In The Community

The Birchwood Way

We believe that supporting and being involved in our local communities is an opportunity to give back and demonstrate our commitment to our customers, our team members and to our community. Our values of personal leadership, trust & respect, continuous improvement, and generosity begin with gratitude, and with gratitude comes responsibility to give back.

The Birchwood Way is our way of being involved by providing financial, in-kind, and volunteer support to various organizations, educational and social programs, groups, and individuals.

Evaluation Criteria

What impact Birchwood’s support will have on a community
How the funds or support will be used
The timeframe of the initiative
The dollar value requested
Capital campaigns are excluded from this program

At Birchwood Ford, we’re more than just a Ford dealership, we’re a proud Transcona member, which is why we created our Transcona Community Committee. As a business we understand the responsibility we have to our local community and for that reason our Community Committee works towards giving back to Transcona. Since 2014 we have donated time, money and resources to many organizations in the local community.

Birchwood Ford sets aside a portion of each car sale and every oil change towards the Transcona Community fund. Since 2014 we have donated nearly $100,000 to worthwhile causes in our community and beyond.

If you know a deserving cause in the community who needs our support:

In Total Donations

$ 0

Some of the causes Birchwood Ford and the Transcona Community Committee have supported include:

Transcona Railer Express

Since the start of the Transcona Community Committee in 2014 we have been proud sponsors of the Transcona Major Junior Hockey Club and the Transcona Railer Express hockey team. The club prides itself on playing a part in developing a true community program and a positive first-class environment for young hockey players and fans in Transcona. They provide a quality affordable program for competitive hockey players continuing their education or beginning their careers. With Transcona roots, the Junior Hockey club has a vested interest in fostering pride in the Transcona Community for both young and old. Birchwood Ford is proud to be a 5+ long yearly sponsor of the Transcona Railer Express Junior Hockey Club.

Kilcona Park Dog Club

Birchwood Ford has been an annual Platinum Sponsor of the Kilcona Park Dog Club (KPDC) since 2015. The KPDC is a registered not-for-profit that is dedicated to community development and active living for both people and pets. We are proud to be the major corporate sponsor of Kilcona Park Dog Club’s three-tiered drinking fountain. The fountain was created to provide fresh, clean drinking water to the off-leash area of the park to protect as many dogs as possible from the risks of swimming in or drinking from the park’s retention ponds. The fountain is set to be installed the spring of 2020 and will provide fresh water to both humans and dogs.

Transcona BIZ

The Transcona BIZ works to increase economic development and provide services and programming for the community of Transcona. Birchwood Ford began its relationship with the Transcona BIZ in 2015 with its 1st Annual Transcona BIZ Spring Clean Up Event. Since 2015 we have been an annual sponsor of this event which has removed over 1000lbs of garbage from Transcona parks, public spaces and around local businesses. We look forward to this event every year and to providing food for the volunteers as the BBQ sponsor. Over the years we have also worked with the Transcona BIZ to sponsor a Christmas Tree for donation to the Transcona Food bank.

Learning Tree Day Nursery

The Learning Tree Day Nursery is a Child Care Program that provides its children a structured learning-oriented program. Children begin learning foundational early learning concepts such as their ABCs, 123s, manners, how to follow directions and more. Birchwood Ford was proud to sponsor the cost of their outdoor playground in 2015 (pictured below). Located just up the street, we are happy to know that our Community Committee contributed to the happiness of local children for years to come.

Additional organizations we have supported:

Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation
Christmas Cheer Board
Forward House Ministries
Harold Hatcher Elementary School
Huntington Society
Kids Centre Coop Nursery School
Manitoba Paramedic Honour Guard
Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute (MBCI)
MS Society Walk
Park City West Community Centre
Royal Canadian Legion
SMD Foundation Easter Seals
Soccerland MB LTD
Southwest Jets
Swimmingly (formerly SwimAbility/Making Waves)
Tourette Canada
Transcona Historical Museum
Transcona Memorial United Church
Unemployed Youth Africa INC
Winnipeg Harvest
Winnipeg Military Family Resource Centre

How Birchwood Team Members Make a Difference

Volunteer

Get out and understand what’s going on in your neighbourhood and it will connect you like nothing else.

Clean Up

Plant flowers, pick up litter, take pride in your city.

Purge Your Extra Stuff

Clean out those closets. Declutter your life, while sharing things you don’t need—think Koats for Kids.

Practice Gratitude

Neuroscience suggests the mere act of thinking about how much you have to be grateful for makes you happier.

Be Kind

Period. Start now. Permanently.

Join a Board

Nonprofits need the voices of our community to keep connected to our issues—and solutions. Lend your passions!

Grab the Megaphone

Community meetings happen all over the city, and they’re for everyone. Go listen and be heard.

When it Matters to You, Speak Up

Activism comes from people like you, who draw a line in the sand and say “things need to get better, and I’m the one to make it happen.”

Give a Little, Change a Lot

Text WINNIPEG to 45678 to donate $5, $10 or $25 to United Way—and know that by giving a little, you’re changing a lot for kids & their families across our city. Just $10 can help give a struggling young person a mentor’s guidance & support, changing both their lives…for good.

Birchwood & United Way

Over the 25+ years that Birchwood Automotive Group has acted as a dedicated supporter and contributor to the United Way, our team members have contributed over $8,000,000 to the annual United Way of Winnipeg campaign.

In 2013, Steve Chipman, President of Birchwood Automotive, was the Annual Campaign Chair. His father, R.M. Chipman, Founder of Birchwood Automotive Group, was also Campaign Chair in 1975. His father lead the campaign, achieving a historic $4,000,000, and Steve achieved an all-time record of raising $20,000,000 for our community.

United Way Leaders

United Way Leaders are those who give so generously at $1,200 or more per year. At Birchwood, nearly 240 team members give at the leadership level and our overall participation rate is 96% or higher. It’s an amazing testament to our values of offering our time, talent and resources to strengthen our communities. Thank you!