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SERVING CANADA’S RV INDUSTRY SINCE 1971 268 - 44 Crawford Cres., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Publications Mail Agreement #43638025 CANADA’S FOREMOST RV INDUSTRY MAGAZINE TM TM TM TM SPECIAL DEALER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES ISSUE VOL 52 NO 2 New RVs, Parts and Accessories Canadian & Provincial Updates ART TISCHER RVIA AFTERMARKET LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TRANSCONA TRAILER SALES CELEBRATES 60TH ANNIVERSARY SICARD RV JAYCO #1 DEALER RVDN 52-2.indd 1RVDN 52-2.indd 12023-10-23 10:19 AM2023-10-23 10:19 AMSERVING CANADA’S RV INDUSTRY SINCE 1971 VOL 52 NO 2 RVRV Dealer CANADA’S FOREMOST RV INDUSTRY MAGAZINE www.rvldealernews.com 268 - 44 Crawford Cres., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Publications Mail Agreement #43638025 TM TM TM TM PLUS: New Products New RV Models Industry News NEWSNEWS 2023 2023 CANADIAN CANADIAN RV DEALER RV DEALER OF THE YEAROF THE YEAR NOMINEESNOMINEES 34th annual Walt Paseska Memorial Award JEFF & KYLE REDMOND Bucars RV Balzac, AB JASON FRIESEN Voyager RV Winfield, BC MURRAY SULLIVAN SMP RV Houston, BC CHARDELL BRYDON Jerry’s RV Trailer Sales & Service New Minas, NS KEITH BARRICK Keith’s Trailer Sales Erin, ON MARCO & MYLAINE BOUDREAULT E.Boudreault VR Ancienne-Lorette, QC RVDN Cover52-2.indd 1RVDN Cover52-2.indd 12023-10-23 10:20 AM2023-10-23 10:20 AMTHE ANNUAL WALT PASESKA MEMORIAL Canadian RV Dealer Of The Year Nominees Each year the RVDA of Canada and Canadian regional RVDAs, in conjunction with RV Lifestyle Magazine and RV Dealer News, invite nominations from across Canada for the Canadian RV Dealer of the Year Award. The award is dedicated to the memory of the late Walt Paseska, founder of Walt’s Trailer Sales in Headingly, Manitoba, in recognition of his many years of com- mitment and dedication to the RV indus- try, the RV experience, and the commu- nity at large. Established in 1989, this award has been presented to Canadian RV deal- ers who share Walt Paseska’s legend- ary enthusiasm and commitment to the industry; individuals who have been leaders in the RVDA movement either regionally or at a provincial or national level; who have exhibited a long-term dedication to the RV community; and who have made substantial contributions to their communities through charitable or philanthropic activities. Each of the provincial RVDA orga- nizations are encouraged to present their nominees to the RVDA of Canada selec- tion committee, who evaluate the nomi- nees and select the Canadian Dealer of the Year. The documentation for the nominees is submitted to the RVDA of Canada selection committee, which consists of five previous Canadian RV Dealer of the Year winners and representatives from the RVDA of Canada and RV Lifestyle Magazine, the founding sponsor of the Award. This year’s selection committee is comprised of previous Canadian RV Dealers of the Year: Kevin Betzold and Jim Gorrie, GNR Camping World, Winnipeg, Manitoba; Bruce Marsh, Cape Breton Trailer Sales, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia; Al Robinson, Great Canadian RV, Peterborough, Ontario, Andy Thomson, Can-Am RV Centre, London, Ontario, and Roland Goreski, Campkin’s RV Centre, Whitby, Ontario. The selection committee oper- ates under the supervision of Eleonore Hamm, RVDA of Canada, with assis- tance from Melanie Taylor of RV Lifestyle Magazine and RV Dealer News. The award will be presented in-per- son at an official ceremony, coincid- ing with the RVDA of Canada annual general meeting, to be held during the RVDA Convention/Expo in Las Vegas, November For 2023, six distinguished Canadian RV dealers have been nominated for this honour, and we are pleased to introduce them here. Nominees • Keith Barrick, Keith’s Trailer Sales, Orton, ON • Marco & Mylaine Boudreault, E. Boudreault VR, Ancienne-Lorette, QC • Chardell Brydon, Jerry’s RV Trailer Sales, New Minas, NS • Jason Friesen, Voyageur RV Centre, Lake Country, BC • Kyle & Jeff Redmond, Bucars RV Centre, Balzac, AB • Murray Sullivan, SMP RV, Huston, BC The following information is derived from the nomination documents: The RVDA of Canada has announced the nominees for the 34th Annual Walt Paseska Memorial Nominees.indd 26Nominees.indd 262023-10-23 10:24 AM2023-10-23 10:24 AMJason joined Voyager RV’s management team as a leader in 2003 and has been the acting Dealer Principle since 2004 when Rod retired. In 2009 Jason became the Vice President and leader of Voyager RV and immediately set the new direction of Voyager RV to match his vision. He continued to drive the Friesen family mission of creating the best customer experience in the RV industry, even throughout the tough times of the recession. Jason also made the tough decisions to alter certain common RV-dealership