Fraser River GM celebrated its 25th anniversary Friday, Nov. 1.
"This is the 25th year that we've been in business at Fraser River GM," said operating managing shareholder Shane Thon. "There's multiple partners but I'm the one that conducts day-to-day business."
Thon has been leading the dealership since it opened, he started working as a service writer at the GM dealership in Williams Lake 38 years ago. He moved up to service management then through sales and into commercial truck and fleet sales.
"In 1999 I was offered an opportunity to buy in as a junior partner and a shareholder and we bought out J.B. Motorcade which was the existing GM dealer in Quesnel and that's where Fraser River Chevorlet, Buick, GMC came from," Thon said. He's proud to have had the dealership recognized by GM on several occasions for being top performers nationally. In 2023 they were recognized as being in the top 10 per cent of all GM dealers in Canada.
"We were recognized by the Chamber of Commerce for business of the year back in 2017," he added.
He's also happy to have had the chance to work with his family.
"I've had a chance to work with my daughter, she was with us in the store for three years and both my boys are working currently with us," Thon said. His wife also works at the dealership in the accounting department. "It's a family business and very enjoyable."
When asked what they've done for the community Thon said it's a long list.
"In our 25 years we've done everything from youth sports, 4H, Fall Challenge raising money for the mammography unit, Quesnel Community Foundation, Rotary, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, minor baseball, motocross, the mud bogs, SPCA," he said listing of some of the many things the dealership has helped sponsor. "It's pretty hard to expect that we endorse having the community support us if we don't give something back."
As part of their anniversary celebrations, the dealership had signs listing off some of the organizations and groups they've supported over the years, "it's just what we do."
"I'm always, always proud of my people which makes the business what it is," he said.
