Little did Harvey Livingstone realize in October 1966 when he started a small backyard operation that he was in the process of creating a legacy.
The now 74 year old simply wanted to buy repairable cars to supply locals looking for parts.
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"It was a part-time thing I started in my backyard. The parts people started looking for parts and it started from there,'' Livingstone says.
It has since grown into a family empire. Island Auto Supply now sits on a 57-acre parcel of land on Brackley Point Road in Charlottetown and employs dozens of family members.
He's now passing the torch of running the place onto his grandson, Dalbert Livingstone, and Dalbert's wife, Tabitha.
Harvey is still around, though, helping out whenever and wherever he can because sitting at home and relaxing simply isn't in him.
Harvey is quick to credit his wife, Rena, whom he calls "the kingpin''.
"We hired one employee (in the beginning) to fill in. my wife was always there and we went from there, just adding people as we needed people.''
When Livingstone started the whole thing in his backyard, there was one auto parts yard in Parkdale. That business closed up about the time computers came in around the mid-1980s.
"I had always been interested in cars. I saw a need. There was a need there and the newer salvage, which was expensive, didn't seem to be faring too well at the time so we though we could handle that end of it.
"But I thought I would fix up the odd damaged car in my garage and that would be it.''
Harvey started bringing family into help run things about 19 years ago. His son, Travis, runs Brackley Auto Parts and U-Pick Auto Parts right next door. As labour got more expensive it didn't make sense to pay guys to take parts off cars to Travis now runs part of the family business where the customer pulls parts off cars.
Island Auto Supply takes in approximately 700 damaged vehicles per year, many of them serving as parts for garages everywhere. After about two years, the vehicles are crushed and taken away.
Tabitha Livingstone is essentially stepping into the shows once filled by Rena handling the accounting, officework and some supervising.
"Rena has taught me everything. She's been a mentor and I look up to her.''
Helping run a business wasn't new to Tabitha, whose family operates Fishermen's Wharf in North Rustico.
"I was involved in my own family business and when Dalbert and I got together Harvey and Rena were on their way out. The job came up here and Dalbert asked if I wanted to come in and give it a try. That was 2½ years ago and I'm still here today.''
Tabitha, 33, said working beside her husband and his family is as good as it gets.
"Dalbert and I get along so well. We walk away from here at the end of the day and we leave the business here. That makes a big difference.''
Dalbert's response to the same question would melt many women's hearts.
"She's my best friend and soulmate. I can't imagine not spending every day with her,'' Dalbert, 33, said. "Don't worry, when I go home I get my orders (to) cut the grass or mend the fence.''
Dalbert said taking over the family business from his grandfather feels natural, although he admits Harvey was gently recruiting him all along.
"I grew up around the business. My father was actually one of the counter salesmen when I was a rugrat running around the salvage yard. I'm still a rugrat running around the salvage yard but dealing with staff puts a little more maturity to it but it's fun for me.''
Dalbert's father, Wade Livingstone, runs his own landscaping business now.
Dalbert oversees a staff of 19 including five work counter sales, there's a receptionist and cashier, three field staff, a tow truck driver, two inventory people, a maintenance person and a loader driver. Six of those people are Dalbert's cousins.
"We'll banter back and forth and we'll have fun but the work gets done. I'm lucky enough to have a good, key staff and I don't have to babysit a lot. We're kind of a close family. We see each other every day. I know what's going on in my cousin's lives because I talk to them every day.''
Harvey says the industry has changed a lot since those days in the backyard. Computers came into the workplace (that cost him $50,000), front-wheel drive vehicles were a change and vehicle computers "changed the whole picture''.
One thing that hasn't changed is his philosophy treat the customers like they're part of the family. Word of mouth is the best marketing tool there is.
"I remember when I was a year in business this lady phoned me from Tignish and said 'You've got a good name and I trust you so I'll buy an engine for my car'. That's a great way to advertise.''
He never forgot how hearing that made him feel.
Tabitha says the business has two employees who have been working there for more than 45 years.
"That shows right there the kind of person Harvey must be to work for, that he's held on to his key employees this long.''
Harvey says knowing his legacy will live on for years to come means a lot.
"It's rewarding to have it continue on. Five to six years ago I had a vision of stopping it someday because there didn't seem to be too many wanting to get into it. Dalbert came along and brought his wife and that did it right there.''
"It's big shoes to fill,'' Tabitha responds. "But it's an honorable thing that (Harvey and Rena) think that way about us.''
Just don't expect Harvey to sit at home and relax. He may be passing the torch onto Dalbert and Tabitha but Harvey isn't quite letting go. Not just yet.
Vehicles from accidents go to a yard like Island Auto Supply to be recycled properly
• Island Auto Supply is a member of the Automotive Recyclers of Canada (ARC).
• Oil, gas and other dangerous things are taken out of each vehicle so they can't pollute the water or air.
• A mechanic takes apart all the good parts and many parts are cleaned.
• Tires that are still good will be used on other vehicles. Worn-out ones are recycled.
• Good parts are kept inside to protect them from the elements.
• After the useful parts are taken off, the rest of the vehicle is crushed flat. The metal then gets recycled and used to make new vehicles.
• The Livingstone's also own a yard in East Royalty that is being decommissioned for future development. The site has already passed an environmental assessment.
