the government to get rid of,
“We enjoy having the opportunity to educate people on
because it was so big,” she says.
beer, wine and spirits — especially the importance of safe
And Henuset was an unlikely person to buy a liquor
consumption,” she says.
store.
Henuset says if it weren’t for the members of his staff,
“At the time, he saw it as an interesting land deal, but
Willow Park would never have grown to become Calgary’s
he was essentially a teetotaler and had no passion for
biggest wine and spirits merchant.
beer, wine or spirits. So he brought in people like me
“I couldn’t do it without them,” he says.
who did. With his business background and my passion
The support of loyal customers has also been vital.
for wine, it worked.”
“Albertans shop in Alberta,” Henuset says.
Today, Henuset enjoys a glass of good wine as much as
“We help each other, and this is something you rarely see
everyone else at Willow Park, and lists Dom Perignon as
anywhere else.”
his favourite. He certainly has plenty of fine vintages to
81
Calgary’s historic firsts
First habitation of the area around presentday Calgary: The presence of the Blackfoot people has been traced back at least 11,000 years.
First Europeans in the present-day Calgary
area: French explorers and settlers were in the
area where the Elbow and Bow Rivers
join around 1752. Here Fort la Jonquière was built and then abandoned
some time after 1775.
82
First recorded European to visit the
area: Cartographer David Thompson spent the winter of 1787 with a
band of Peigan Indians encamped
along the Bow River.
The first European to settle in the
Calgary area: John Glenn and his
wife, Adelaide, built their first home
in 1873 — a log cabin, complete
with sod roof, stone fireplace and
chimney where Fish Creek Provincial
Park is today.
The first recorded settler in
Calgary: Rancher Sam Livingston
arrived in the early 1870s. In 1882 he
brought the first threshing machine
to the area. He was the founding director of Calgary District Agricultural Society in 1884.
Calgary’s first neighbourhood: Inglewood was
Calgary’s first community dating back to the late
1880s.
Town of Calgary’s first mayor: George
Murdock arrived in Calgary and set up a harness
shop downtown. In the first town election of
1894, he was elected mayor.
First mayor of the City of Calgary: Wesley
Fletcher Orr was elected mayor in 1894, and
Calgary became the first city in what was then
the Northwest Territories.
The first senator: Sir James Lougheed became
the first senator in 1889.
The first police chief of Calgary: Jack
Ingrim was the first chief serving from
1885 to1888.
The first three businesses in Calgary:
The Calgary Herald, Canadian Pacific
Railway and the Hudson’s Bay Company
were the first businesses to set up shop.
Calgary’s first “skyscraper”: At six stories, the Grain Exchange Building was
one of the tallest buildings in the province
in 1910. Today, the PetroCanada Building holds this title with 53 stories.
The first issue of a newspaper: The Calgary Herald, Mining and Ranche Advocate and General Advertiser was published in 1883 consisting of four pages.
The first hospital: Calgary’s first hospital was known as The Cottage Hospital
and was opened in 1890 and located at
Seventh Avenue and Fourth Street S.W.
It held 12 patients and was staffed by
two doctors.
The first school: Calgary’s first school opened
in 1894 and was located on the corner of
Ninth Avenue and Fifth Street. Twelve students attended.
The first society organized in Calgary
still in existence: The Calgary Horticultural Society is the city’s oldest surviving organization and was founded
in 1907 to inspire responsible citizens to take up gardening.
TOP PHOTOS, from left: First Stampede Queen Patsy Rogers Henderson; The
Grain Exchange Building, Calgary’s first skyscraper; Blackfoot people, Calgary’s
first residents; 1912 poster of the first Calgary Stampede and Calgary’s first hospital. RIGHT: Calgary’s first settler, Sam Livingston. INSET PHOTOS, top to bottom: Town of Calgary’s first mayor George Murdock, City of Calgary’s first mayor
Wesley Fletcher Orr, and the first senator James Lougheed.
The first shopping mall in Calgary: “The Arcade” was built on Eighth Avenue between First
Street and Centre Street and opened in November 1922.
First Calgary Stampede queen: Patsy Rodgers
Henderson was crowned queen in 1946.
The first Calgary Stampede: It was held Sept. 2
to 5 in 1912.
Source: Chinook Country Historical Society,
Alberta Historical Society
SINCE 1883
Calgary Herald – a proud part of
Alberta’s history for more than 120 years.
CALGARY HERALD
IT ALL UNFOLDS HERE

Century of Success 1-21

Transcription

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