Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 Good morning, Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. You've tuned into the Mac city morning show. My name is Elliot. Pierre. I'll be your host today and we're going to start it off the same way we start every show with a moment of gratitude. I know you could be doing a million other things with your time. So the fact that you're spending with us truly does mean the world to me. So thank you on that note, Tanner.
Speaker 1 00:00:20 Oh, she caught me loves and you're listening to the next morning show.
Speaker 0 00:00:29 All right. Okay. We got a great show today because this is my favorite type of guest. Somebody I know zero about. Um, so you're going to be learning with me. Like we didn't even have time to have a conversation before the show started. So on that note, I think we all know that I do not introduce my guests. I let them do that themselves because they can do a better job at it tonight. So, uh, can you please tell everybody at home who you are and what you're about?
Speaker 2 00:00:51 Uh, my name is Chantel. I am the owner of Thailand here in Fort McMurray.
Speaker 0 00:00:56 Okay. Tire land. So I would assume most people would say the name speaks for itself, but that being said, tell me all about tires
Speaker 2 00:01:04 Or we do a couple of different things. So we do obviously tires or changeovers, repairs, purchases, stuff like that. Um, but we've also dipped our toes into windshields. We do rim packages, lift kits, levels, that sort of thing. So we do a little bit of everything.
Speaker 0 00:01:20 Cool. So where's Thailand located
Speaker 2 00:01:23 Or at two 25? A McKay Crescent up in Gregoire.
Speaker 0 00:01:27 Okay. Okay. Sweet. And how long have you guys been there for
Speaker 2 00:01:31 June? 15th will be a year just brand spanking new.
Speaker 0 00:01:34 That's awesome. Yeah. So how did you get into this, uh, industry?
Speaker 2 00:01:39 Uh, it's a funny story actually. So my dad used to manage the okay. Tire up in Greg wire. Okay. Uh, probably five, six years ago, I went to him and I wanted to do a mechanics apprenticeship. And he had told me that I'm a young lady, you know, you need to be sitting at a desk. It's hard work. So on and so forth. So I came into this opportunity probably two years ago and I said to my dad, I was like, you know why? Like you won't get me an apprenticeship. So like, I'm just going to do the whole shebang myself.
Speaker 0 00:02:07 Oh wow. That's where it all started. So what did you take your apprenticeship in?
Speaker 2 00:02:11 I didn't do an apprenticeship. So my dad had actually said, you know, like, I'm not going to give you an apprenticeship, so.
Speaker 0 00:02:17 Okay. And so does he help you out with the business now? He does. Yeah. Great. So why mechanics? Like what, what, what gets you going about that? That's an interesting career field for a man or a woman. It
Speaker 2 00:02:31 Is, um, my dad actually, he's done it all his life. And when I was younger, all our members, you know, in the shop with my dad, you know, fixing skidoos and stuff like that. So it was something that I had an interest in. I grew up around it. So,
Speaker 0 00:02:46 So you must, I'm assuming ours then somewhat, somewhat. Okay. What kind of car do you drive me
Speaker 2 00:02:53 Right now? Yeah, just a little escape.
Speaker 0 00:02:56 Okay. The Ford escape. And if you could drive any car in the world, what would you get?
Speaker 2 00:03:00 Um, probably I want an older Mustang.
Speaker 0 00:03:03 Okay. Any year in particular? Seventies. Okay. And color red. Mad. Okay. I don't know if you noticed when you came in. I have a nice little red car outside. I had a cook peak. I like that. Yeah. I don't know. There's something about old cars. Like I'm not a car guy. Like I never was a car guide, used to drive my dad literally insane because he's a big car guy and I could really care less. And I don't, all of a sudden I got a little bit older and I was like old cars. There's just something about them. I like to smell of gas.
Speaker 2 00:03:34 They're nice. You know, they're, I don't know the body style of them's a lot better. I mean, cars nowadays, they all look the same. They all sound the same. Right? So the older cars, you got the different body styles, the different exhausts on them. Everything is just it's.
