Having to have a financial action plan ready for the June 1 deadline, May 20 General Motors (GM) Canada announced 260 dealerships across the nation were marked for closure as part of that plan.
Later that afternoon, Ponoka Chevrolet owner, Lyle Guthrie, got an e-mail notifying him his dealership was one of them.
"We were told back in February that there would be closures, but were given assurance it would most likely affect the urban dealerships in Eastern Canada," said Guthrie.
The information hit other areas throughout the province hard as many dealers in Alberta have received similar notification.
GM presented Ponoka Chevrolet with a wind-down agreement last Wednesday that had to be signed by May 26 if accepted, but Guthrie chose not to go that route.
"The question we face now isn't if we'll close, but when we will be closing - it could be two weeks, two months, six months down the road...Circumstances are different for GM Canada then they are for GM in the United States.
“I don't know what the future holds because I don't know what all of the options are at this point, but I do know my staff and customers are number 1," he said. He wants to see all of his staff members placed before closing his doors and would like to let the community know they are indeed still open for business and will serve their customers as best they can.
In its 11½ year run, Guthrie’s Ponoka Chevrolet has donated roughly $15,000 to $18,000 to the community annually. Their presence and service will be missed by many as Mayor Larry Henkelman noted.
“Anytime a community of our size loses a business it hurts everyone. We definitely don’t like to see it happen,” he said. “They’ve been in business for almost 12 years and roughly 20 years before that under different ownership. They’ve been good community and corporate citizens. It’s local businesses that keep the community thriving and companies like this are the first to support it by giving back to our service clubs and organizations,” he said. Henkelman wishes all employees well with their future endeavors.