Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 16/99) - A new Chrysler will soon be on the road again in Yellowknife, the dealership's new owner said.

Bob Aaltonen, Yellowknife Chrysler's president and general manager, said the target date for opening is Sept.1.

Other than location, the new dealership has no ties to the defunct White Bear Chrysler or its owners.

Aaltonen, who grew up in Yellowknife, ran a General Motors dealership in Calgary prior to investing in the new Chrysler dealership on Old Airport Road.

"I've been looking for a dealership for about a year and a half. They (Chrysler) were anxious to keep a dealership in Yellowknife," he said.

The company also wanted to have a presence in Yellowknife to service vehicles here, he said.

Aaltonen and a Calgary-based partner with no connections to Yellowknife are the only owners of Yellowknife Chrysler, Aaltonen said.

Yellowknife Chrysler, which will sell new and late model used vehicles, will employ 12 people. A few of the staff were employed by White Bear and all but one of the dozen people are Yellowknife residents, Aaltonen said.

The move to open a new auto dealer and service centre comes nine months after White Bear Chrysler went into receivership.

The firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers was appointed White Bear's receiver last December.

White Bear was started by Harry Ely and Mark Chang in April, 1995.

Ely served as White Bear president while Chang was appointed White Bear secretary/treasurer when the company was formed April 25, 1995.

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

Earlier this year, creditors were seeking almost $1.5 million from White Bear Chrysler Ltd. with Bank of Montreal topping the list. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers' documents, Bank of Montreal was owed $1.4 million.