Hat’s newest car dealer was destined to be here

By Medicine Hat News on January 24, 2020.

It seems he was destined to come here.

When Chris Tonkin’s little company purchased the Southland Kia dealership back in September, he was able to call himself a Hatter for the first time in his life. But his family roots were laid here decades before the Montreal native was even born.

“It’s funny because my great-grandfather and my grandfather grew up in Medicine Hat, so I grew up my whole childhood with trips to the Hat visiting family,” Tonkin told the News. “And then life just went full circle and at 35 years old, we have the business here.”

He’s always loved this city, and when his passion for automotives brought him to Alberta in 2002, the path was drawn for him to find his way here – even if it took 17 years to make it. He originally came to attend SAIT’s automotive business school, one of the only programs of its kind in Canada.

Following graduation, Tonkin spent a year in Australia where he managed to secure an international business degree in between surfing excursions. He returned to Alberta to chase a dream that has been around as long as he can remember.

“I love anything transportation and anything that moves,” Tonkin said. “My mom would tell you, I learned how to read by sitting in the car with her and reading the labels on the backs of cars, whether it was Ford or Dodge or Buick, that was basically how I learned to read.

“And so I’ve always been obsessed with cars.”

He’s always been drawn to the retail side because of the face-to-face relationships it builds. Tonkin loves the feeling of helping customers make a decision that is best for them, and seeing them drive away with smiles from ear to ear.

He started Straightline Motor Group in 2016 and Southland Kia is now the third dealership under this small umbrella. The company has another Kia dealership in Calgary, as well as a Dodge outfit in Edmonton.

“Every day is different (in retail), and it’s a business that is full of smiling faces when people are happy with their car. It’s a lot of fun for us.”

Tonkin’s wife and two young children live in Chestermere, so he is currently splitting time between there and the Hat. There has always been something about the quiet, unassuming ways of Medicine Hat that resonated with Tonkin, and now that he’s had a few months to get settled, the city is every bit as appealing as it was when he was a kid.

Medicine Hat’s strength of community brings a sense of comfort for Tonkin, and when he bought the business, he quickly learned that Southland Kia provided that same feeling.

“It’s been awesome so far,” Tonkin says. “We have a good team built here – we didn’t change that when we came in. Our big thing is we like to embrace our team and build and train from within, and we’ve got a great staff, everyone likes working here.

“Everyone has been great to work with. I love the small-town feel of this city, and it seems like there is already a good customer connection.”

Southland Kia is expanding in the Hat as well, with its new 27-car showroom in the Medicine Hat Mall – the biggest in the city. Tonkin is passionate about the Kia brand, which is one of the fastest growing names in the business, but he’s more passionate about the people he helps put behind the wheel.

“My office (in the main building) is right there on the showroom floor, because I like to greet people as they come in so we can make sure they have the best experience possible.”

17
-16