2022 Canadian RV Dealer of the Year – The Nominees are…

The RVDA of Canada has announced the nominees for the 33rd Annual Walt Paseska Memorial Canadian RV Dealer of the Year Award.

Each year, the RVDA of Canada and Canadian regional RVDAs, in conjunction with RV Lifestyle Magazine and RV Dealer News, invite nominations from across Canada for the Canadian RV Dealer of the Year Award. The award is dedicated to the memory of the late Walt Paseska, founder of Walt’s Trailer Sales in Headingly, Manitoba, in recognition of his many years of commitment and dedication to the RV industry, the RV experience, and the community at large.

Established in 1989, this award has been presented to Canadian RV dealers who share Walt Paseska’s legendary enthusiasm and commitment to the industry; individuals who have been leaders in the RVDA movement either regionally or at a provincial or national level; who have exhibited a long-term dedication to the RV community; and who have made substantial contributions to their communities through charitable or philanthropic activities.

Each of the provincial RVDA organizations are encouraged to present their nominees to the RVDA of Canada selection committee, who evaluate the nomination documents and select the winner of the Canadian RV Dealer of the Year Award.

The documentation for the nominees is submitted to the RVDA of Canada selection committee, which consists of five previous Canadian RV Dealer of the Year winners and representatives from the RVDA of Canada and RV Lifestyle Magazine, the founding sponsor of the Award.

This year’s selection committee is comprised of previous Canadian RV Dealers of the Year: Jason Bell, Chemo RV, 150 Mile House and Quesnel, B.C.; Jim Gorrie and Kevin Betzold, GNR Camping World, Winnipeg, Manitoba; Bruce Marsh, Cape Breton Trailer Sales, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia; Al Robinson, Great Canadian RV, Peterborough, Ontario, and Andy Thomson, Can-Am RV Centre, London, Ontario.

The selection committee operates under the supervision of Eleonore Hamm, RVDA of Canada, with assistance from Melanie Taylor of RV Lifestyle Magazine and RV Dealer News.

The award will be presented in-person at an official ceremony, coinciding with the RVDA of Canada annual general meeting, to be held during the RVDA Convention/Expo in Las Vegas, November 9, 2022.

For 2022, four distinguished Canadian RV dealers have been nominated for this honour:

• Chardell Brydon, Jerry’s RV Trailer Sales & Service, New Minas, Nova Scotia
• Jason Friesen, Voyager RV, Winfield, B.C.
• Roland Goreski, Campkin’s RV Centre, Whitby, Ontario
• Murray Sullivan, SMP RV, Houston, B.C.

Roland Goreski, Campkin’s RV Centre, Whitby, Ontario — 2022 Ontario RV Dealer of the Year

The Ontario Recreation Vehicle Association announced Roland Goreski, Owner and General Manager of Campkin’s RV Centre, Whitby, Ontario as the Dealer of the Year at their 2022 AGM and Golf tournament August 24, 2022 at Blue Mountain Golf Course, Collingwood Ontario.

His experience in the RV industry goes back to the 70’s when he started working at his family’s Dealership, Skyview Trailers in Trenton Ontario. Roland’s father Mel Goreski was a board member of ORVDA and supported ORVDA programs and RV shows. At Skyview Trailers he quickly embraced the General Manager position and with help from Spader and ORVDA he got involved in educating himself and his staff to improve the dealership.

Roland joined a Spader 20 group and expanded his relationship with colleagues from across Canada, learning and sharing.

When Roland decided to leave the family business he called Brad Campkin to “review his resume” and the next chapter of his career began. Roland started at Campkin’s RV in the Service Department, then Parts Manager and then Sales and Lead Sales person.

His dedication to getting the job done comes from his Dad, who told him many years ago “Amateurs make excuses, professionals get it done”. It was this attitude that made him the perfect candidate to become General Manager at Campkin’s RV. As General Manager he helped with Campkin’s RV expansion in 2009 and helped grow the company during the most trying economic times.

This all lead to Roland being the perfect candidate to purchase Campkin’s RV Centre when Brad Campkin decided it was time to retire. “Roland has all the experience and desire that it takes to run a successful RV Dealership in the 21st century, I quickly realized he was the perfect guy to carry on the Campkin’s RV business.”

Roland has served as a Director, Treasurer and as Vice President on the ORVDA board. He has also been Chairperson of the ORVDA education committee and has served on several other ORVDA committees such as the Golf/AGM committee and currently the Membership committee. On a National level Roland has served as a director on the RVDA board and been the Chairperson of the National Education Committee for the RVDA of Canada. His passion for education in the RV industry has been apparent in several initiatives he has been involved in. These initiatives include the initial RVTI curriculum discussion as well as lobbying efforts with Lorne Coe and other MP’s and MPP’s concerning developing a proper RV education stream. One of Roland’s most notable achievements is the personal lobbying efforts with individual dealers to fill the online red seal prep course through Okanagan College.

Roland has always made sure to support local charities and community events and continues today supporting Make-a-Wish, Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham, and Oshawa/Whitby as well as several charitable community events such as Brooklin Fair, Port Perry Fair, Durham Highland Games and Whitby Ribfest just to name a few.