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Pik-A-Dilly RV Centre general manager Ryan Main, left, and president Don Main present A Sense of Home fundraising co-ordinator Karen Chrest with a donation of $50,000. The A Sense of Home campaign will fund construction of the Murray House cancer treatment residence.
Brandon’s Pik-A-Dilly RV Centre is celebrating its 50th anniversary by donating $50,000 to the A Sense of Home cancer residence building campaign.
"We are so appreciative of this generous donation," campaign co-chair Laurie Murray said. "Pik-A-Dilly continually demonstrates community leadership and we congratulate them on reaching their 50-year milestone. This $50,000 donation will be part of a permanent legacy to the citizens of western Manitoba."
Pik-A-Dilly president Don Main said his company was pleased to be able to participate in a significant way to the building of Murray House, which will serve as a home away from home for patients travelling to Brandon for cancer treatment.
"Cancer affects people of all ages and certainly affects the demographic that our company most serves," Main said. "As such, we have been long-time supporters of cancer related charities.
"We appreciate that 60 per cent of our business comes from outside the city of Brandon, which falls directly within the user parameters of Murray House."
Main said the company’s donation was the ideal opportunity for Pik-A-Dilly to give something back to the community that it has been so happy to serve for the past 50 years.
"Thanks to the support of all of our customers, and in keeping with our 50th anniversary celebrations, we are proud to contribute to this very worthy project."
The name Pik-A-Dilly has long been woven into the fibre of Brandon’s business community.
In 1958, Frank and Shirley Main moved their family from Russell to Brandon and established themselves as the lessee of the British American Oil Company (B/A) service station on the corner of 10th Street and Victoria Avenue, across from Brandon’s arena. The station was aptly named Arena Servicentre.
It was in 1962 that Frank expanded his business to include the sale and rental of soft-top folding campers and truck campers, and quickly became a pioneer in the recreational vehicle business.
Soon after, the name of the company was changed to reflect the growing demand for the family-oriented RV lifestyle and officially became Pik-A-Dilly Trailer Sales.
The business saw great expansion and numerous location changes throughout the ’60s and ’70s, with Frank and Shirley’s son Don joining the company in 1970. Don went on to purchase the business and become president in 1977 upon Frank’s retirement.
Don’s son Ryan joined the company in 2006, and in 2011 was appointed general manager of the dealership — becoming the third generation to take the helm of the company.
Over the years, Pik-A-Dilly RV Centre has been the proud recipient of many industry and business awards for outstanding sales and customer service.
Don Main has served the industry in many capacities over the years, including stints as president of RVDA Manitoba, chair of the board of RVDA Canada as well as four years as the Canadian representative to the RVDA of America. He was also the recipient of the business person of the year award from the Brandon Chamber of Commerce.
The Pik-A-Dilly donation brings the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation’s "A Sense of Home" campaign total to $2.33 million in cash and pledges, with a projected fundraising goal of $2.5 million.
» Submitted
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition August 9, 2012
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