practices, to better fit with the new generation of RV buyer. These changes were not easy on some but were a win-win for the customer and the dealership. All non-mandatory fees were removed, and all processes and practices were scrutinized to ensure that integrity, honesty, and transparency would be what Voyager RV would be known for by our customers and in the industry. Making sure that the customer experience continued to be the focus, Voyager RV has stayed well ahead of the competition. It has grown in market share and is by a wide margin the largest RV dealer in the BC interior, despite being located in a town with a population of just 15,000. Jason Friesen started the “Voyager Cares” Initiative. Voyager staff were given a list of 25 local charities to vote on, with the top 7 vote getters chosen to receive a share of $100,000 in donations pledged to be donated by Voyager RV over the campaign. Having the team’s own experiences, hardships and heartbreaks being reflected in this way meant a great deal to Jason and the Friesen family. This was to be a true reflection of what was in the team’s hearts, and a thank you for the amazing hard work and dedication they all possess and demonstrate every day. Keith’s Trailer Sales was incorporated in July 2014, and has grown rapidly to be one of the region’s most popular dealerships. Keith Barrick has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the RV industry and the promotion of the RV lifestyle. Through innovative marketing campaigns, community engagement initiatives, and fostering strong relationships with customers, manufacturers, and industry stakeholders. By prioritizing exceptional customer service, offering a diverse range of high-quality RV products, and spearheading efforts to enhance the overall RV experience, Keith Barrick has left an indelible mark on the industry, inspiring others to embrace the joy of RVing. In his role as the Acting Dealer Principal of the RV dealership, Keith Barrick has garnered widespread recognition and respect from both customers and peers for his unparalleled integrity and unwavering credibility. Through transparent business practices, honest communication, and a steadfast commitment to delivering on promises, Keith has built a reputation that resonates deeply within the RV community. As an ORVDA member, Keith’s Trailer Sales hosted RV1 and RV2 courses in their service shop, fostering industry networking and insights into emerging practices. Keith and his wife Ally envision a dynamic future, perpetually embarking on new projects. Keith is deeply engaged in his community, serving as an active board member of the Erin Chamber of Commerce, contributing to local fundraisers, sponsoring sports teams, and establishing a well-known presence in the community. Murray Sullivan, Sullivan Motor Products, has sat on the RVDA of BC Board of Directors for many years, and has made a significant contribution to the RVDA industry in the province. Murray’s family has had generations of success in the automotive industry. About ten years ago, Murray opened his first RV store, SMP RV, in Houston, BC. Murray joined the RVDA of BC as a director to learn more about the RV industry and the people in it. His enthusiasm and generosity have stood out from the very beginning. Murray built SMP RV into a thriving business and, over the last few years, has purchased two more RV stores as a partner, taking over two long-time, well-established companies in the RV industry, Mike Roseman RV in Vernon, and NR Motors RV in Prince George. The two families that had run these dealerships for over 30 years and 50 years, respectively, were ready to step out of the industry - Murray taking over these RV dealerships will ensure a strong RV presence in these significant communities for years to come. Murray believes in supporting local, so walking down the street in Houston BC, everyone knows Murray on a first name basis. In the halls of SMP and SMP RV you will see the photos and letters of thanks from the local 4H, Minor Hockey, Minor Baseball, and the School’s Raise a Reader Program to name a few. Murray has also been generous with his time when giving back to the industry. As soon as Murray started in the RV business, he volunteered to serve on the RVDA of BC Board, progressing from Director through the executive to President. JASON FRIESEN Voyager RV Winfield, BC MURRAY SULLIVAN SMP RV Houston, BC KEITH BARRICK Keith’s Trailer Sales Erin, ON 2022 BC RV Dealer of the Year2023 Ontario RV Dealer of the Year2021 RVDA of BC Dealer of the Year Nominees.indd 27Nominees.indd 272023-10-23 10:25 AM2023-10-23 10:25 AMThe E. Boudreault V.R. team was founded in the mid-1980s by Étienne Boudreault the father of the family. At the time, the business operated in the car detailing field. The real adventure of RV body repair began in 1990. After growing