Thomas James
Foord - Coldstream
Tom
Foord is an unselfish community volunteer and an exceptional business
leader who started Kal Tire in Vernon 46 years ago.
His company,
with over 1,500 employees, is the independent largest tire dealer
in Canada. Starting with his purchase of a small garage that had
gone bankrupt, Kal Tire expanded in the 1950s and 1960s to provide
service to B.C.s forestry and mining industries and has now
grown from one tire store to more than 150 stores. Kal Tire recently
opened a service facility in South America where it uses the experience
gained in British Columbia to sell goods and services to the mining
industry in Northern Chile.
A resident of
Vernon since 1945, he is recognized as an outstanding citizen of
the community. He has served as honorary chair of the Vernon Hospice
Society and is a long-time supporter of the United Way. Tom Foord
helped The People Place Society buy land for the building which
now serves as home to many North Okanagan community organizations
which benefit from the long-term affordable work space.
In 1989 he was
acknowledged by the City of Vernon with its The Most Valuable People
Award for his outstanding contribution to the community and in 1993
with its Corporate Good Citizen of the Year Award.
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