Speaker 0 00:03:49 I don't know. It's better. Yeah. That's it. So now with, uh, the business that you own here, what do you as a local entrepreneur, especially starting a business during the time that we're in right now. Um, how are you finding it? Are you, what are the struggles you're bumping in
Speaker 2 00:04:03 At first? It was, I was really nervous actually. Um, so I had finished everything by December of 2019. I had everything lined up, ready to go, and then it was ready to open. My doors, had a date set, you know, and then the pandemic hit. And my dad actually said to me, he's like kiddo. He's like, you know, I want to steer you in the right direction. He's like, are you sure? Like, you're ready to open the doors now. And I said to him, I said, you know what, dad? I said, I got two young kids at home. I said, they've seen how much work I've put into it. Um, the stress of it, the tears that I cried, you know, trying to get everything lined up. I said, it's, this is it. Like it's it's do or die. Right. Um, so we did and I was blown away. Absolutely blown away. The support from the community was just, it was insane.
Speaker 0 00:04:51 That's awesome. That's great. It was, it was really, really, really nice was the good thing you didn't wait because you'd still be waiting. I'd still be waiting. Right. We sitting ducks. That's kind of like this show. Um, we had the idea of it in December, um, before like all of like during all of this, I guess, but then, uh, when we were starting to film all of a sudden, like you couldn't go into people's houses anymore. Like we have to, like, the set had to change. Like we, the show how we initially thought about doing this was completely different from what you see now. Um, it's a lot better. I love how this turned out instead, but it costs quadruple the amount of money that we initially thought we are going to spend. But I'm super glad that like, I just moved forward with it because I'm having fun with it. And if I waited, I'd still be, you'd
Speaker 2 00:05:43 Still be waiting. Right. Everything. You just, you gotta, you gotta go for it. And that's what I said with my dad and everybody that comes in, they're like, you know, like how you guys survive in through the pandemic. And yeah, I know a lot of local business owners in town. And especially I said, you know, a lot of them are still my friends, like really close friends and I hate seeing them struggle. And we've been fortunate enough that, you know, we're considered an essential service. So, I mean, on one end, like you're super happy because your doors are still open. But being a local, small business owner, I still feel for them, you know,
Speaker 0 00:06:16 I still do. Yeah. Yeah. No doubt. So how long have you been in Fort Macquarie for? I was born here. You were born here like myself and Tanner grade five though. Moved away and
Speaker 2 00:06:26 Then turned 18 and decided, you know what, like I'm going back home. Okay.
Speaker 0 00:06:32 Sweet. So where did you move away to when you left to Beaumont? Just outside Edmonton. Okay. I've never been to, I've driven through, but I've never been to, it's a nice little community. It's small.
Speaker 2 00:06:44 Uh, it's a lot bigger than what it was when we moved there. When we moved there, there was one, four way stop through the whole town. And now there's like traffic lights. There's buildings everywhere. It's a lot of changes, but it's still, the people are okay.
Speaker 0 00:06:56 That's awesome. That's kind of like Fort McMurray. I remember growing up here, we used to, you used to be able to count how many traffic lights were in town. And I remember when I graduated, cause I'm an old man. I graduated in 2001 and I remember very distinctly being in a class with a bunch of my buddies and I was talking about, Hey, did you see the new traffic lights that went in town? And then we started talking like, yeah, how many, how many traffic lights are we up to right now? And we were up to 13 traffic lights. I was like, wow. And now like, I don't that game's not even fun anymore. There's so many traffic lights here now. Are you seeing a lot of changes up here? Yeah, we really need to have, oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Definitely. There's some positive and some negative and you know, it just, it's, it's an ongoing change in community. So yeah, I do. I gotta be honest, like back in the day when it was smaller and you knew everybody that was kind of cool. It was nice. It was nice. But the one thing that Fort McMurray has retained is we still have that sense of community. I still find that people are like super friendly. Like they want to know who you are. They're not, they don't get bothered if you want to have a chat. So we still do have that small town feel, although it has grown immensely. Okay. It is definitely that's.
