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Raymond Gregoire -- Head of a successful family business. (Paul Rodier Photo) DON MAY Electrical Residential © Commercial ® Farm . FREE ESTIMATES Russell 445-5332 HONEY'S GARAGE €j7 General repairs, 24-hr. towing and road service, snow ploughing We have regular and supper unleaded gas Garage Hours: 6a.m.to10p.m. 64 Castor St., Bus. 445-3020 Russell Home: 445-2890 A & R Gregoire-- By Patrick Dare 40 Years on the Road While business throughout big- city North America suffers the ef- fects of inflation, A & R Gregoire of Embrun is flourishing. The dealership sells 2,000 General Motors cars a year--$12 million worth of business. But life hasn't always been this - rewarding for the Gregoire family. In 1939, Albert Gregoire moved into the Embrun area to start an auto, wrecking business. would strip the cars of valuable parts and tires, then demolish the car. By 1957, Albert's son Raymond was a trained automechanic and the father-son team opened a car dealership with a_ three-door garage and a one-car show room. They sold 58 new cars in the first year. The early years entailed 18-hour days for the Gregoire family. With only seven employees, Mar- tha , Raymond's wife, dealership's accounting and recep- tion work. The business stayed in family hands through the years, and to- day, Martha, and Raymond's mother Berthe, are both vice- presidents of the firm. The business has grown to employ 73 people and the family commitment remains strong. Mr. Gregoire's mother drives to Casselman, often twice daily, to get licences for the new cars. Raymond says the low overhead operating in Embrun and friendly service account for 93 per cent of Albert - did the business coming through recom- mendations. The big asset however is employee loyalty. Some employees have been with the firm for 19 years. The family's attachment to the community is strong. In 1969 the Gregoires received an offer to re- locate at Trois Rivieres. After in- vestigating the feasibilities the family decided not to leave Em- brun. The prime consideration was the feeling of Raymond's father. Albert, who hesitated to leave the area. A similar offer to move to Ottawa or Hull to pro- vide a francphone dealership was also refused. Albert Gregoire died in: 1977 at the age of 70. He was very proud of the organization, says Ray- mond. With growing respon- sibilities, Raymond found he needed a general manager; he hired Bob Tessier in July, 1978. Tessier, with 20 years of ex- perience in the automobile business, is also secretary-treasuer of the company. Almost two years ago Raymond started a Chamber of Commerce in Embrun, and was president un- ~ til recently. Time constraints created by the position infringed on his business life, he explains. He has thought of running for public office. But public office and private enterprise are dif- ferent spheres of activity; Ray- mond's life is business. He is interested in the future of his community. He population of Embrun and Russell Village will triple by 1985. with water and sewage works completed by next spring in Em- brun, the area will be ready for growth. At 45, Mr. Gregoire is a dynamic family man with four children. The eldest, Danielle, 19 ~ works part-time at the dealership as a receptionist when not atten- ding second-year accounting classes at Algonquin College. Sylvie, 18, is completing grade 13 and working as a part-time cashier at the Western Tire store. At 16, son Luc is being groomed to follow in his father's footsteps. He will work in every area of the dealership to gain a thorough knowledge of the business, before stepping into a management posi- tion. The youngest Gregoire, Lucie 14, seems pre-occupied with other things in life like horses. Despite his affection for his children and a desire to provide them with opportunities, Gregoire feels the material things in life should be earned. He has a strong- sense of achievement and a vigorous feeling of pride in his work, inherited from his father. Gregoire is optimistic about the future of the Embrun area, and anxious to get to the business of building that future. He hopes his children will want to share in that future, as he did with his father. Erik Therkelsen I=] &SonsLtd. fal TELEPHONE: BUS. 445-2818 © RES. 445-2899 P.O. BOX 254, RUSSELL, ONT. Haven't you done without snow thrower, or a George White Snow Blower long enough. a Toro Toro in Stock Reg. 1-S 200-20" Gas $399.95 4-5 HP-24"' $899.95 4-8 HP-24" $999.95 1-11-HP-32" W/EL Starter 1-7 HP-Snow Shark used Chains for above model--$29-95 each. Electrical Startek-4-5-8 HP, each ee 90 Snow Thrower Cover $39.9 $1,499.95 You will receive a free Toro Snow Toque will each Snow Thrower. George White Tractor Snow Blowers 1-60" Mini-Blizzard 2-76" Blizzard MG Reg. $1155.00 each 6-87" Super blizzard Reg. $1648.00 each W/Hydraulic--clute-- Rotor--Less-Cylinder 1-86" Double-Blizzard = Reg. $2070.00 1-102" Super Double blizzard Reg. $2570.00 Cylinder and hose for above models 2x8= 75.00 Each. Reg: $1035.00 Special $1850.00 Lose g ea Special 275.00 789.00 869.00 $1299.00 $325.00 Special ets 00 Special 1040.00 Special $1498.00 Special 2 .00 COUNTRY FLOWERS & GREEN HOUSES When the Occasion calls for flowers, call us here at Country Flowers and Green- houses. Wedding and sympathy arrange- ments are our specialty. You can count on Country Flowers and - Greenhouses after all... --Fresh and dried floral arrangements --Tropical plants FLOWERS ARE OUR ONLY BUSINESS Daily deliveries to Metcalfe, Russell, Embrun, Kenmore Greely, Vernon, Vars, Ottawa and area Regional Rd. 821-2573 8, Edwards says the | scotiabanks THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA RUSSELL 445-2880 : 'Grow With Us' Scotia Bank