Jason Teakle
BRANT NEWS

Karel van Tol was eager to take over ownership of the Paris Canadian Tire franchise after he was recently given the opportunity.

“Coming into Paris, we found it to be a beautiful spot,” van Tol said on Monday. “We’re moving from Chatham to Paris this week.

“(Canadian Tire) presented us with the opportunity and we jumped at it. We decided about a month ago to take over this store because there is so much going for Paris. We want to be part of the community in this town.”

The van Tols took ownership of the Mechanic Street store on Sept. 27.

Van Tol said he, his wife Krista and their two children, aged 10 and four, are eager to become County of Brant residents.

“We’re excited for the move and the kids are already enrolled in school here,” he said.

Until November, van Tol will be splitting his time between running his former franchise in the town of Tilbury and his new franchise in Paris.

To make life even busier, van Tol said the Paris Canadian Tire franchise is slated to make a move to Northville Plaza on Grand River Street North at some point during coming months. The move will accommodate a planned expansion of the Paris store.

“We’re excited to bring this new store to Paris,” van Tol said.

Van Tol has been with Canadian Tire off and on since 1989.

“I started working at a Canadian Tire store part-time in London,” he said. “I left a couple of times to pursue other opportunities, but I have always found my way back to Canadian Tire.”

Canadian Tire is a great company to be associated with, van Tol said.

“It is still a family company,” he said. “The atmosphere and culture is fabulous. I want people to feel welcome in our store.”