For 50 years, Bouchers keep business all in the family

Matthew Boucher has fond memories of childhood when he was sweeping the floors of his grandfather’s CARSTAR in Collingwood for quarters from the mechanics, so he could get candy from the shop’s vending machine.

Now, Matthew and his brother Andrew run the business. CARSTAR Collingwood was started in 1974 by Matthew’s grandparents Lloyd and Iona Boucher. 

Matthew and Andrew mark the third generation of Bouchers at the helm. The business was recently awarded with the marketer of the year award at the annual Canadian CARSTAR conference for supporting sports teams in Collingwood.

The brothers have wonderful memories of their childhoods spent in the shop.

“We would (sweep) horribly, but they would give us 25 cents to get a candy. We were maybe 10,” Matthew recalls with a laugh. “We would eat it all in one go, then go to the next guy’s stall and sweep their stall.”

The Bouchers came from a small farming community in Quebec, moving to Toronto in the early years.

“My grandpa was told he had become too old to be a bodyman, too old to fix cars,” said Matthew. “He had a brother who lived in Collingwood and he moved up here.”

The Bouchers came to Collingwood while the Collingwood Shipyards were still open, and got to work fixing cars, initially under the name Parkway Collision.

The shop started humbly, originally 2,000 square feet. Over the years it underwent multiple expansions, and now sits at the same location where it started on Pretty River Parkway at about 12,000 square feet.

Lloyd worked on the floor, while Iona worked managing the office.

Andrew remembers that whenever he would come in to the shop as a kid, his grandfather would pull him up on his lap, or take him out on the lawn mower, or ask for his assistance in washing up a car.

“I was about five or six,” he said.

Eventually, Lloyd’s children Gary Boucher (Matthew and Andrew’s father), Glenn Boucher and Tammy Hough started working in the shop, taking over in 1999.

Matthew started working on the shop floor 10 years ago, while Andrew, who focuses on office management/business side, started six years ago taking the reins from his Aunt Tammy.

“We’ve always had at least three family members working here at all times,” said Matthew.

About six years ago, Matthew moved up into a general management position, essentially taking over the business.

“When COVID hit, my dad didn’t really want to deal with the restrictions. He pulled out of the day-to-day back then,” said Matthew. “Since then, he hasn’t been shy about taking vacations. But now, he’s been here for maybe two weeks since March.”

“He’s been here for 47 years, so it’s well-deserved,” he said.

When Parkway Collision was taken over by CARSTAR, one of the stipulations of the agreement was that the family could keep the Parkway in the name.

“It’s about continuing on their legacy that they started here,” said Andrew.

The brothers have continued that legacy by being community supporters, which is what led to their recent award, handed out at CARSTAR’s recent conference in Victoria, B.C.

“We were ecstatic. It was an awesome honour to accept it,” said Andrew.

“We have excellent employees and clients. People aren’t afraid to ask us to sponsor their stuff,” said Matthew. “We’d like to keep supporting the community.”

While neither Matthew or Andrew currently have any kids of their own, both brothers say that one day, down the road, they’d like to be able to pass the business on to a fourth generation.

“As of right now, the future is keeping the legacy alive and hopefully having a fourth generation,” said Matthew. “Our main focus is making sure our employees are happy and we continue to keep this a good place to work and a staple in our community.”