Automotive News Canada - December 2023 - S28

JANUARY
EDITION
FROM THE
FEBRUARY
EDITION
28
FROM THE
MARCH
EDITION
FROM THE
BEST PRACTICES 2023
A new Ford home on
APRIL
EDITION
EDITION
FROM THE
MAY
The relocated store
straddles the line between
corporate identity and
Tsuut'ina culture
By HARRY PEGG
CALGARY CORRESPONDENT
FORD CANADA AND METRO FORD
in Calgary marked a series of firsts with
the recent grand opening of the automaker's
inaugural franchised dealership on
Indigenous land.
EDITION
FROM THE
EDITION
FROM THE
The 80,000-square-foot
FROM THE
AUGUST
EDITION
FROM THE
SEPTEMBER
EDITION
FROM THE
OCTOBER
EDITION
FROM THE
NOVEMBER
EDITION
(7,400-square-metre)
" Signature " design structure,
built on 8.5 acres (3.5
hectares), is an anchor for
the Taza Park business
development within the
Tsuut'ina nation on Calgary's western
outskirts. The groundbreaking took place
in August 2021 with Metro Ford relocating
from its longtime location in central
Calgary.
At the July 15 grand opening, Ford
Canada President Bev Goodman said it's
the first Ford dealership on native land
JULY
JUNE
in Canada and, " to my knowledge, " currently
the largest Ford dealership in the
country.
Metro Ford is the first Model E
Certified Elite dealership in Calgary, and
it was also awarded a Super Duty F-650
and F-750 franchise, said dealer principal
Reg Pattemore. The 44-bay service
area has six heavy-duty
hoists for large trucks,
26 hoists rated at 12,000
pounds' capacity and four
in-ground hoists for electric-vehicle
service. The
store also has seven wash
bays.
SCAN TO
READ THE
BACKSTORY ON
THE TAZA PARK
DEVELOPMENT
The dealership " is prepared
for expansion of
Ford's electric fleet, " said
Pattemore. For existing
dealerships, the Model E Certified Elite
program requires electrification infrastructure
upgrades costing up to $1.3 million.
About 90 per cent of the investment
is charging infrastructure, including DC
fast chargers, Ford said.
The 5,000-square-foot (460-square-metre)
showroom with reception area is
flanked by a row of sales offices. The dealership
employs 84 people, including 24
WHY METRO MOVED
Metro Ford relocated to the Taza
development on Tsuut'ina land
from its longtime location in
central Calgary.
* Supportive landlord-tenant
relationship
* Readily accessible land
at a reasonable cost
* Room for a large dealership
* Ninety-plus years prepayable lease
term
* Ready market from
underserved southwest Calgary
* No future tax issues
with the City of Calgary
* Ring road allows easy customer
access from anywhere in Calgary
technicians and 10 sales staff, and " we're
looking for more techs, " Pattemore said.
He declined to disclose the cost of the
dealership. Construction began in 2021.
The showroom
opens onto a spacious
customer waiting
area dominated
by a mural painted by
noted Tsuut'ina artist
Keegan Starlight,
who also designed
the dealership's
" Thunderbird " logo.
Ford is " thrilled
this has happened, "
Goodman said, " and
we're very proud to
have Reg [Pattemore]
as a partner and
thankful to the
Tsuut'ina nation. "
At the grand
opening, Chief Ray
Whitney extended a
welcome.
Tsuut'ina artist Keegan Starlight designed the " Thunderbird " logo and painted
a mural in the customer waiting area that pays homage to Ford, Indigenous
people and nature. PHOTO: HARRY PEGG
Pattemore:
Metro Ford
enrolled in
the Model E
Certified Elite
program and
" is prepared
for expansion
of Ford's
electric fleet. "
PHOTO:
HARRY PEGG
" The way it has turned out has been
incredible, and I truly appreciate the
great working relationship. "
Automotive News Canada - December 2023

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