The 2023 Canadian RV Dealer of the Year Award, presented by RV Dealer News on Nov. 8, was given to Jason Friesen of Voyager RV Centre in Winfield, British Columbia.
Melanie Taylor, associate publisher of RV Lifestyle Magazine and RV Dealer News, the award’s founding sponsor, made the presentation at the RVDA of Canada AGM, held at the RVDA Convention/Expo in Las Vegas this week.
“The Canadian RV Dealer of the Year Award was created in 1989 in honor of Walt Paseska, whose energy and dedication played a key role in the development of the RVDA of Canada, and the various provincial and regional RVDA chapters across Canada,” Taylor said during her presentation.
“The award is presented each year to a Canadian RV Dealer in recognition of significant long-term commitment and dedication to the RV lifestyle, the RVDA movement and the community at large.
“The criteria for nomination for this prestigious award are based on consumer and peer reviews, the roles played by the nominees to promote the RV lifestyle and the betterment of the community and the RV industry as a whole – unlike some of the other awards, the Canadian RV Dealer of the Year is selected based on the significant long-term contributions by a dealer principal to the RVDA movement, the RV community and the community at large. The selection process is not based on the sales volume or the size of the dealership.
“Each year, nominations are presented by the various Canadian RVDA chapters, and by the industry at large. Each nominee remains eligible for a period of three years, in recognition of the fact that in any single year, there may be two or more individuals whose efforts are worthy of this very distinguished honor.
“This year’s candidates for the Canadian RV Dealer of the Year Award were nominated by their RVDA chapters. The selection committee is comprised of five recent award recipients, along with a representative from RV Lifestyle Magazine – the nomination process and voting procedures are overseen by RVDA of Canada,” Taylor said.
The selection committee for the 2023 award included Jim Gorrie, Kevin Betzold, Bruce Marsh, Al Robinson, Andy Thomson, Roland Goreski and Taylor, working under the supervision of Eleonore Hamm.
Nominees for the 2023 Canadian RV Dealer of the year were as follows:
- Keith Barrick of Keith’s Trailer Sales, Orton, Ontario
- Marco and Mylaine Boudreault of E. Boudreault VR, Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec City
- Chardell Brydon of Jerry’s RV Trailer Sales, New Minas, Nova Scotia
- Jason Friesen of Voyageur RV Centre, Lake Country, British Columbia
- Kyle and Jeff Redmond of Bucars RV Centre, Balzac, Alberta
- Murray Sullivan of SMP RV, Huston, British Columbia