Testimonials

"I was only five years old back in 1948 when my Dad accepted the arrival of our family's first motor vehicle at the Grindrod train station and proudly drove it home to our farm. It was a brand new 1948 bright red Chevrolet 3⁄4 ton flatbed shipped all the way from Ontario. No longer would a McCormick-Deering tractor pulling a wagon be our only family outing vehicle.

The red Chevy doubled as a farm truck and family car. It blended memories of farm work with trips to movies in Enderby, picnics at Mara Lake, vegetable shopping at the huge Chinese vegetable farms in Armstrong, and fruit picking trips to Oyama orchards. As kids, my siblings and I always rode on the deck in the back, getting bug-smacked if we stood and butt-bruised from the rough gravel roads if we sat. Yet, most often, Dad was the only one in the cab. The joy of it all!

Perhaps the fond youthful memories contributed to the reason, but somewhere along life's early road, I became a Chevy man. Unfortunately, working weekends and summer breaks at local sawmills during high school years didn't provide enough in monetary savings for a dreamy Corvette or even a Corvair Monza Spyder. So after graduation, when I left home for a career in Ontario in the very first vehicle I ever purchased, I had to settle for a brand new 1962 green Corvair Custom 500 from Vernon Motor Products. Despite later criticisms by Ralph Nader, it served me well and was never a problem.

Since retiring to Vernon in 1996 I have purchased four Chevy pickups from Bannister as well as a Malibu for my wife, Myra – the most recent being a 2019 Silverado Crew Cab this past January. I might also add that both Myra and I had the honour of meeting the owner (at the time) and Business Award winner Lyn Bannister, who took the time to come and chat with us during one of our car-buying experiences.

The purpose of this letter is to acknowledge the efforts of your polite and dedicated staff who tend to ease much of the stress during vehicle purchasing sessions. Myra and I have always been made to feel welcome at your facility and, over the past two decades, we have come to know that your people are always ready and willing to take care of any of our vehicle problems, concerns, and service requirements to our satisfaction.

Specifically, I would like to bring to your attention three front line members that we have dealt with the longest and the most.

Firstly is Brad Nakucyj, General Sales Manager, whom we have known since he joined Bannister and sold us our first vehicle from your dealership. Since that “first buy” and with all subsequent vehicle sales, Brad has always been able to resolve any stalemated problems or concerns to our satisfaction while maintaining his commitment and loyalty to Bannister and GM. His “after-sales” interest in, and concerns with, previous customers continues long after the ink on the sales contract is dry. Such follow-up certainly entices a desire (and did) to maintain a connection when future vehicle considerations arise. We also congratulate him on the position he has attained within your organization.

Secondly is the smiling salesperson, Rob McLaren, we always try to beat to the front door. Being most frequently recognized for attaining the position of Salesperson of the Month is hardly surprising. Rob adds a personal touch long after a sale is made. Sometimes to follow up on a concern a customer may have, but sometimes it is just to “touch base” with former customers. As it has been said so many times before, “It's the little things that count.”

Thirdly, I'd like to mention long-time Service Advisor Barry Shaw. Friendly and courteous, his processing skills have vehicle service customers booked in, well-informed, and into the shuttle vehicle with driver Don in record time.

Due to these unprecedented times, I haven't been able to drive my Silverado as much as I had planned. However, every time I look in her direction I still get the feeling of wanting to “get up and go.” Thanks to everyone involved in my latest vehicle purchase, including Assistant Sales Manager, Chris Beaton and Finance Manager Theresa Laduke.

Myra and I sincerely appreciate the coordinated efforts of Bannister personnel that keep us driving our Chevrolets into our twilight years.

Best Regards"
- Andrew F. Maksymchuk