YOUR STORIES: TRURO MAN GRATEFUL FOR LONG CAREER
Many people know Ken Atkinson through sports, others know him through the church and community charities.
A sales and leasing consultant with Pye Chevrolet Buick GMC, Atkinson has been with the Pye
dealership for 26 years. Previously, he sold cars at Blaikie’s Dodge Chrysler for six years and prior to that he worked 10 years at Brookfield Dairy.
Receiving numerous sales awards, Atkinson has sold in the area of 3,000 cars during his career. Averaging 90 to 100 car sales per year, Atkinson was asked about his best sales-day ever.
“I had a couple different days where I sold five cars in one day,” Atkinson, 58, of Bible Hill, said. “It happened a couple times, on both occasions – the buyers didn’t happen to be repeat customers.”
Satisfied customers are important to Atkinson.
“They keep coming back,” he said. “A customer can buy a car anywhere, it’s really what happens after the sale that counts. The customer has to come first. For me, staying at this same (Pye) dealership has been important. With this dealership, if you have a problem, let’s deal with it.”
Atkinson is grateful for a career that has worked out.
“I’m very thankful. The job is handy to my home, I couldn’t have asked for a better career or for a better dealership.”
Another good fit at the workplace involves sports talk.
“A few of us enjoy talking NHL hockey. Trevor Matheson is a Montreal Canadiens fan, so is Bernie Conrad. Danny Mccallum, our shuttle bus driver, is a diehard Toronto Maple Leafs fan, our general sales manager, Sandy Mackenzie, is a Edmonton Oilers fan and I’m a Detroit Red Wings fan. It’s all good.”
Atkinson spoke of world champion harness horse, Somebeachsomewhere, who had connections with the dealership.
“For many of us, it was really kind of living a dream through Brent ( Macgrath) and Garry (Pye) – with them being part of the ownership group. It was a once- in- a- lifetime sports phenomena, a world champion race horse being developed in Truro. It was really remarkable and turned into one of the greatest sports stories of all time.”
Atkinson was born in Toronto in 1960, the son of Al and Helen Atkinson. Ken’s first look at life took place in the big city, his early friends were Toronto kids. Enjoying sports, he played atom up to high school hockey. Atkinson smiled broadly as he shared a hockey memory.
“I got to play one game in Maple Leaf Gardens in the early 1970s. It was quite a big thing at the time. It was high school hockey and everyone from a number of schools got the day off. There was a real big crowd at the game, my brother Norman played in the game too and I scored a goal. I’ll never forget getting to play a game in Maple Leaf Gardens.”
When Ken was 13, his family moved to North River. His first day attending Central Colchester Junior High School in Onslow provided another important memory.
“The teacher asked for a volunteer to show the new student around. Barry Whidden put his hand up. Barry showed me around the school, we have been friends since that day in Grade 8. Another thing, we now work together at Pye’s as well. Barry and I are best of friends, who could have ever figured?”
From CCJHS, Atkinson attended Cobequid Educational Centre and played guard for the CEC Cougars in basketball. Sports would later play another important part in his life, as Atkinson recalled a chance meeting.
“I met my wife Kim when I was coaching minor hockey in 2003. It just goes to show you how things can work out sometimes. It must have been supposed to be, yes, I’d say 100 per cent. I was fortunate to meet Kim; we’ve had 15 good years together.”
Ken and Kim, who are involved in charity work and providing community dinners, have two grown sons, Ross Grant and Thor Atkinson.
“Most people like to help others,” Ken said. “Treat people the way you like to be treated and it’ll all work out at the end of the day.”
Ken has a passion for golf and early morning tee off times are routine.
“I love the golf course and the people who are there,” Ken said. “I’m obsessed with golf.”