demand over the years, the company established itself at more suitable premises in Ancienne-Lorette in 1999. For the past 33 years, the company has specialized in repair, maintenance and sales of parts and accessories for recreational vehicles and RV sales (Prolite, Northern Lite, Travelaire, Kingstar, Nexus). The E. Boudreault V.R. team of professionals has never stopped growing the family business, now headed by Mylaine and Marco Boudreault, has become a reference in the recreational vehicle repair field. The company’s core value is customer service. It offers courteous and professional service and a wide variety of products – the corporate philosophy is embodied in the company motto “A Family Like Ours”. Marco Boudreault, a mechanic by trade, working in snow removal since he was 16 years old, acquired knowledge in the RV field over the years. Marco managers the shop and service. Mylaine Boudreault, a graduate in administration and accounting, has worked in the automotive field since she finished school. She has been everything related to administration and accounting since the very beginning of the company. The team is composed of more than 23 full-time employees who have been with us from the beginning, including several members of the Boudreault family. Yves Hawey, Mylaine’s husband, manages the Body and Paint Department and everything that concerns insurance files. Nathalie Fortin, Marco’s wife, manages the Parts and Accessories Department. As Calgary's very first RV dealership, Bucars has maintained its status as one of Western Canada's premier dealerships. The foundation of their success lies in our commitment to client education and comprehensive support for the RVing community. Their unwavering dedication is evident in the strong partnerships we have cultivated with manufacturers, leading to consistent Top Sales awards. The Bucars RV Online Learning Centre is an innovative and extensive online resource for RV knowledge. They have integrated the world of recreational vehicles with online learning and have published more than 400 articles, blogs, and videos geared toward the modern-day RVer. Bucars RV is committed to charitable and non-profit initiatives as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts, consistently contributing to causes that align with their values and objectives. The owners, Kyle and Jeff Redmond, act as Chief Culture Captains at Bucars RV Centre. Culture is the pulse of any organization and it’s important to create an environment where employees can flourish. The owners engage with most, if not all employees daily. Quite often employees are asked, “How was your weekend? How is your family doing?” before any real business begins. This same level of culture trickles down to customer interactions and they can see that Bucars is truly a business that cares and creates relationships above all else. MARCO & MYLAINE BOUDREAULT E.Boudreault VR Ancienne-Lorette, QC JEFF & KYLE REDMOND Bucars RV Balzac, AB Chardell Brydon has served for several years on the Atlantic RVDA Training Committee, eventually chairing the committee. She currently chairs the RVDA National Education Committee, having joined that committee in October 2019. She continues to serve as a member of ARVDA’s Training Committee, and she is also involved with several training initiatives, including the national trouble-shooter clinic. Chardell serves as a member of ARVDA’s Show Committee. Jerry’s RV is a regular and active participant in ARVDA’s RV Show Program. Chardell serves as an observer on ARVDA’s Board of Directors and is a regular participant and contributor to those meetings. Jerry’s RV was incorporated in 1987 by Jerry Weir, Chardell’s father. Chardell started in the business in 1987 and has been the operating dealer principal since 1993. On a National level, Chardell joined the RVDA of Canada Education Committee in 2019 and became Chair of the committee in 2019. CHARDELL BRYDON Jerry’s RV Trailer Sales & Service New Minas, NS FOR THE LATEST UPDATES VISIT rvldealernews.com Nominees.indd 28Nominees.indd 282023-10-23 10:25 AM2023-10-23 10:25 AM6 RV Lifestyle Dealer News | Volume 52 Number 2 contents 16 24 42 12 COVER STORY: Art Tischer – RVIA Aftermarket Lifetime Achievement Award Celebrating decades of contributions to the RV industry! IFC-2 Nominees for the 34th Annual Canadian RV Dealer of the Year Award Profiles of the Canadian RV dealers in the running for this year’s award - to be presented at the RVDA AGM in Las Vegas. IN THIS ISSUE: 16 Transcona Trailer Sales – Celebrating 60 years! We spoke to Garth and Terry Bromley on the occasion of the company’s 60th anniversary celebration. 23 Canadian Business Technology Grants Don’t miss the opportunity to apply for a grant to enhance your dealership’s online and technological operations. 24 Sicard RV – The World’s #1 Jayco Dealer! 