Giving back during COVID-19 pandemic
Ontario car dealers have a long history of giving back to their communities. I’m happy to acknowledge an industry whose leadership and generosity have been unwavering these past two months.
Here is a list of the generous contributions made by members of the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association, in no particular order:
> Ray Lavoie is general manager at Forbes GM Collision in Kitchener. His 17-year-old son, Nathan, has been 3D printing ear guards for surgical masks to increase the comfort of face masks when worn over a long period.
> The Setay Automotive Group launched a campaign to raise money for food banks in Hamilton and Guelph. The company has a loyalty program that gives back to its customers and allows them to earn points in a multitude of ways.
> Seven View Chrysler donated $20,000 to Hospice Vaughan, which provides compassionate support to individuals facing a life-limiting illness or the loss of a loved one through in-home volunteers, grief counselling and bereavement support.
> Achilles Mazda has offered all nurses, doctors and paramedics who live in Acton, Georgetown or Milton the installation of seasonal tires at no charge.
> Willowdale Subaru & Volkswagen Villa are offering free tire and wheel swap for the first 50 medical workers, police officers, firefighters and paramedics.
> Erin Park Lexus, Erin Park Toyota and Belleville Toyota donated $20,000 to the Mississauga Food Bank and $6,000 to the Gleaners Food Bank in Belleville.
> Midland Toyota donated $8,000 to the local hospital and $2,000 to Feed Ontario.
> Subaru of Mississauga (and Subaru Canada) donated $17,000 to Family Services of Peel for expanded counselling services in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
> Mississauga Toyota donated $5,000 to the Trillium Health Partners towards the purchase of medical equipment, to help hospital staff obtain updates for screening and to obtain protective equipment in response to COVID-19.
> Rose City Chrysler Dodge Jeep bought Swiss Chalet lunch for all the staff at Seasons First Avenue Retirement Home.
> Mike Jackson GM in Collingwood is offering its service loaner fleet of cars to local restaurants that offer takeout food delivery services.
> Direct Nissan has assisted the Mississauga Food Bank and the Eden Food For Change. The dealership has made special accommodations for its neighbourhood’s frontline workers for any and all service issues to keep them mobile.
> Lake Huron Chrysler has sponsored a van and driver and shopper and is delivering groceries for free in Bayfield.
> Gallinger Ford provided 200 boxed catered lunches for all of the staff at Milton District Hospital, in support of its front-line workers.
> Pfaff Automotive Partners will donate 10,000 KN95 masks to hospitals within the GTA, help to distribute Meals on Wheels in downtown Toronto four times per week, and help Chats meal delivery for frontline workers (and matching donations to Chats).
> Heffner Lexus/Heffner Toyota (with Toyota Canada) donated $10,000 to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region and $20,000 to the Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation’s fund set up specifically to purchase PPE for local hospitals (St Mary’s, Grand River Hospital).
> Superior Hyundai and Lakehead Motors offered its shuttle buses and the services of its drivers to pick up and deliver food to and from the regional food bank. It also purchased 40 iPads and donated them to the local hospital for patients who are in isolation.
> Listowel Ford and Bustard Chrysler have offered nocharge vehicle sanitizing to all local health-care workers.
> Burlington Toyota contributed $10,000 to the Joseph Brant Hospital, and the company has lined its property with all blue vehicles in support of the hospitals and the front-line medical workers.
> Hogan Chevrolet Buick GMC has partnered with C.D. Farquharson Junior Public School, to fundraise for the Scarborough Health Network. Students are asked to do a drawing that recognizes the efforts of front-line workers, and for each drawing, Hogan will make a donation to the SHN Foundation.
> Orillia Hyundai has provided complimentary vehicles to medical staff in need at Orillia Soldier’s Memorial Hospital and Georgian Bay General Hospital in Midland.
> The Peterborough new car dealers donated 5,000 N95 masks, helped to fundraise in support of Peterborough’s Youth Emergency Shelter, providing auto repairs at no charge for local health-care workers, and provided its senior/or logistically challenged customers with complimentary service.
> Newmarket Hyundai delivered 25 vehicles (free of charge) to front-line medical workers in need at Southlake
Regional Health Centre in Newmarket.
> The Trillium Automobile Dealers Foundation, in partnership with Conquer COVID-19 and Hayley Wickenheiser, delivered 50,000 examination-grade gloves to the Province of Ontario on behalf of Consolidated Dealers Inc.
> NHL legend Wendel Clark personally assisted in the delivery of masks while Weins Canada and Mercedes-Benz Barrie donated a Sprinter van to help deliver essential items into the hands of Ontarians.
> Premier Doug Ford was on hand to help deliver 32,000 masks donated by Ontario’s New Car Dealers to help the province protect its front-line workers against COVID-19.
> The Owasco Group offered up to 70 RVs and trailers to the Oshawa and Ajax Hospitals to support first responders who need ways to get to home and work.
> The Drive Muskoka dealerships in Huntsville has provided much needed medical supplies to the Huntsville Hospital Foundation.
This column represents the views and values of the TADA. Write to president@tada.ca or go to tada.ca. Cliff Lafreniere is president of the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association and is president of Pinewood Park Motors (Ford) in Kirkland Lake. For information about automotive trends and careers, visit carsandjobs.com.