He’s been running the parts department since 1978 and he’s the ultimate motorcycle enthusiast. He’s the owner of a Kawasaki H2, which is their newest and greatest sports bike. He stays on top of the game. What’s even more amazing is that he’s virtually got a photographic memory. He has part numbers memorized from bikes from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. He’s forgotten more about motorcycles than I will ever probably know. Bruce has been a huge part of our business and he makes my job a lot easier. If I ask him something not only do I know that he’ll know the answer, I know that whatever it is will get done with a pride that comes with someone who lives for their craft. He’s got taste.” JUST A WAY OF LIFE “At the end of the day, we just love to promote anything and everything that has to do with motorcycles. We’re not a brand-specific team, but really a lifestyle team. Everyone here at our dealership is a motorcycle enthusiast and it’s just nice to get up and go to work with a smile on your face and do something you love. We know not everyone gets to do that and we’re grateful every day.” Ottawa Goodtime Centre carries exclusive brands like Arai Helmets, Dainese, Forma, Klim, REV’IT!, Schuberth, X-Lite, Daytona Boots, Exon Riding Apparel, Nolan Helmets, and Kriega Luggage.
used bikes here look better than dealerships most people come across, I hear, and we take that as a point of pride. We also store bikes year-round, which is a bonus to a lot of riders and collectors here in Canada.”
Bring us your rusted, your sputtering, your shambled bikes
Ottawa Goodtime Centre winter stores, on average, 450 motorcycles every year. They see this volume because every motorcycle community sees them as a beacon of care and quality – and with good reason. “We have on staff three full-time Motorcycle Master Technicians, which is the highest level attainable,” Jason explained. “We’ve really benefited from these guys taking on additional learning opportunities with names like BMW, Kawasaki and Triumph. BMW has a very intense training program in Florida; Kawasaki does training close-by in Toronto; and Triumph in Georgia in the US. It’s all North American-based.” “We have on staff three full-time Motorcycle Master Technicians, which is the highest level attainable.” “The biggest tribute to success is the longevity of our staff,” he told me with growing pride in his voice. “We have mechanics that have been with us for as long as 35 years. Our parts manager, Bruce, has been with us for almost 40 years – basically from the beginning. A bulk of our staff has been with us for at least 10 years, so you can imagine that it’s an experienced and knowledgeable bunch.” After my conversation with Isabel, I continued performing my journalistic due diligence, as it were, and happened to strike-up a conversation with Ottawa Goodtime Centre’s Social Media and Web Representative, Andrew Harris on Live Chat at ottawagoodtime.com. He was right there, ready to assist any and all during peak business hours. I introducedmyself and he was thrilled to answer questions. The one pressing question I had was one I forgot to ask Isabel. It stemmed from a name written several times in the margins of the first research notes I received about Ottawa Goodtime Centre: Bruce. I asked Andrew, “Who’s Bruce?” and promptly received a “Haha haha!” as a reply. He then wrote this: “Bruce has run the parts department forever and anything I’d tell you couldn’t do that guy justice!” This wasn’t the first time that I had heard of Bruce
Later in the week, Jason would give me the scoop on Bruce.
“Bruce Bangulick is the longest-standing employee here.
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FEBRUARY 2017 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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