After a long search, a High River car dealership has found a new home in Okotoks.
A groundbreaking ceremony took place on Oct. 16 for a new Toyota dealership that will be built on Wedderburn Drive adjacent to Southridge Drive. High River Toyota will move to the site once construction is complete.
The anticipated opening for Okotoks Toyota is December 2025, dealer principal Saleem Budhwani said.
Budhwani said the building will become an Okotoks landmark.
Representatives from the Town of Okotoks, High River Toyota and Toyota Canada attended the ceremony with developers and dealership staff.
Mayor Tanya Thorn said the Town is excited to welcome the business to the community.
“Moving a business is a big decision and we appreciate you deciding that Okotoks is a place for that,” Thorn said.
She said the building will have many eco-friendly and sustainable features that resonate with Okotoks’ brand.
The 36,000-square-foot building will allow the dealership to add about twice as many staff, Thorn said.
“Growth and employment in our region is always a good thing,” she said.
Thorn said the dealership will be supporting the Okotoks Food Bank and that Toyota is interested in other community partnerships.
“The intention is to be part of the community and support the local community,” Budhwani said.
High River Toyota had been looking for a new location for nearly a decade. Market studies found it would be more convenient for customers and more beneficial for the business to be closer to a large population centre, Budhwani said.
He said he plans to hang on to the building in High River, but didn’t specify any future plans for the site.
Toyota applied to Foothills County in an effort to relocate the High River dealership to a site along Highway 2A north of Okotoks, but the application was turned down in 2020.
