Mr. Speaker, in 1953, Tom Foord and Jim Lockhead started a little tire shop in Vernon, in my constituency of Okanagan—Shuswap, and named the tire shop Kal Tire.
The company is now Canada's largest independent tire dealer, with 4,000 employees and 240 locations across the country. With its head office still in Vernon, B.C. Kal Tire has operations in 20 countries and is the number one supplier of tires to the world's mining sector.
Tom and Jim built the company on dedication to customer service and their commitment to the family of Kal Tire employees.
Tom Foord passed away on April 12, but his values and energy were passed on to the next generation of the Kal Tire family. Tom received many awards for his contributions to the community of Vernon and was named to the Order of British Columbia.
Tom Foord will always be remembered as the man with a big smile who would tell someone, “Go to the Kal Tire shop and tell them Tom Foord sent you.” Tom loved life and was loved in return. What more could a man desire?
Our condolences go to the Kal Tire family at the loss of their father, founder and friend.