There are some pretty good reasons to make your home in Central Alberta.
The winter season in this area may be way down the list, but people really make the difference in any community.
These days I find myself immersed in this region’s car community, so I have met some solid local citizens in this world.
It’s a time of the year when we acknowledge the best features of the last year, so here is my 2010 list of Red Deer and area residents that make a difference.
The list is random and not in any order of importance.
Trevor Comfort loves what he does in life. He gets to restore vintage vehicles as his job and business at Comfort Collision. For Trevor, it’s a little like a job as a Playboy magazine photographer. But Trevor has never forgotten that he is also a Red Deer guy, so he gives back as much as he can to the community.
Jeff Roberts is one of those gregarious guys that have managed to balance Wrench Masters with his life as a family guy with a large young family. He is an excellent family man role model.
Scott Medori at Parkland Transmission is definitely a dedicated community sports guy.
He has played team sports and he has sponsored team sports in Red Deer.
He is not the kind of guy that seeks the spotlight, but a community cannot exist without its unsung heroes. Scott is one of those guys.
Daryl Czuy is another guy in the right business.
He owns Innisfail (and Sylvan Lake) Truck Ranch as a business, but he is every inch a car guy. Daryl is an ultra- friendly guy with a weakness for unusual vehicles. It seems to satisfy his car guy soul, plus it gives him some pretty interesting stories in car guy circles.
I have primarily thought of Graham Moore as a 100 per cent sports guy, given his tireless involvement in Red Deer’s amateur hockey program, but he is also a car guy.
I walked into Northwest Motors and spotted an early 70s Challenger in the showroom. It turned out that it was Graham’s and it was not for sale — the sign of a real car guy.
I have always known Pete Swainson at Southside Dodge as a 100 per cent car guy.
He is an encyclopedia of knowledge for Mopars from the past. But he and his family are also big contributors to this community — they just don’t like to advertise the fact.
Andrew Pankratz is a young family guy with an automotive glass business called Fusion Glass.
He is an ultra-energetic guy with enough people skills to teach Dale Carnegie a few tricks.
Walter Cooledge at Diablo Detail is a quiet guy with a friendly disposition and a strong work ethic. It is obvious from the start that Walter is a hands-on guy who thrives on deeds-not words- in life.
You can always debate old iron with Dave Tychy at Cruisin’ Auto Repairs. He is a friendly guy that loves to talk cars, but there are never enough hours in the day for Dave.
I got left behind after AM radio in car electronics, so I really need to lean on Chris at Vibe Car Audio as an interpreter for the new age of car stuff. It’s likely similar to explaining lunar landings to cavemen for him.
Don Winter is definitely a car guy. He has a major resto-mod personal project on the go, plus he owns Garage Specialties. It’s a little like the old Simpson Sears Christmas catalogue for car guys
Lastly, it would be impossible not to mention (and like) Gerry Paquette from Kipp Scott. Gerry is a nice guy’s nice guy, and he gives as much as he can to this community.
More of Jim Sutherland at mystarcollectorcar.com