“It’s like bringing the city to Flin Flon,” says Allison Wilson, general manager of Northland Ford Flin Flon, speaking about the company’s newly built dealership.
The multimillion-dollar facility had been under construction since July 2014, and has been open since July 2 of this year.
Wilson says the facility carries a sleek, white modern look seen at new Ford dealerships across North America and known as the Ford Millennium Design.
On Friday, Sept. 25 the company celebrated the new building with a grand opening.
Community members were invited to explore the bright, spacious 80-by-134-foot dealership, which includes glass-walled offices, a three-car showroom and an inviting customer lounge with TV, Wi-Fi and snacks.
The building also includes a parts department and a 10-bay service garage, with two detail bays and a number of upgrades such as heated floors and automatic doors.
While the new dealership was being developed, the company was operating out of three different spaces, says Wilson.
Now everyone works under one roof, and it is already making a big difference for the business.
“It’s way better for working together and communicating between departments,” Wilson explains.
Wilson is optimistic the new dealership will help the business to grow while better meeting the needs of local car owners and buyers.
There are about 25 local Northland Ford employees, and Wilson estimates the business will expand to include 30 to 35 employees within the next five years.
Ford management representatives travelled to Flin Flon for the occasion, including Gerald Wood, general manager of Ford Motor Company for Western Canada; Dean Bach, business development manager for Ford Credit; Delmar Giesbrecht, dealer sales manager for the Western Region; Kevin Wood, market representation manager of Ford Motor Company; Tim Quesnel, manager of parts and service for western Canada; Keith Young, general manager and partner, Northland Ford; and Dale Bigelow, dealer principal and owner, Northland Ford.
MLA Clarence Pettersen and Flin Flon mayor Cal Huntley also attended the opening to express their support for what Huntley called “a wonderful investment in the community.”
After several speeches by the political leaders and Ford executives, all members of the Ford team participated in a ribbon cutting to officially open the new dealership.
