in Canada
A campaign about the stubbornness it takes to build and keep things going in this country — and about the businesses that show up in their communities year after year without being asked.
Ford has put a name to something dealers have felt for a long time. Watkin Motors Ford has been in Vernon since October 1915. This October that becomes 111 years of North Okanagan winters, smoke-filled summers and harvests that did not wait for anybody. We have some thoughts about the word “can’t”.
Why this campaign lands differently
Most manufacturer campaigns are about the vehicle. This one is about the people who buy them and the places they live.
Ford’s framing is straightforward: for over a century, Ford and its dealers have met every challenge in this country with resilience, innovation and action. When capable people put that capability behind the wheel of a Ford, there is not much they cannot do.
In Vernon, that means:
Work trucks that haul tools and trailers six days a week.
Trucks that move bins through harvest.
Something that gets over the hill when the snow comes.
Grit is not a marketing word here. It is just what the last century has looked like in Vernon.
Watkin Motors Ford: 111 years in one town
A dealership does not last this long in a city this size by being clever. It lasts by being there.
We have been here through the good years and the hard ones. The thing about a small city is that everybody remembers who stayed.
What it looks like on the ground
A national campaign only means something if it shows up locally. Ours does in the vehicles we keep on the road and in the community we are part of — the teams, the events and the neighbours who have been coming through our doors for generations.
If your organisation is doing something in Vernon or the North Okanagan worth supporting, we would like to hear about it. We cannot say yes to everything — we get more requests than we can fund — but every one gets read, and the more specific you are about who it helps, the better your chances.
Common questions
What is There’s No Can’t in Canada?
It is a Ford of Canada campaign celebrating the resilience of Canadian communities and the dealers who serve them — a movement about the grit and optimism dealers bring to their communities every day.
How long has Watkin Motors Ford been in Vernon?
Since October 1915 — 111 years this October. We have served the North Okanagan from our city of Vernon ever since.
How do I get in touch about a community sponsorship?
Send the details through our contact page, or drop in to the dealership at 4602 27th Street in Vernon. We receive more requests than we are able to support, so tell us what you are working on, who it helps and when you need an answer — that is what helps us decide.
Come say hello
We are at 4602 27th Street in Vernon. Whether you need a truck that will not quit, or you just want to talk about what your business is trying to get done, the door is open.