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Cowichan businesses partner to buy Providence Farm a new lawn tractor

Old one was stolen last week
Robert Barron
Robert Barron
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The local Island GM dealership and Canadian Tire store have partnered to replace the lawn tractor (pictured) that was stolen from Providence Farm last month. (Submitted photo) The local Island GM dealership and Canadian Tire store have partnered to replace the lawn tractor that was stolen from Providence Farm last month. Pictured, from left, with the new tractor are Craig Hindle from Island GM, Conrad and Steve from Providence Farm, Bob Bridger, owner of Duncan’s Canadian Tire, and Randy the Rooster, Island GM’s mascot, who is sitting on the tractor. (Submitted photo)

Duncan’s Island GM dealership and Canadian Tire location have partnered to replace the lawn tractor that was stolen from Providence Farm sometime between May 6 and 7.

Island GM’s sales manager Craig Hindle said the best lawn tractor that Canadian Tire has in stock was chosen to replace the stolen one.

He said the new $4,000 lawn tractor has more horsepower than the one that was stolen, a larger cutting deck and a complete lawn-clipping bagger.

Hindle said he sent pictures pf the new tractor to the staff at Providence Farm, a therapeutic community and charity whose mission is the stewardship of 400 acres of land on Tzouhalem Road and the delivery of programs for people with mental health issues, and they were shocked to learn what Island GM and Canadian Tire were doing to help them.

RELATED STORY: TRACTOR STOLEN FROM COWICHAN’S PROVIDENCE FARM

“I expect they probably needed a new one anyway,” Hindle said with a laugh.

Hindle said he was driving to work and listening to the local Juice FM radio station one morning last week when he heard the news that the green John Deere X300 riding lawnmower was stolen from Providence Farm.

“Providence Farm has been around forever and I’ve participated in a lot of fundraisers and other activities for it over the years, so the theft of the lawn tractor touched home with me,” he said.

“When I got to work, I talked to Randy Westlake, the owner of Island GM, about the theft and if we could do something to help replace it and he agreed that we should. Then I reached out to Bob Bridger, owner of the local Canadian Tire location, and he jumped on board as well. We picked out the lawn tractor and agreed to split the costs. We’ll be delivering the new tractor to Providence Farm in the next few days.”

Hindle said he’s pleased that Island GM and Canadian Tire agreed to help such a worthy cause as Providence Farm.

“I just hope this inspires other businesses in the region to reach out and help local charities and organizations like Providence Farm,” he said.


robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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