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FORD 2-The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday June 11, 2003 ( u '/ c / f n r f i / H j ( / ( H'/ i / t t r y o / < ff/c c tw v a / a / J / c a / s s in ( \ r / o f / / c Ford plant in Oakville celebrates 50 years of quality Story by Rod Jerred Most people today take Ford of Canada's presence in Oakville for grant ed. Situated near Oakville's eastern border, the Ford complex provides jobs for the community, contributes heavily towards Oakville's property taxes, and participates actively in the community through corporate donations and sponsorships. Since its first date of operation on May 11, 1953, Ford of Canada has proven to be an exemplary corporate neighbour for Oakville. Few have any reason to fear Ford's presence in Oakville. But that was not the case 50 years ago when the news first broke that Ford was coming to Oakville. When Ford announced on Saturday, June 30, 1951 that it had secured operations on 427 acres of land lying between the Eighth and Ninth Lines, just south of the Queen Elizabeth Way, it took Oakville by surprise. Prior to the announcement, rumors had been flying around town for weeks after a Toronto real estate broker began taking options on proper ties in east Oakville for an unnamed dient. The most persistent rumors of prospective purchasers included a British airplane manufacturing company a large textile firm, a government muni tions plant, an oil company, and a machine and tool maker. But none of the rumors induded Ford. Although it had secured the options, Ford remained quiet about its future intentions. According to The Oakville Record-Star, of Thursday, July 5,1951, Ford had no immediate plans for the property. Rhys M. Sale, president of Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd., told the newspaper, "We are considering purchase of the land because it may fit into our long range plans rather than for an immediate specific use." At the time of the announcement, Oakville was a small community bor dering between Morden Road to the west and Gloucester Avenue in the east, The Queen Elizabeth Way to the north and Lake Ontario to the south. It had yet to be amalgamated with the surrounding Township of Trafalgar and the Village of Bronte in the west. Its population was 6,878. Oakville, which had no major industry prior to Ford's arrival, prided itself in being a separate community from Toronto. But the possibility of a major Ford facility located in Oakville sparked fears within the community that major industry would ruin their lifestyle. The scepter of organized labor and its impact on the town also caused concern for existing residents who were largely removed form unions. An early supporter of Ford was Wilder Breckenridge, the publisher of the Oakville Record-Star. In an editorial entitled 'Your New Neighbour' coin ciding with Ford's securing of land options, the paper commended Ford for its reputation as a good corporate neighbour and attempted to allay the fears of the day. "Already some of our more reactionary citizens are mumbling about big industry ruining the community for residential purposes. Nonsense! There's no reason why our residential districts should be harmed in the slightest, or why new and very attractive ones shouldn't be developed to take care of the influx of new population, which will come with industrial expansion. All that is needed is a little good judgment and foresight right now." On Friday, June 27, Ford picked up its options on a tract totaling 427 acres, but still kept quiet about its plans for the land. It wasn't until late October that Ford announced its intentions to build the largest industrial building in Canada on the property, and assembly plant operations to house the company. When completed, the assembly plant would cover an area of 32 acres all under one roof. Sale said the plants would eventually employ 4,000 to 5,000 workers and have a capacity to produce 125,000 cars annually. Residents were relieved to hear that the facility would only house assem bly plant operations and that all heavy manufacturing would remain at the existing Windsor plant. But Ford still knew it had to win over many of the Oakville residents. To this end, it threw a Good Neighbour Dinner on Nov. 29,1951, in the Pine Room at the Community Centre and invited all the leading citizens of Oakville. At the dinner, Sale attempted again to counter the residents' worst fears. As recorded in the Dec. 6, 1951, issue of the Record-Star, Sales told the audience, "May I assure you ladies and gentlemen, that mushroom growth resulting from our development here is most unlikely. Growth will come; that is certain. But it will be slow growth, spread over a period of years, not a quick transformation from town to city, from residential are to industrial zone." And he assured the audience that not all Ford employees would settle in Oakville to create a population boom. Employees a t Ford's Oakville Assembly Plant gather a t the final assemnly line to help launch the 1985 1/2 Ford Escort and Mercury Lynx. Celebrating its' 50th anniversary this year, Ford o f Canada has proven to be an exemplary corporate neighbour for Oakville since its first date o f operation on May 11, 1953. Please see page 13 w o n q m tu ia tio n s F rom O ne C e n t u r io n O a k v ille on iw iir 50/1/ (^ n n n iv e r m r y . ^ p jn ild in r j q u a litu veh icles in O n ta r io j)or SO nears is a trem en d o u s a c h ie v e m e n t C TO ANO THER... o n g r a t u l a t io n s , Fo r d , O N Y O U R 5 0 Y E A R S IN O a k v il l e an d your 1 0 0 TM A N N I V E R S A R Y IN N orth A m e r ic a ! We at Maritz Canada value our long-standing partnership and congratulate our friends at Ford on these two very significant milestones. K A R IV IA X H E A V Y S T A M P I N G It has been both a privilege and an honour to work with Ford, a true leader in the industry, contributing to your business success, as well as our communities. We are proud of our association with Ford and look forward to building on our relationship for many years (or centuries!) to come. We are prou d to support Ford Oakville with quality parts fo r the last 15 years and to be p a rt o f the team contributing to your success. From your fi'iends a t Karmax Heavy Stamping Research · C om m unications · M eetings and Events Brand Alignm ent · Learning Systems · Incentives Group and Incentive Travel · E-Business · Loyalty M arketing M aritz The Science and Art of People and Potential1 " 6900 M aritz Drive Mississauga. Ontario L5W 1L8 TEL: (905) 696-9400 ww w .m aritzcanada.com