Speaker 2 00:08:04 I think part of the challenges too, that we've all gone through. I think it's what kind of brought us together more so as a community than any other place. Right. So I remember actually going down to, um, Walmart or going to the Sobey's downtown or the IGA, I guess it would have been, excuse me. And I'd go down with my parents and we'd be down there, not even 10 minutes in the door. And you know, we'd be standing there for 45 minutes chatting with somebody because you know, my parents, just, everybody was so friendly. Everyone was friends and they used to think to myself, like, I just want to go home. Like, are we done yet? And now I go around town and I take my kids to Walmart and it's like, I'm bumping into everybody. And I look at my kids. I'm like, I'm going to apologize. Like I know this.
Speaker 0 00:08:47 You're always just, that's too funny. Yeah. Children.
Speaker 2 00:08:51 My oldest is nine. My youngest is four
Speaker 0 00:08:54 Nice four year old. That's fun. They keep me busy. No doubt. Very busy. I only have one. I have a six year old Keegan boy. He keeps me real busy. Yeah. He just wants to fight. That's all he wants. Like, that's all I'm good for in his eyes. Like Keegan, you want to snuggle? You want to have like some time with dad. He's like, we could fight like, oh my God. He's like, yeah, let's go wrestling. Come on. I'm just a human punching bag for this kid.
Speaker 2 00:09:20 My four-year-olds that way. She's yeah. She's going to be a little tomboy for sure. She's always at the shop and wants to help out with tires. So that's going to be her
Speaker 0 00:09:30 That's so cool. Well, whatever your kids see, they, they emulate. There's no doubt about that. Like I just had a, a little sister that's who was walking out before, like he came in and she brought her little daughter up. Um, they're visiting from Calgary and it's just funny. Like the, her daughter is five years younger than my son. And you could see her just following him around copycatting, everything you did good or bad, like, and uh, yeah. Kids, just whatever they see. That's what they gravitate to. Okay, cool. Okay. So we're at the part of the show where Tanner has his segment. It's called the Mac CD minute. He's going to hit you up with some questions. Best luck to you. Tanner hit her up with the Maxine a minute, please.
Speaker 3 00:10:08 Alrighty. Question. Number one. What is your favorite or most memorable vehicle to come into your shop?
Speaker 2 00:10:17 Ah, geez. That's a tough one. I've seen a couple. I'm going to say just because it stands out in my mind right now. Um, we actually had a, just a Mustang come in and it was a convertible, but it had suicide doors on it. So it just, it caught me off guard. You would never expect it, right? I mean, you'd expect it on a Lambo or something like that, but not on a Mustang. So that would definitely be my most memorable question.
Speaker 3 00:10:48 Number two. What is one thing people need to know about tires? They might not
Speaker 2 00:10:54 Rotate them. A lot of people, uh, actually don't rotate their tires. And when you don't rotate your tires, you're going to get uneven wear and you're going to wear them out sooner.
Speaker 0 00:11:06 How often should you rotate your tires? Sorry for jumping into Tanner.
Speaker 2 00:11:10 I'm going to say we usually do you do your changeover and then rotate it halfway through and then do your second change. So in the winter time, change your tires and then about halfway through the season, you can rotate your tires, then we'll change them over. It just keeps the wear on even
Speaker 0 00:11:27 Sides. Sorry about that. Tanner question.
Speaker 3 00:11:31 Number three. What is your favorite part of running a business in forming Marie
Speaker 2 00:11:39 Favorite part? Um, I'm going to say two things. So the first would be, uh, the support that I have here. I don't think I've ever, like I said, I don't think I've ever seen the support anywhere else other than Fort McMurray. Um, and the second thing about owning a business would be, I have that flexibility with my kids. My daughter has something at school I'm able to leave to attend. It gives me a lot of flexibility.
Speaker 3 00:12:06 Question number four. What is your favorite way to have your family involved with your business? My favorite way.
Speaker 2 00:12:17 Yes, my dad works with me, so I really enjoy that. Um, my brother actually comes up every now and then as well and helps out around the shop and stuff like that. So I like, I really like having them involved.
