WESTLOCK – Todd Ducharme, a Westlock community champion for more than a quarter century and dealer principal of Westlock Motors and Grizzly Trail Motors in Barrhead, has been lauded with a 2022 Motor Dealers’ Association of Alberta (MDA) non-metro Auto Dealer of Excellence Award.
Ducharme, 58, was surrounded by staff, friends and family — many of who could be characterized as all three — during a special ceremony held in the showroom of Westlock Motors Nov. 25 where he officially received the plaque.
The MDA hands out dealer of excellence awards annually to one metro dealer from Calgary or Edmonton and one non-metro dealer from the rest of the province — Paul Valentine, from the Valentine Auto Group in Calgary, was the metro winner. Award criteria include business acumen, community involvement and association/industry involvement, while candidates are nominated by association members and the winners are selected by a panel of past award recipients which MDA president Gerald Wood says, “makes this award so meaningful.”
“Paul and Todd have achieved success by demonstrating exceptional commitment to their customers, staff, industry and communities in which they do business,” said Wood. “They are fine examples of the many excellent auto dealers we are fortunate to have as members.”
Ducharme, who served as MDA chair from 2019-2020, was all smiles at the ceremony saying he was “surprised and humbled for being chosen” and called it “an honour for me and our team.” He credits his success to a positive attitude, a good work-family life balance and following the words of his mentor John Davis who sagely advised: “Surround yourself with good people.”
He also said it was especially gratifying to join Davis, who won the award in 2010, and all three of his sons, Mike, Luke and Tim, who were lauded in 2016, plus past Westlock-area car dealers Dwight Brown, Chrysler and Rex Dawson, Ford — both he worked alongside and knew personally who have since passed away — who also won the same honour in 2013 and 1987, respectively.
“It’s a great honour, especially since it comes from your peers. To be thought of in the same light as guys like John and Rex and Dwight, is really humbling,” he said, while also thanking his wife Deneen. “But you can’t win awards like this without good staff and without the support at home. We’ve been so lucky here in that we’ve had lots of long-term staff and very dedicated staff.”
In the past handful of years Ducharme, who still holds the title of general manager, has stepped back from much of the day-to-day operations and turned the keys over to his sons Colby, who’s the Westlock Motor sales manager, and Brady, who’s the fixed operations manager, while Tate McNelly is the general manager of Grizzly Trail Motors — both dealerships are under the Davis Auto Group umbrella. He said it’s especially fulfilling to see his sons take the mantle although that was never the plan and he would have been happy with whatever career they choose.
“I have a lot more flexibility today because they are here and they are my business partners. They’ve bought in, are earning it and working their dad out of job,” he said with a chuckle. “That’s what they wanted to do and it’s great.”
From Fort Macleod to Westlock
Ducharme, who started his career working at Scougall Motors in Fort Macleod back in 1984 when he 20 years old, said it was “ … a great place to learn the auto business from two of the best: John Davis and Hank Arnoldussen.”
“There were no jobs back the early 80s and I even tried to get jobs at the banks and (defunct retailers) Woodward’s and Woolco,” he said with a chuckle.
Starting as a sales consultant, he was promoted to sales manager and five years later he moved to Lethbridge to become the pre-owned manager at Davis GMC Buick. Within a year, his goal of becoming a general manager and dealer principal of his own store became a reality when Davis presented him the opportunity to take over Westlock Motors in 1996. At the time of the move to Westlock, Colby was eight, Brady was five and Hannah was two.
“And it’s become our home. Westlock has been so good to all of us,” said Ducharme.
Over the years, Ducharme has immersed himself in the community and done everything from organizing a shinny hockey league to coaching minor sports. He’s also a past member of the Westlock Economic Development Committee, was a key figure in the community fundraising for the Rotary Spirit Centre and is the current co-president of the Westlock Rotary Club. Considering customers as “community colleagues” Westlock Motors with Ducharme at the helm has always been an avid supporter of a myriad of local charities and community organizations.
Finally, when asked what the best thing is about having achieved success, Ducharme replied: “Success is a moving target. Continually striving for more of the good things in life: comfort, family, friends and adventures.”
