Bob and Norma Saunders have five children, three of whom worked with them at Saunders Subaru during the dealershipB次元官网网址檚 36- year run on the West Shore.
The eldest siblings, Helen Gilbert and Steve Saunders, took different career paths while Edie, Ruth and Dave have been key components for varying lengths of time in the day-to-day operations. The trio are continuing at the dealership for three months to assist with the transition to the Pattison Group, to ensure their customers get the same level of service.
Edie has two children, Adam and Stephanie; Ruth has three, Kristi, Luke and Vince, and Dave has daughters Megan, Maddison and Rachel.
Edie, Ruth and Dave were thrilled to share the news that their parents had received congratulations from Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Christy Clark on the occasion of their 60th anniversary in May. That speaks to the extraordinary impact their parents and the family has had on the West Shore, the Capital Region, the Cowichan Valley and Saltspring Island.
Both Edie and Ruth play hockey and Ruth has coached for many years as well. Dave coaches girlsB次元官网网址� hockey and softball.
The Goldstream B次元官网网址 Gazette sat down over lunch with Norma, Edie, Ruth and Dave to find out what theyB次元官网网址檒l miss the most and what lies ahead. Bob, 81, took advantage of his freshly minted retirement and went fishing that day. But, after apologizing profusely, he was happy to share his thoughts on the decision to sell, his family, the community and his plans for the future the next day.
NORMA
B次元官网网址淥ne of the reasons I let Bob open a used car lot was that I didnB次元官网网址檛 think there would be a lot of bookkeeping. Then he opened the dealership and IB次元官网网址檝e been there ever since. When the Pattison people asked about something specific during the negotiations, I listed off a line item from the monthly report. After I gave them 20 items from memory, they knew I was on top of everything.
I had some real battles once we switched to computers, but I was never late with the monthly report. IB次元官网网址檒l miss the daily routine, but not the bookkeeping deadlines. IB次元官网网址檒l miss the relationships working with staff and family; I could always count on them being there. IB次元官网网址檓 not sure what IB次元官网网址檒l do yet, because itB次元官网网址檚 all so new to me. ItB次元官网网址檚 nice to have some time to think about it.B次元官网网址�
EDIE
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l miss the people who worked with the family and the relations we had with the staff. I worked six days a week, so when I told the kids we were selling the dealership, my son Adam, whoB次元官网网址檚 30, said he wanted a cartoon day because I was never home for one on Saturdays. I missed those days where my husband, Steve, would turn the living room into a fort, so IB次元官网网址檓 really looking forward to that first cartoon Saturday. IB次元官网网址檓 also really looking forward to playtime with the family and learning how to play crib. And my husbandB次元官网网址檚 looking forward to me making him lunch for the first time in 32 years.B次元官网网址�
RUTH
B次元官网网址淭he hardest thing will be coming in and not seeing mom there. IB次元官网网址檒l miss not being side by side with the family, and the relationships we had with our staff and customers. I remember one of our attendants complaining that he couldnB次元官网网址檛 get some tar off a car we had serviced. Mom told him to use some elbow grease so he went looking for it until mom showed him what she meant. IB次元官网网址檓 looking forward to more hockey and more golf. I got my motorcycle license 20 years too late in May, so IB次元官网网址檓 looking to more road trips as well.B次元官网网址�
DAVE
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 so proud of my mom and dad and sisters for starting something in tough times and building it into one of the most successful Subaru dealerships in Canada. IB次元官网网址檒l miss hearing dad call every customer every single day to thank them for coming into the dealership, and IB次元官网网址檒l miss the fun we had making commercials. I put my old business on hold four years ago, so IB次元官网网址檓 looking forward to getting back to excavating and developing (DaveB次元官网网址檚 company cleared the trees for Highland Pacific golf course) and working on other projects.
IB次元官网网址檒l keep working with the Saunders Family Foundation, especially the Comfy Kids program. We had a family return the Comfy Car on the last day at the dealership. They were struggling with a child with cancer, and we wanted the people with the Pattison Group to see firsthand how appreciative they were so they understood how important this is to the family.
IB次元官网网址檓 president of Langford Softball, so that continues all year, and IB次元官网网址檒l be coaching my daughterB次元官网网址檚 midget hockey team out of Juan de Fuca.
BOB
B次元官网网址淚t seemed like the right thing to sell now. The Pattison Group has been trying to get a deal done for years. I have so much respect for Jim Pattison, and IB次元官网网址檓 sure they will carry on the family tradition of supporting the community. It was great to close the deal with a handshake.
It was a tough, but not tough decision. Norma is the pillar of the family, and we didnB次元官网网址檛 make too many decisions without the family. We couldnB次元官网网址檛 have done it without their support. If I had it to do all over again, IB次元官网网址檇 probably have more kids. TheyB次元官网网址檙e all tireless workers. This gives the children a chance to move on.
The greatest gift you can have is the opportunity to support your community, and the West Shore community is great. The service clubs, sports organizations and the people are tremendous. You support them and they support you.
One of the top memories is sponsoring Olympic athletes, and also the Comfy Car program. Seeing kids go over to Vancouver and get well is wonderful, although sometimes you lose one and thatB次元官网网址檚 very, very sad.
I also want to thank Black Press and the Gazette as well. TheyB次元官网网址檝e always been there, and donB次元官网网址檛 get enough accolades or credit for what they do.
IB次元官网网址檓 looking forward to being more involved with service groups, sports groups, the foundation and the community. When you give back you get back, and itB次元官网网址檚 nice to do it from the heart. Coffee will always be on.B次元官网网址�
