Parker: Big 4 Motors relocates to Taza Park

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Gerry Wooden is proud that his Wooden Automotive Group has celebrated 40 years in enterprise, however his Huge 4 Motors that he bought in 1992 traces its historical past even additional again.

It started promoting automobiles within the downtown as Rodeo Motors in 1979, an American Motors dealership promoting manufacturers that included Rambler, Hudson and Jeep — town’s unique seller. AMC was bought by Chrysler and the dealership was relocated to Macleod Path and renamed Huge 4 Motors, after the founders of the Stampede.

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It remained there, throughout the highway from the Woodridge Ford Lincoln — since moved to twenty fourth Road S.E. in Douglasdale Enterprise Park — till the latest relocation to Taza Park on Tsuut’ina First Nation lands.

Wooden and his workforce had been trying on the new growth venture between Tsuut’ina Nation and Candrel for a number of years, and as first in line was in a position to purchase a 95-year lease on nearly 30 acres of prime land simply to the south of Gray Eagle On line casino.

The Macleod Path constructing and 1.89-acre parcel of land was bought to a personal investor, who might lease it to an automotive-related firm however is the long run when Fisher Park is redeveloped.

Designed by Ric Balbi Architect and constructed by Barjac Development Administration, the brand new Huge 4 Motors has opened as a a lot bigger 60,000-square-foot dealership on 7.8 acres. The second ground holds administrative places of work and workers facilities over two distinct storefront showrooms with area for 12 automobiles and vans. One options Jeep merchandise, and the bigger factor reveals off the vary of Chrysler Dodge Ram automobiles.

Based on normal supervisor Rob Coleman, a key function of the design is the inside three-lane drive-thru service lanes.

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“Throughout the chilly snap, prospects have been very blissful to have the ability to drop off their car inside and decide it up within the supply lane within the heat,” he says.

His 34 working bays will enable for the dealership to develop the service facet of the enterprise that may boast of many technicians among the many 75 workers with a number of years of expertise at Huge 4 Motors — one with 43 years.

Coleman has been within the automotive enterprise his complete profession, starting on the dealership his father owned within the Crowsnest Cross. Then, after seven years working with Chrysler in Drumheller, he moved to Calgary and was delighted to be provided a place with the Wooden Automotive Group 14 years in the past.

The opening of a brand-new dealership has been an thrilling and rewarding one. Coleman’s mom was a trainer with the Kainai Nation, so he has sense of Indigenous tradition. Earlier than the transfer to Tsuut’ina lands each member of his workers attended cultural coaching from Holly Fortier, a Cree/Dene from the Fort McKay First Nation, who owns an organization specializing in Indigenous consciousness coaching. Coleman says he’s additionally happy that he was in a position to recruit Larson Starlight as a salesman, who can be serving to different workers to grasp the Nation’s tradition and assist construct relationships.

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At a pipe ceremony two years in the past with elders and council members of Tsuut’ina Nation, Coleman was thrilled when an elder took him apart and referred to as Taza Park “The New Buffalo,” including they’d “stroll collectively, not behind or forward, however with each other.”

Gerry Wooden is government chair and founding father of Wooden Automotive Group, supported by his two sons — Cailean, vice-president of gross sales and advertising, and Rory, vice-president of components and repair,

At this time it owns six dealerships and 4 automotive-related corporations. However massive plans are for extra Wooden dealerships at Taza Park, the place its new Volkswagen dealership is beneath building.

Notes:

Charcut, certainly one of Western Canada’s most acclaimed eating places, is planning to open a second location this spring in College District. The two,800-square-foot area is on the bottom ground of Alt Lodges, a part of the Germain Group, on the nook of College Avenue and McLaurin Road, N.W. Led by co-chefs and co-owners Connie DeSousa and John Jackson, “The enlargement of Charcut is an thrilling alternative for us to develop our Calgary neighborhood connections into the northwest, unfold our love of native substances and develop our devoted workforce in a vibrant a part of our cherished metropolis,” says DeSousa.

David Parker seems repeatedly within the Herald. Learn his columns on-line at calgaryherald.com/enterprise. He could be reached at 403-830-4622 or by e-mail at information@davidparker.ca

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