Tire Dealers Association of Canada Convention - Autosphere

“I think the key to any of the conventions, regional or national, is to bring pertinent
information and value to make it worthwhile for attendees to partake in these events,”
stated Jim Schmidt, general manager, Consumer Products, Bridgestone Firestone
Canada. “The time of year, Convention’s venue and the socializing was well done. The
Hall of Fame was a highlight and I thought the speakers were good. They were people
outside the realm of our direct industry and it was good to hear sessions about things
other than tires.
“The conventions are more than just a time for socializing, they’re a time to get together
with your peers in the industry and you always learn something. Jacques Demers
was very good, and Bridgestone Firestone Canada sponsored Mario Andretti and he
brought a good message as well. Again, two speakers from outside the tire industry.
The Industry Leaders’ Breakfast was one of the most informative sessions of the TDAC.
We heard different topics about our industry from five or six business leaders and that
was a pretty good cross section of information.
“The trade show sector of the TDAC was good for the insurance, the wheels, the equipment,
some of the aspects of the business that support the tire industry. It does more
for them than it does for the tire manufacturers.”
Dave Lottridge, president of the supplier’s Council and president of PREMA Canada, hands a $30,000
contribution to Corey Miller for the organization of By the Sea 2008.
children’s sports teams, so obtained his
coaching certificate through the national
Coaching Certification Program and
became a hockey coach. He also spent
many years with the local Chamber of
Commerce and was president at one
16 Tire News tn October 2008
point. Eric was awarded a medal on behalf
of Queen Elizabeth for outstanding
community service. He was on the Board
of directors of the Ontario Tire Dealer
Association for 20 years, including a
two-year stint as president. Currently,
By the Sea 2008
From a supplier’s perspective, Dave
Lottridge, president of the supplier’s
Council and president of PREMA Canada
thought, “The venues were excellent
and the meals were great. I thought the
organizing committee did a fantastic job
—everything was just first class. I didn’t
hear many speakers but it was neat to
hear that Mario Andretti first touched
the shores of North America not far
from the place we were in quite a few
years ago! I also thought the trade show
was good although we were expecting
to see more people go through it.”
Lottridge was at the trade show with
tire supplies—balancing weights, valve
hardware, ice studs, tools, lubricants,
etc.—every day supplies to maintain
and service tires.
Eric is president of the Tire Dealers
Association of Canada.
Don Blythe, currently the executive di-
rector of Western Canada Tire Dealers,
was the fourth inductee in the Tire Hall
of Fame. Don was born in Lethbridge,
Alberta and joined Goodyear Tire &
Rubber after high school, working at the
order desk and as a tire adjuster. He
held several Goodyear sales positions in
Saskatchewan, Manitoba, B.C, and the
Yukon. For two years, he managed Hub
Tire & Battery in North Battlefield. Don
finally joined O.K. Tire Stores Canada as
regional manager, working out of Calgary.
He later returned to Vancouver as general
manager of O.K. Tire Stores. Five years
later, he opened his own O.K Tire retail
stores. Later he would be voted on to
the O.K. Tire Board of Directors and then
return to the Head Office as Managing
director, then as president. Don retired
in 2003 from O.K. Tire Stores and has
spent his time relaxing by holding down
the positions of executive director of the
Western Canada Tire Dealers, director of
the Saskatchewan Scrap Tire Corporation,
and chair of Tire Stewardship B.C. tn