Our History
Murray Hyundai White Rock is part of the Murray Automotive Group. Like other dealers within the group, we are very active within the community because "Our Reputation is Your Guarantee." Below is a history about how the Murray Group began and ultimately, our dealership came to be.
A Tradition of Service, 1926
In 1926 in Souris Manitoba, A.A. (Andy) Murray began to sell Star, Essex and Hudson cars from his implement business, expanding into the General Motors line in 1934. Today, that one dealership has expanded across Canada's four western Provinces. The Murray Automotive Group now consists of over 20 dealerships employing over 1000 people and selling nearly 15,000 new and used vehicles each year.
Souris, Manitoba, 1926
Souris, Manitoba was like any other small prairie town back in the roaring '20s. And a Souris Saturday night was like any small-town Saturday night. The streets would come alive as every farm family for miles around would make the trip into town to do their shopping and socializing for the week. Starting in 1926, there was a new hangout on Saturday nights. That was the year A.A. (Andy) Murray opened his implement business and sold Star, Essex and Hudson cars.
General Motors, 1934
A.A. (Andy) Murray took on the General Motors line of vehicles. He kept the garage open on Saturday nights to midnight and beyond, to allow the farmers, railroaders and other passers-by a chance to visit while gawking at all the latest automobiles. Back then, a fully-loaded luxury car would cost you more than $1,500.
Conclusion of WW2
WE WON! the headlines proclaim, and the boys are heading back home after the conclusion of the Second World War. Among them were Ewart and Clair Murray, two of A.A.'s three sons. Few cars were sold during the war. Those that were sold were without chrome, as chrome and almost all of Canada's resources were directed toward the war effort. Those wanting to purchase a car had to sign up on a waiting list to have any hope of making a purchase. It was a different story after the war, as Canada entered upon an era of unprecedented prosperity, and not only automobiles but tractors and other motorized farm machinery began to dominate the prairie landscape.
Brandon, Manitoba, 1960
Murray's Garage expands to Brandon, Manitoba. Clair Murray becomes president and general manager of Brandon Automobile Ltd. For the next decade, Pontiac, Buick, and Vauxhall cars, together with GMC trucks, are sold here.
Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, 1986
Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. Central Plains Pontiac Buick GMC Ltd. in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, is purchased, and Craig Dunn, a former sales manager for Murray Chev-Olds Cadillac in Brandon, becomes the dealer at Craig Dunn Motor City.
Oak Bluff, Manitoba, 1988
Wiens Chevrolet Oldsmobile Ltd. in Oak Bluff, Manitoba, is purchased. Dan Murray becomes the dealer at Dan Murray Chevrolet Oldsmobile, Oak Bluff.
Medicine Hat, Alberta, 1992
Bill Thompson Chevrolet Oldsmobile Cadillac, Ltd., in Medicine Hat, Alberta, is purchased by the Murray Group. Paul Murray is the new dealer at Murray Chevrolet Oldsmobile, Medicine Hat. Edmondson Chevrolet Oldsmobile Ltd. in Portage la Prairie is sold to the Murray Group. All four lines of GM vehicles are now sold from Craig Dunn Motor City.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1994
Carter Motors Ltd. on Portage Avenue in Winnipeg is purchased. That dealership becomes Murray Chevrolet Oldsmobile, with Dan Murray as the dealer. Chris Murray takes over as principal dealer at Dan Murray Chevrolet Oldsmobile in Oak Bluff.
Dauphin, Manitoba, 1995
Martin Motors Ltd. in Dauphin, Manitoba is sold to the Murray Group. Dean Cooley, who had been a sales manager at the Brandon dealership, becomes the dealer at Dean Colley Motors in Dauphin, where he sells four lines of GM product.
The Souris Fire, 1996
The original Murray dealership in Souris is destroyed by fire on August 17. It had been operating as a satellite of the dealership in Brandon since 1990. After the fire, the local Ford dealership in Souris was purchased, and the satellite office moved to that location.
Bow Island, Alberta, 1996
Bow Island, Alberta, is also added to the Murray Automotive Group as a satellite of the Medicine Hat dealership. Dwight Kurtz is manager of the new outlet.
Moose Jaw Saskatchewan, 1997
Brand City Chevrolet Oldsmobile Cadillac Ltd. in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan is purchased. Charles VandenBroek, a former sales manager for Murray�s in Medicine Hat, is the new dealer at Murray Chevrolet Oldsmobile in Moose Jaw.
