Best Dealerships To Work For Canada 2021

Location: Winnipeg

General manager: D’Arcy MacLean

Dealership group: Birchwood Automotive Group

Number of employees: 68

General Manager D’Arcy MacLean on the dealership’s participation in community/charity fundraising events: At Birchwood Ford, we understand the importance of having a strong community spirit. We have donated our time, money and resoures to many organizations, including the Winnipeg Military Family Resource Centre and Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation. We also have been participating in the Learning Partnership’s Take Our Kids to Work Day annually since 2018.

MacLean on lessons learned about being a better employer from managing the dealership through the pandemic: The retail industry has been hit hard and we’re no exception. COVID-19 meant that we had to change the way we work and adjust our needs to the times. We closed our showrooms for in-person vehicle sales and now have a “buy from home” program in which customers can purchase a vehicle without human contact.

MacLean on steps taken to improve employee retention: We have a two-tier process to help team members with their career planning and growth within the Birchwood group. Every year, the HR department works with team members to develop a career map to help with their personal development plans. Our managers regularly meet with their team to have performance development conversations that are documented.