The 2012 CADA Laureates arrive at the Canadian International AutoShow and are greeted by CADA executives, auto show management, and the media.
Norman Hébert Jr., Trevor Boquist and Christian Chia welcomed into CADA Laureate family
The newly-minted CADA Laureates arrived in style by limousine and entered the Canadian International AutoShow show floor during VIP night wearing their new Laureate jackets as is the tradition for this prestigious annual awards recognition program.
The Laureates meet for dinner, where they are officially welcomed to the elite class of Canadian auto dealers who are recognized as the best of the best. Then they tour the auto show with their families and fellow Laureates and are saluted for their achievement.
Trevor Boquist
Alex Baum, CADA Chairman, had high praise for this year’s winners. “When you look at the level of the Laureate fraternity tonight, they are outstanding individuals,” said Baum, in an interview on the show floor. “These are community and industry leaders.”
Canadian auto dealer was there to greet the Laureates as they arrived at the auto show to capture their impressions of joining this distinguished group of their peers.
“Tonight, getting the jacket and having dinner and having it all sink in has been wonderful,” said CADA Laureate Trevor Boquist, of Bennett-Dunlop Ford Sales Limited, Regina. “I commented at dinner that since I was twelve this is all I wanted to do, be in the car business and be a car dealer. So it comes full circle when you get recognized by your peers for doing a good job.”
AN ELITE GROUP
CADA Laureate Norman Hébert, Jr. of Groupe Park Avenue in Montreal, Que. said he has always tried to do things to raise the image of the auto retail industry. “Hopefully I’ve been able to do that. And tonight my peers have told me I’ve done an OK job,” said Hébert.
Norman Hébert Jr.
“I am actually honoured to be the first Quebecker,” he says. “Ours is a family business and has been since 1959 and I’m following in the footsteps of a great innovator — my father.”
Hébert said he was impressed with the Laureate jacket he was sporting. “It’s good. I can’t really wear an Oscar but I can wear the jacket,” he said with a laugh.
CADA Laureate Christian Chia, of OpenRoad Auto Group, Richmond, B.C. said the meaning of the award was really brought home to him after CADA President and CEO Rick Gauthier talked at the Laureate dinner about the history of the award, what it means to the industry, and the exclusivity of the club they are joining.
“It’s an important program. One of the purposes and by-products of the program is to raise the benchmark for the entire industry,” said Chia. “I’m humbled by receiving the award, and at the same time I’m very proud.”
“It’s an esteemed class,” remarked Alnoor Jiwani, Senior Vice-President, SAL Group, and the exclusive CADA Laureate program sponsor. “I think what the CADA
Christian Chia
Laureate program illustrates is some of the great dealers we have. When you look at what they’ve accomplished in their communities and what they’ve done for their employees, it’s heartwarming. This really shows what good dealerships are all about and this is what we appreciate being associated with.”
The CADA Laureate award is considered to be the highest honour a new car and truck dealer can receive over the course of his or her career.
The CADA Laureate award is presented annually to three dealers out of 3,200 nationally in the categories of Ambassadorship, Business Innovation and Retail Operations. Industry stakeholders submit hundreds of nominations annually and nominees are subject to a rigorous evaluation process that culminates with the selection of one Laureate in each category by the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University.
For more information, visit: www.cadalaureate.ca
