Rose City Ford

Although Rose City Ford  took its name and began its operations in Windsor, Ontario in June of 1981, it actually had its real beginning many years before, in the late 1960's, when a young man named William Chisholm conceived the idea of forming his own dealership, the best of its kind in the industry.

The idea began to become reality when, in 1974, Bill Chisholm (shown at left) relinquished twenty years of seniority at the Chrysler Corporation, where he began in 1955 as a brake-tester on the assembly line in Windsor. Bill accepted the position of Vice-President and General Manager at a Chrysler Dodge Dealership in Windsor. In the first two years under Bill's leadership the dealership doubled its sales volume.

In pursuit of a business he could call his own, Bill, his wife Amelia and three remaining children at home set out for Kitchener, Ontario where he became the Dealer Principal of Kitchener Plymouth Chrysler. After five years in Kitchener the Ford franchise in Windsor became available and the prospects of moving the family back home to Windsor were just too irresistible for Bill, so it was back to Windsor for the Chisholm Family, this time to stay.

In the summer of 1981, with the able assistance of forty-seven employees, Bill organized and quickly set into motion Rose City Ford Sales Limited. Bill chose the name in honour of the city he loves so much, Windsor, "The City of Roses." The dealership quickly established a reputation throughout Windsor and Essex County for honesty and integrity in relation to customers, as well as, dedication and fairness in relation to employees. Much of the company's success is due to the care it takes in hiring, training, and motivating outstanding team-oriented personnel.

As the reputation of the dealership continues to grow, so too does the volume of its business. In 1988, the company undertook a major expansion, doubling the floor space in the Parts Department and creating at Rose City Ford  the largest Motorcraft Retail Parts Store in North America.

The dealership  has continued to improve each year with upgrades to equipment and facilities. In 1998 alone, the dealership has created a new comfortable customer lounge, completely renovated the showroom business offices, and completely redone customer washroom facilities, including a barrier free washroom complete with baby changing station. Over the next three years the dealership will be completely renovated to meet its customers' needs well into the twenty-first century.

Today the dealership boasts over one hundred and ten employees. Bill's son John (shown at right), is now the President and General Manager. John is active in the Windsor community. He has also been active in automotive associations having served as First Vice-President of the Ontario Automotive Dealers' Association (OADA), a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA), Chairman of the Ontario Ford and Mercury Dealers Advertising Association (OFMDA) and as a member of the Ford of Canada National Contest and Incentives Advisory Council (C&I).