Sunset Country Ford celebrates in ‘grand’ style

It was a “grand opening” in every sense of the word last Thursday night as more than 100 people from across the district crowded into Sunset Country Ford to celebrate its new location on King’s Highway at McIrvine Road.
An hour into the celebrations, which included live music and a catered buffet spread, co-owners Darryl Burton and Dan Hinderson ushered their guests into the dealership’s state-of-the-art service bay to thank everyone for coming.
“It has been a tremendous undertaking from the beginning until today but we are very pleased with the final result,” Burton said.
Brant Noltie, regional manager for the Great Lakes region of the Ford Motor Company, seemed equally impressed with the new facility.
“Tonight is also an example of Darryl and Dan’s commitment to themselves, their customers, and their families,” he said. “A very warm congratulations from the Ford Motor Company of Canada family to the Sunset Country Ford family.”
“I think Ford of Canada has had a pretty long history in Fort Frances,” Coun. Deane Cunningham said on behalf of Mayor Glenn Witherspoon and the town. “Today, I guess we’re turning a new chapter in Ford history with this facility.
“I’m overwhelmed,” he added. “It’s just a fantastic new facility. I know [it] will serve your customers in Fort Frances and the Rainy River District for a long time to come.”
Burton said the move from their previous location on the corner of Mowat Avenue and Church Street was a fairly intensive process. He credited his staff’s hard work and diligence for keeping things going during that time.
“I’ve got the best group of employees a guy could get,” he stressed. “Without them, it wouldn’t have been as smooth [a transition].”