We certainly are facing a future that has been unprecedented in our lifetimes. Being an independent, smaller tire dealer myself, I find that my days now are mostly spent trying to gather the most up-to-date information and resources. Government programs all the way from federal down to municipal levels are constantly changing and being updated.
Your representatives at Western Canada Tire Dealers continue to do all that we can for you; and will share any and all information that we are able to provide. There are critical best practices that all locations should follow in regards to hygiene and sanitizing, and social distancing, not only to keep your customers safe and healthy but also your staff.
We will also try to send out the latest, most relevant information and links so that you are kept current on government programs that may be of great value to you and your employees. Please reach out to us if you have questions. We will do everything in our power to get you the answers you need.
Also, if you have suggestions to share please do that as well. Now is the time for us to unite and help one another weather a storm like we have never seen before.
• Ensure flexible sick leave policies consistent with public health guidance.
• Permit employees to stay home to care for a sick family member.
• Post signage asking anyone who is ill to not enter the premises.
• Require any employee who has recently traveled internationally (including to the U.S) to self quarantine for 14 days.
• Require employees to wash hands frequently and thoroughly, not to touch their faces, and use hand sanitizer (at least 60-95% alcohol) as needed.
• Post clearly worded hygiene reminders in appropriate locations, especially in washrooms and change areas.
• Request all employees and customers to maintain social distancing, both in the workplace and at home.
Best practices for workplace hygiene and sanitation include:
• Use disposable nitrile gloves when driving vehicles in and out and changing them after every vehicle.
• Use gloves or hand sanitizer immediately after handling customer’s keys.
• Use disposable steering wheel covers on every vehicle.
• Provide hand sanitizer to each technician for their individual use.
• Provide hand sanitizer and or sanitizing wipes to customers.
• Wipe down the credit card machine before and after each transaction. (Customers like to see it wiped down beforehand—provides reassurance and comfort). Where possible, use only tap / flash enabled units.
• Wipe down common areas before opening and once or twice during the day. For both customer and employee areas.
• Eliminate sharing of food and drink between employees (pizza lunches or even coffee, doughnuts or other commonly shared snacks)
• Eliminate items such as magazines / coffee stations temporarily to minimize chances of community spread.
• Be kind and be considerate of a everyone’s fears and questions.
Keep calm—WASH YOUR HANDS—and carry on!
Resources for business owners
Explore the option of utilizing a work share program instead of outright layoffs, and the procedures to implement:
We regret to announce that all TIA training in Canada has been postponed until further notice, due to travel restrictions put in place as a precaution against Coronavirus. Once the ban has been lifted these training sessions will be rescheduled as soon as possible. We thank you for your understanding and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused.
Matt White leads an EMT Program
In conjunction with Tire Industry Association (TIA), Western Canada Tire Dealers announces the following training courses for 2020.
• Earthmover Tire Service (ETS) Advanced Installer Program (Postponed)
Edmonton, AB, June 9th – 11th. Location: Holiday Inn and Suites, 11330-170 St., Edmonton. For room registration phone 780-444-3110. Starts 8 AM. Cost $900.00
Commercial Tire Service (CTS) Level 400 / Train the Trainer(Postponed)
• (2) Edmonton, AB, April 14th – 16th. Holiday Inn and Suites, 11330-170 St, Edmonton. For room registration phone 780-444-3110. Starts 8 AM. Cost $900.00
The instructor for all of these courses is TIA Director of Service Matt White, who has been our instructor in the past. Matt is renowned worldwide for his training and is highly regarded as the best.
Attendees must bring their own PPE equipment (steel toe shoes, gloves, hard hats, vests, glasses etc.) for the hands-on, practical portion of the training.
Training material, lunches and coffee breaks will be provided.
In cooperation with the Tire Industry Association (TIA), Western Canada Tire Dealers offers the following training courses for 2019. 1.Earthmover TireService (ETS) Advanced Installer Program
2.Automotive Tire Service (ATS) Level 400 / Train the Trainer
3.Commercial Tire Service (CTS) Level 400 / Train the Trainer
As always, leading these courses is TIA Director of Tire Service Matt White, our valued instructor in the past. Matt enjoys worldwide recognition for his dynamic approach and is highly regarded as the best in his field.
Attendees must bring their own PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) (steel toed shoes, gloves, vests, glasses etc.) for the hands-on practical portion of the training.
Training materials, lunches and coffee breaks will be provided.
1. Earthmover Tire Service (ETS) Advanced Installer Program
March 5th to 7th, Vernon. BC
Starts 8:00 a.m. on March 5th at:Prestige Inn, 4411 – 32nd. Street, Vernon, BC. For room registration phone: 250-558-5991. Ref. Event E05580
Cost of this course is $800.00 + GST
Matt White: Airing on the side of safety
2. Automotive Tire Service (ATS) Level 400: Train the Trainer
March 11th to 15th, Langley, BC. Two courses offered:
• ATS A. March 11th, 8 a.m. to noon, March 13th
• ATS B. March 13th, Noon to 5:00 p.m. March 15th
Holiday Inn Express, 8750 – 204th. Street, Langley, BC. For room registration phone: 604-882-2000
Cost of this course is $600.00 + GST
3. Commercial Tire Service (CTS) Level 400: ‘Train the Trainer’
April 9th to 11th, 2019
This course starts at 8:00a.m. April 9th at:
Holiday Inn and Suites, 11330 170th. Street Edmonton, AB. For room registration phone: 780-444-3110
Cost of this Course is $800.00 +GST
Please note that this scholarship has been discontinued.