Speaker 3 00:12:30 And your final question, what was the biggest thing you missed about Fort McMurray when you were gone?
Speaker 2 00:12:36 My family that was here and those have been your five questions.
Speaker 0 00:12:41 Do you have a lot of family in Fort Mac?
Speaker 2 00:12:43 A couple of cousins. Yep.
Speaker 0 00:12:46 I have nobody. Well, that's a lie. I have cousins. I have one, I have one set of cousins, Justin, Adrian and Erica, but like growing up here, like that was, that was it as far as family was concerned, but your, your neighbors and your friends become your family really quickly. Yeah, like I have a few buddies that I literally, like, they were my brothers. I still hang out with them on a very, very regular basis. And I've known him since I was literally born. So when you moved to Drayton entering Beaumont, what was, what were you guys doing out there?
Speaker 2 00:13:18 My mom actually decided she wanted to change and my dad was for it. Um, we actually left just as the boom was starting to happen in town. So we got out just before everybody, everything went absolutely crazy. So, I mean, it was, it was nice to move away in a sense because I feel like it kind of molded me into the person that I am. Right. Um, I feel like maybe I'd be a little bit different if I had grown up in Fort McMurray to have a different sense of, um, money and stuff like that. So I definitely, I definitely enjoyed moving away for a couple of years. I kind of got to learn a lot of different stuff.
Speaker 0 00:13:58 So you moved back when you were 18? I was 18. Okay. That's a weird age to move back here. Like what did you do when you moved back? Originally?
Speaker 2 00:14:05 I actually stayed with my uncle. Um, I stayed with him for two months and I went right to work. I got a job out just doing security out site. Um, but I did that for a couple of months. I saved up some money and I said adios to my uncle, then all uphill from there. So.
Speaker 0 00:14:24 Okay. Very cool. Yeah. I think a lot of people, when they first start out, start out, uh, doing security workout at site, like it's a good job. It pays
Speaker 2 00:14:32 Well. And they're always hiring. We're always hiring.
Speaker 0 00:14:35 Yeah. Good. Well, unfortunately for them they have a turnover rate, but yeah, no, like I have a lot of friends who, um, even after high school, that's how they kinda got their bearings, trying to figure out what they wanted to do. Um, that's the one thing I will say about that job. I've never done it, but this is something that a number of my friends have told me is you have downtime. And so in that downtime, you can actually, at a young age, you could think about what you want to do with your life. Yeah. And so like you get paid to think and figure it out, which I thought that was like, I remember one guy told me this back in the day, I was like, literally 21 when he said that I'm like so insightful. That's like really insightful. So, okay. So that's how you started out and what you do after that?
Speaker 2 00:15:19 After that I was dispatched for diversified, played around a little bit with dispatch. I did that for a while. So I did that with diversified and then I went to memo route and then I actually did dispatch with one other company. And from there I went right into, into the business.
Speaker 0 00:15:41 Nice, nice. Well, listen, we're coming to the end of the show, but before we let you loose, let's talk about your business one more time. Okay. Shameless, shout out. Please tell everybody at home who you are, what your business is all about and where they can find you.
Speaker 2 00:15:55 Uh, again, I'm Shantelle. I am the owner of tire line in Fort McMurray here. We're located at two 25, a McKay Crescent up in Gregg wire, uh, specializing in not just tires, but when shields wheel aligned.
Speaker 0 00:16:09 Cool. Well thank you very much for coming on the show today. No problem. In any time you want to come back, please feel free. Um, yeah. Come promote your business. Talk about what you're doing or just come and hang out with myself and Tanner. Okay, cool. All right. On that note, Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. Thank you very much for tuning in. This has been another episode of the Mac city morning show. I've been your host, Elliot Pierre, and, uh, once again from the bottom of my heart. Thank you very much. I know you could be doing so many other things with your time, so thank you. Have a great day. We'll see you tomorrow. Peace.
Speaker 0 00:16:59 Talk about quenching your ugly thirst.
