Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 03/99) - Vehicles have started rolling off the lot at White Bear Chrysler.

But it's not the kind of sale most auto dealers would be excited about.

The vehicles have been sold by the receiver, the Edmonton office of accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, to a dealer down south in connection with White Bear's insolvency.

Creditors are seeking almost $1.5 million from White Bear Chrysler Ltd.

The biggest creditor, not surprisingly, is the bank.

Bank of Montreal is owed $1.4 million by the business.

As well as the bank, 72 companies are listed as creditors. The debt to this group totals $97,564, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers' notice of receiver.

After the bank, the debts range from $15,938 owed to Tundra Transfer, to $16.37 owed to Grizzly Tire and Services, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.

White Bear, started by Harry Ely and Mark Chang in April 1995, went into receivership Dec. 22.

Ely, who lives in Two Hills, Alta., told xxxYellowknifer in January he sold his stake in the company to Mark Chang and Tony Chang.

Mark Chang, asked Monday if he was aware of anyone taking over the business, said he has "not heard anything."

But, he adds, the receivers would not necessarily tell him if the business had a new owner.

Since the company was shut, Chang has taken an appraiser's position with Arctic West Adjusters.

Some of White Bear Chrysler's vehicles were sold by the receiver "to a dealer down south," Chang said.

A sign has been posted on White Bear Chrysler's door directing vehicle sales inquiries to Great West Plymouth Jeep in Edmonton.

The receiver sold about half a dozen White Bear vehicles to Great West with some of those vehicles being shipped south.

White Bear is not the only business to recently go into receivership.

On Feb. 18, the Edmonton office of the accounting firm Deloitte and Touche was appointed receiver for moving company Dolittle Services (1991) Ltd.

The company, a northAmerican Van Lines agent, employed 10 full-time and two part-time people.

Dolittle general manager Larry Kish said Monday he is currently acting for the receiver to assist with local inquiries.

Dolittle's primary shareholder, Charlie Fair, could not be reached in Edmonton for comment.