For more than 40 years, the new car dealer community across British Columbia has been supporting an incredible cause – the Auction for Athletes fundraiser presented by the New Car Dealers Foundation of BC in partnership with Special Olympics BC.
Each spring, our community comes together in a fun and inspiring way to support this important initiative and celebrate inclusion and the top-tier talent of athletes we have in BC. This year’s auction ran from April 14 to 17 and raised more than $250,000 – totaling more than $6.4 million to date that the New Car Dealers Association of BC (NCDA) has helped raise in support of Special Olympics BC.
What started as a commitment to support youth and sport has grown into one of the strongest partnerships of its kind across Canada – a partnership where each successful bid supports athletes from 55 communities across BC. As president of the NCDA, I continue to be inspired by the athletes who benefit from this fundraiser and the people that continue to show up and support it.
2026 marked another successful Auction for Athletes and the success of this fundraiser ties back to the values that started this partnership in the first place – joy, teamwork, resilience, and pride. I also want to give a big thanks to our dealer members who participated, donated, and promoted this year’s auction as every little bit helps to ensure these inspiring athletes continue to have access to life-changing sport and community programming.
This year’s auction had a wide range of items up for bidding, including new cars, travel and sport experiences, automotive opportunities, gift cards, and more. The 2026 Chevrolet Trax LT received the highest bid amount and sold for $28,500. A 2026 Honda Civic LX sold for $26,500 and a 2026 Toyota Corolla Hatchback CVT sold for $25,100.
The auction wasn’t just for car lovers, as a storm watching or spring getaway at Wickaninnish Inn, a two-night stay at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, and the Big White Ski Resort family stay and ski package all sold for more than $1,000. Visit www.auctionforathletes.com to see the results of this year’s auction.
We want to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s auction by placing bids on the many incredible items available. Your enthusiasm and generosity are what bring this event to life. We hope each winning bidder enjoys their purchase, knowing it represents more than just an item – it reflects a shared commitment to a truly worthy cause. Every dollar raised helps support Special Olympics BC athletes, ensuring they have access to the programs, opportunities, and community that make such a meaningful difference in their lives.
I am not surprised by the way that the new car dealer community shows up for this fundraiser, but at the same time, I am blown away by the amount of support we receive each year.
Let’s keep that momentum going into next year’s auction to show Special Olympics BC and the next generation of athletes that we are here to cheer them on and support them as they continue to make us and the entire province incredibly proud.
Blair Qualey is President and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC. He can be reached at [email protected]
