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 The history of BC Auto Wrecking
began much earlier than with it's current owners, in fact many would
comment the history began with the founder, John Biggs and his
family history of auto wrecking. I hope you will enjoy the story compiled
from memories of the past.
John's father, Raymond Biggs the original owner of Clark's Auto Parts
opened one of Vancouver Islands first auto wrecking yards in Victoria, BC.
Raymond was quick to the punch and put John to work after school at the
tender age of 14. In 1963 at a new location called Victoria Auto Parts,
John and his father opened as partners, which officially started his adult
career.
After many years working in Victoria, John and his dad eventually sold
Victoria Auto Parts, which was the start of the vision of purchasing yet
another yard. With the growth of Victoria as a Tourism City, the prospect
of opening another yard in Victoria virtually made it impossible, so the
hunt was on the find something in a neighboring community away from the
hustle of shopping malls, hotels and tour companies. In 1980 in Brentwood
Bay, John purchased BC Auto Wrecking and started operating as a family
business. His wife Carole processed the statements and his daughter
Carolyn started stuffing envelopes at age 16. Ten years after the opening
of BC Auto Wrecking John expanded the business and opened a second
location in Nanaimo, BC, 2 hours north of Victoria. In 1992 the family
started to move away from Victoria, it was then that John and his wife
Carole decided to sell the Brentwood location and move north towards
Nanaimo. To help continue the family business one of his daughters and her
husband began their career along side John in the auto wrecking industry.
John Biggs and BC Auto Wrecking entered into a new millennium along with
new ideas and a growing industry. Today auto wrecking yards are widely
recognized as salvage, recycling, and dismantling yards. The old fashion
terms of junkyards, scrap heaps and bone yards are a thing of the past.
Technology and the acknowledgment of used parts have significantly changed
the image of auto wrecking. John laughs remembering back to the first
Teletype communication system on Vancouver Island with a membership of 6
members. Today the communication systems has an international membership
of over 2000 and the capability of communicating and selling used auto
parts to ICBC (Insurance Corporation of British Columbia) and other
yards across Canada and the United States.
John now in his 46th year of business at age 60, has the vision of
semi-retiring. John can confidently say, " Family and friends are
ready to take over the responsibilities of my creation," and
continue the long history of Auto Wrecking.
Written by C. Jahnke ©2001
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