I hate it when my father is right

"Most of the GM dealerships between Edmonton and Calgary will close" he told me last week on the phone. He does know a lot of the GM dealers in rural Alberta thanks to his job, and he's more aware of the industry than most. Of particular certainty to close, he predicted, were Ponoka, Sundre, and Drumheller.

CTV News has learned that Ponoka's Chevy dealership will close in part of General Motors restructuring plans.

For now the dealership remains open for business, but it has been told it is not in GM's long-term plans.

In a town of about 6,300 people, the dealership is only one of three in the area. The timing of the closure with the unstable economy could make times even more difficult for residents in the community.

How about my father's other predictions? Check out this page:

Ponoka Chevrolet Ltd 6305 44 Avenue Ponoka, AB
Sundre Motors Chevrolet Address: 104 Main Avenue East, Sundre, AB
Rempel Chevrolet 4601-49 Street Hardisty, AB
Shaganappi Chevrolet Shaganappi & Crowchild Tr NwCalgary, AB
Stedelbauer Chevrolet Inc 13145 97 Street NW Edmonton, AB
Schwab's Wetaskiwn Chevrolet 4710 - 56 Street Wetaskiwin, AB

That's 2/3, and he talked to me after Three Hills was announced, so that was a gimmie. Stedelbauer surprises me, though. I expect of the three southside Edmonton dealerships (Lakewood, Wheaton, Nicholson), at least one and perhaps two will close. Don Wheaton seems the safest bet, though Nicholson might pull ahead. Lakewood is closing for sure, mark my words. Southgate GMC seems confident, though perhaps he hasn't heard about Stedelbauer yet:

Gerry Lorente with Southgate Pontiac Buick GMC said he would be surprised if any of the 12 metro Edmonton dealers are among the hundreds of dealerships said to be closed.

"For the most part, we're not really that concerned, we live in a great province, a great city, we're the City of Champions, we do well in our industry, we always have in edmonton," said Lorente. "The guys who are making the decisions are smart guys from General Motors."

Alberta dealerships are very good for volume as a whole, my father notes, though even strong dealerships like Camrose and Hinton may be on the chopping block.

Here's a list of Chevy dealers in Alberta.

And here's the GM dealerships. These maps are incomplete, as Stettler has a dealership as well (for now, that is: Dad says its another Three Hills-area dealership that may close with both Red Deer and Drumheller so close by)