Callander, Ontario -- For the past half-century, Sturgeon Auto Body Shop has been keeping St. Albert's community moving.
When owner Larry Ketsa (pictured) founded the business in 1975, it was the only collision repair facility in the Edmonton bedroom community. “I'd actually had a mechanical shop opened in 1973, but people kept asking me to help them with body work. I took the hint and opened one.”
According to Ketsa, the business had two things going for it during those early days. First, it could boast a distinctive logo and tagline. Throughout its history, the business's sign has depicted a the face of a grizzled Shar Pei above the words: "Let us remove your wrinkles."
Second, the company provided interior and exterior detailing work free of charge. “We like to go that extra mile. When you do extra for clients, they’ll tell twenty people. When you do something wrong, they’ll tell 100,” Larry says.
As the city grew -- from about 25,000 residents to 70,000 today -- the shops customer friendly approach allowed its loyal clientele also expanded. In 1980, Larry moved into a larger facility on Raybould Crescent -- where it remains today.
“We’re pretty well-known these days. Now we get clients from Calgary and Red Deer who have been told by family members to get their car fixed at Sturgeon. We’re now seeing third-generation customers.”
The shop, which now employs a team of about 15 people, is now the care of the second generation of Kestas. Both of Larry's sons, Lore and Trevor, work in the business, with Lore serving as its general manager since 2019.
"I'm just there for a couple hours in the mornings, these days," says Larry, "Enough time to check my computer and see everything is running well without me."