We are pleased to announce that TSBC has generously added another scholarship to our existing four scholarships. This scholarship is for $2000.00 and is in the memory of Don Blythe for his contribution to Tire Stewardship BC and to the tire industry in general.
“On January 5, 2018, TSBC and the tire world lost an industry giant, Don Blythe.Don was instrumental in setting up Tire Stewardship BC and held the position of Chairman of the Board since TSBC’s inception on January 01, 2007.In honour of Don and as a thank you to his significant contribution to TSBC and others, the TSBC board has set up a scholarship in Don’s name in the amount of $2,000.We know Don will be pleased with our decision to help further someone’s education.”
The scholarship will be known as the TSBC Don Blythe Scholarship.
Details regarding eligibility are as follows:
Only BC dealers may apply. Applicants must be supported by a registered BC tire retailer (though not restricted to WCTD members), also must have been registered with TSBC for more than three years and be in good standing with no compliance issues.
Applicants must also meet qualifications as follows:
The applicant is the immediate family member (son, daughter or spouse) or legal ward of a person that is a full time, permanent employee, for at least one year, of a TSBC registered retailer.
The applicant must have been accepted to attend an accredited Canadian post- secondary institution and has registered for classes for the upcoming semester.
Deadline for submission is August 15th, 2021
Applications should be forward to:
Ray Geleta, Executive Director, Western Canada Tire Dealers,
Western Canada Tire Dealers is deeply saddened to announce that Olive Storey, former WCTD Executive Director and former owner of Advanx Tire, passed away in Winnipeg on January 22, 2018.
Ms. Storey was widely regarded as a ground-breaker, in that she was among the first women to hold a senior executive position in the tire industry in North America.
Born in Vancouver in 1927, in 1950 Olive married Gord Storey, Dunlop Tires Western Sales Manager. Gord later purchased multi branch Advanx Tire, and also established a wholesale division, Astro Tire Distributors BC Ltd. Olive Storey joined the company and became office manager, until Gord Storey passed away unexpectedly in 1972.
Determined to carry on, Olive ran Advanx Tire for several years. The first female general manager of an independent tire company in Canada, she expanded the retail network and modernized existing facilities, including the head office.
She once credited the company’s survival and success to “great store managers and many committed employees.”
Advanx Tire was purchased by Kal Tire in 1981.
In 1983 Ms. Storey was approached by by Western Canada Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association (now WCTD) to become executive director. She agreed, and thus became the continent’s first female tire association executive director. It was a position that she held for 15 years. During that period she helped shape WCTD into one of the most successful associations anywhere in the industry.
When, in 2011, Olive was inducted into the WCTD Hall of Fame, the late Don Blythe commented:
“It is my opinion there has not been anyone before or after who has contributed more, including financially, to the success of WCTD than Olive Storey…. She put WCTD on the map.”
WCTD extends its sincere condolences to the family.
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A celebration of Olive Storey’s life, conducted by her nephew Father Michael Storey, will be held on Saturday March 3, 2018 at 2 pm at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens, 4000 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB. A reception will follow. A memorial service and Internment will be held in West Vancouver in mid May (details to follow).
We are truly saddened to report that Don Blythe passed away on the evening of January 5th, 2017. Don was a former executive director of Western Canada Tire Dealers and an unswerving supporter and industry stalwart for many decades. The association extends its heartfelt condolences to his wife, Laura, and to the family.
Don was deeply respected across North America by many in the tire business and regarded as ‘a fixture’ in the Canadian tire industry.
Don had over 60 years of experience in the industry, much of it as the former Executive Director of the Western Canada Tire Dealers. He began his career with Goodyear in 1957; over the next 15 years, he held various operating and sales positions. In 1972, he moved to OK Tire, and took the position of Tire General Manager. He opened his own OK Tire franchise (in Burnaby, BC) in 1978, and in 1980, he was elected to the OK Tire Board of Directors.
Don returned to the OK Tire home office as Managing Director in 1982, and a year later, he was named President. Also in 1982, he was elected to the Board of the Western Canadian Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association, now WCTD.
He served as the association’s President from 1995 – 1997, and he was the Executive Director from 2003 until he retired in 2009. Don was a leader in scrap tire recycling within Canada, and was instrumental in starting several scrap tire programs, primarily in British Columbia.
Don Blythe was named to the Western Canada Tire Dealers Hall of Fame in 2008; and named to the Tire Industry Association (TIA) Hall of Fame in 2010.
A full tribute and obituary will follow soon. RIP, Don.
Western Canada Tire Dealers is deeply saddened to announce that Olive Storey, former WCTD Executive Director and former owner of Advanx Tire, passed away in Winnipeg on January 22, 2018.
We are truly saddened to report that Don Blythe passed away on the evening of January 5th, 2017. Don was a former executive director of Western Canada Tire Dealers and an unswerving supporter and industry stalwart for many decades. The association extends its heartfelt condolences to his wife, Laura, and to the family.