26 Grand Design’s 250,000 RV 27 Alliance RV Expands 28 Dragonfly Energy Teams Up with UFP Distribution INDUSTRY UPDATES: 30 RVDA of Canada Update 32 ACVRQ Update 34 ORVDA Update 36 Keith Barrick - ORVDA Dealer of the Year 37 Amy Bradley – ORVDA Associate of the Year 38 CRVA Update 39 RVDA of Canada Montreal Trouble Shooter Clinic REPORTS: 40 Truma Aventa to be featured on Aero Build Trailers 42 New RVs for 2024 – 16 Cool Compact Trailers! 48 New Products 52 RV Shows and Events Calendar Looking for late-breaking news of interest to the Canadian RV industry? Check out the RV Dealer News website – www.rvldealernews.com Contentspub page.indd 6Contentspub page.indd 62023-10-18 1:21 PM2023-10-18 1:21 PM• Creditor Life, Disability & Critical Illness Insurance • Mechanical Breakdown Plans • Appearance Protection Products We provide protection to Canadian families for when “what if?” becomes “what now?”. F inancial G r oup 320 Sioux Rd, Sherwood Park, AB T8A 3X6 Trevor Smolski Director - Business Development 780-819-3271 • tsmolski@firstcanadian.ca Justin Sood Director - Business Development 416-400-4418 • jsood@firstcanadian.ca Phone: 780.467.9575 • Fax: 780.467.4016 • Toll Free: 1-800.561.3242 firest canadian.indd 1firest canadian.indd 12023-10-12 2:20 PM2023-10-12 2:20 PM8 RV Lifestyle Dealer News | Volume 52 Number 2 TM TM TM TM RV Dealer NEWS CANADA’S FOREMOST RV INDUSTRY MAGAZINE ATLAS AD PUBLISHERS MESSAGE Celebrating Canadian Achievements This issue of RV Dealer News celebrates the achievements of our Canadian RV industry members, at several levels. It is a pleasure to honour Art Tischer, of Atlas Trailer Coach Products, who was presented the RVIA Aftermarket Lifetime Achievement Award – this very prestigious award recognizes the long-term contributions Art has made within the RV parts and accessory sector – a vital element of the RV experience. We shine the spotlight of this issue on the six nominees for the 34th Annual Walt Paseska Memorial Canadian RV Dealer of the Year Award, which will be presented at the RVDA of Canada AGM in November. We created this award in 1989, and we are very proud to be the founding sponsor of the award, which has been administered by RVDA of Canada for more than 30 years. This issue also celebrates the 60th anniversary of Transcona RV, whose leadership team have made very significant contributions to the RV industry, the community, and the RV enthusiasts in Manitoba and beyond for three generations – well done! On the worldwide RV scene, we celebrate the achievement of Sicard RV, recognized as the #1 Jayco Dealer in the World… you can’t get any better than that! In our ORVDA section, we celebrate Keith Barrick, whose team at Keith’s Trailer Sales, Inc. earned the Ontario RV Dealer of the Year Award, and Amy Bradley, of Wayfarer Insurance Group, who was named ORVDA Associate Member of the Year. Canadian RV Dealers please note the story on page 23, explaining how you can apply for business technology grants to enhance the technological efficiency of your dealership. All in all, the achievements of our Canadian RV industry continue to set a very high standard for all of us to be proud of. Regular updates for the Canadian RV Industy can be found on our website www.rvldealernews.com. Canadian RV Dealers and the RV Industry at large are encourged to view our RV enthusiast magazine website at www.rvlifemag.com, where we enjoy more than two million page views per month - from across North America - this is among the most infulencial RV websites and an outstanding opportunity for you to promote your brands, events and news. Congratulations to all – let’s strive for even higher goals in 2024! Bill Taylor, Publisher VOLUME 52 NUMBER 2 Publisher William E. Taylor Associate Publisher Melanie Taylor-Wallis V.P. Special Projects/Editorial Director Norm Rosen Technical Director Garth Cane Production Coordinator Giselle Bansal ADVERTISING SALES Norm Rosen Melanie Taylor-Wallis Todd Taylor ADMINISTRATION William E. Taylor President Melanie Taylor-Wallis Group Publisher Norman Rosen VP/Special Projects Nancy Mueller Accounting EXECUTIVE OFFICES Toronto: 268 - 44 Crawford Crescent., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Tel: 905-844-8218 Fax: 905-844-5032 Montreal: Tel: 514-856-0788 Fax: 514-856-0790 Vancouver: 1745 Rufus Drive North Vancouver, BC V7J 3L8 Camping Canada’s RV Lifestyle Dealer News is published by Camping Canada Magazine Ltd. Reproduction of any mate- rial appearing in this magazine in any form is forbidden without prior consent of the publisher. Advertising rates available on request. Camping Canada Magazine reserves the right to refuse any and all advertising and disclaims all responsibilities for claims or statements of facts made by its advertisers or independent columnists. 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