Meridian RV owner Tom Ramsay has been named Canadian RV Dealer of the Year.
The Walt Paseska Memorial award is presented annually by RV Lifestyle Magazine, Vie en Plein Air and RV Lifestyle Dealer News.
Tom says he was first awarded RV Dealer of British Columbia by Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) of B.C., and was "surprised and pleased" to be recognized again at the national level.
The award recognizes his background as an energetic and enthusiastic proponent of the RV lifestyle, 45-year career in the sector and his contributions to the community, he explains.
Tom says he attended the RVDA of Canada Night in Louisville, Kentucky not expecting to win the award, with only a few scribbled notes "just in case" he did.
While the busy local location at 93 Mile has surpassed his expectations since it opened in 2007, he explains Meridian RV Manufacturing Ltd. was originally established as Meridian Mobile in Port Coquitlam 45 years ago (1967) by his father, Doug Ramsay Sr., his brother, Doug Jr., and himself.
In its early days the family business operated out of the family barn to manufacture custom travel trailers, campers and chassis-mount coaches for various purposes, he notes.
His mother also participated by sewing the upholstery and curtains and doing the bookkeeping, Tom explains.
"Those hard years until I graduated in 1971, I was probably putting in probably 40 hours a week ... on weekends and after school."
Over the years, the market saw the business evolve into custom work trailers for mining and logging camps, medical units and even a mobile radio/television station (the CKNW Crystal Palace, which debuted in 1981).
The demand for custom built units fluctuated over the decades, and for the past several years, Meridian has sold products from other manufacturers and concentrated on sales, parts and service.
When Doug Jr. was injured in the 1970s, Tom set aside his initial plans to become a veterinarian and opted to help his family run the RV business, gradually taking over the helm.
After he bought out the family business 20 years ago, Tom continued to run it with the support of his wife, Sherry, and his children, Tammy, Ben and Chris.
During the past 22 years, Tom says he frequently spent time in the Cariboo, and then purchased, enlarged and renovated the 93 Mile location several years ago.
Tammy worked with her dad in the business for years but then married and wanted to stay in the Cariboo, so Tom handed over the local dealership management to her.
Noting he doesn't believe in operating a seasonal business, he offers year-round parts and service for customers and maintains permanent staff.
Tom dedicated the award to his mother and father, who have both passed away.
"It was because of the guidance they instilled in me, my work ethics, the philosophy in life I grew up with that has resulted in my personal business success. But it's also a sense of pride in the many accomplishments of the company and the staff, obviously."
He accepted the award on behalf of his family, especially his wife of 32 years, as Tom explains spousal support is critical to business success.
"Without the involvement of my wife, Sherry, and my children, the award would not have been obtainable."