Twenty-two acres of land in Winnipeg, 1997
is purchased by the Murray Group at the intersection of two busy auto routes, Waverley and Bishop Grandin. This is to be the location for the "Auto Mall of Manitoba." and new home of Murray Chevrolet Hummer
Lethbridge, Alberta, 1999
Beny Chevrolet Oldsmobile Cadillac Ltd. in Lethbridge, Alberta is purchased. Chris Murray leaves Oak Bluff when the dealership closes, and becomes the dealer at Murray Chevrolet Oldsmobile Cadillac in Lethbridge.
The Pas, Manitoba, 2000
Carroll Motors Ltd. in the Pas, Manitoba is sold to the Murray Group. Guy Bordian, a sales manager at Dean Cooley Motors in Dauphin, becomes manager of Dean Cooley Motors in The Pas. The four GM lines are sold from the new dealership.
Fort St. John, British Columbia, 2001
In Fort St. John, B.C., sixteen acres of land known as the Chiulli Triangle is purchased by the Murray Group. This property lies between the Alaska Highway and 100 Ave. in Fort St. John, and is the home of Murray Chevrolet Oldsmobile Pontiac Buick GMC, as well as other commercial outlets.
Estevan & Oxbow, Saskatchewan, 2002
We purchased the GM dealership in Estevan and its satellite location in Oxbow Saskatchewan together with our operating partner Herb Padwick.
Abbotsford, British Columbia, 2002
We purchased the Pontiac, Buick, GMC dealership located in downtown Abbotsford, Brisith Columbia together with our operating partner Rob Taylor.
Fort St. John Expansion, 2004
We completed a major addition to the shop portion of our facility in Fort St. John to accommodate the growth in its business.
The Pas, Manitoba, 2005
The interests of Dean Cooley and Guy Bordian were purchased by Craig Dunn and Ian Gray respectively and the dealership began operating as Murray Dunn Motors The Pas with Ian Gray as the operating partner.
Medicine Hat Expansion, 2005
We completed a major renovation of our facility in Medicine Hat to accommodate the continued expansion of that dealershipâ??s volume.
Dauphin, Manitoba Relocation, 2005
We completed construction of a new 4 line General Motors store in Dauphin and relocated our existing operations to that facility.
Merritt, British Columbia, 2006
We purchased the GM store in Merritt, British Columbia together with our operating partner Scott Robertson.
Murray Hyundai, 2007
Murray Hyundai is built in the Waverley Automall in winnipeg and becomes the first non-GM dealership within the Murray Automotive Group. Damain Mannion, who worked with Dan Murray at the Chevrolet dealership becomes General Manager for this location. The Hyundai Dealership is recognized as the most Energy Efficient Dealership in North America with Solar Window, a Heat Recovery Ventilation system and Geothermal Heating.
Abbottsford Automall, 2007
We purchased the Chevrolet Cadillac dealership located in the Abbotsford Automall with the intention to ultimately amalgamate its operations with our existing Pontiac store in Abbotsford under the leadership of Rob Taylor.
Nipawin, Saskatchewan, 2007
We purchased the GM store in Nipawin, Saskatchewan together with Craig Dunn and our operating partner Lyall Cook.
Yarmouth & Barrington, Nova Scotia, 2008
We purchased the GM store in Yarmouth and its satellite location in Barrington Nova Scotia with our operating partner Jeff Little.
Neepawa, Manitoba 2008
The GM dealership purchased Murray Chevrolet in Neepawa, Manitoba in the summer of 2008. This was a familiar name, but in fact was owned by a different Murray family. The Auto Group purchased controlling interest in the dealership and brought in Ryan McLaughlin as the new General Manager for McLaughlin Motors.
Leduc, Alberta, 2008
We purchased the Chevrolet store in Leduc Alberta together with our operating partner Dwight Kurtz.
Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, 2008
In 2008, we constructed a new dealership to house the expanded operation in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan.
GM Backruptcy, 2009
2009 was a very tough year in the automotive industry with GM closing more than 1000 of their loyal dealerships across North America. This resulted with 40% of Canadian dealerships to close their doors. GM also discontinued major lines such as Hummer and Pontiac, which were prominent brands carried within the Murray Automotive Group.
