Finding Scandia Motors can be a little challenging. The garage run by Ken Witala is tucked away down an alley off the Lougheed Highway in Maple Ridge, but since the mid-80s people have been seeking out Ken and his expertise when it comes to Volvos.
Why Volvos? “I just fell into it,” says Ken. He started out by pumping gas at a station in Burnaby, when former dealership mechanic Geoff Silcock left Don Docksteader and rented out the bays where he worked. “Geoff was a Volvo guy, and when he rented the bays it was a Volvo repair shop and it just build from there."
Ken started working with Geoff part-time before they left and started Swedish Service in Burnaby. “I worked there for a while till Geoff sold the business, and when he started Scandia a couple years later I joined him there.” The intention was for Ken to work with Geoff until it was time for Geoff to retire or move on to other things, and in September of 1996 Ken was able to take over from Geoff and has been operating Scandia ever since.
