Maintaining the machines that move you.
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OUR MISSION
Through honesty, communication, consistency and quality,
Dancia Motors exists to cultivate the spirit of motoring and to
embrace both the old and the new. We are dedicated to providing
a positive and friendly experience to our customers.
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OUR VISION
Our customers need to be safe and to feel confident, not only in
their vehicles but also in their servicing needs. Our employees are
thorough, friendly and trusted team members. We believe in
our team's ongoing training and commitment to the next
generation of honest and competent technicians.
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OUR STORY
In 1986, Henning Kristensen and his Wife, Monica, opened an auto repair shop specializing in Volvo - Henning’s personal favourite marque! Henning knew that the new company needed a Scandinavian name, but every idea he submitted was already registered. While doing some renovations at home, Henning and Monica chose some tiles…DANCIA tiles! Monica thought “Dancia Motors” sounded pretty Scandinavian, so Henning submitted the name…and it was approved!
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Soon Dancia began to attract not only loyal and enthusiastic customers but weird and wonderful vehicles as well! The day when Rich Cote first came into Dancia Motors inquiring about a job, Henning was working on a DeLorean! Rich became fast friends with Henning and Monica and he purchased the Company in 2003. Rich grew the capabilities of Dancia Motors’ Volvo-centric reputation by adding BMW and MINI. Soon Dancia needed to expand and moved to its current location in 2009. By the time 2014 rolled around, Dancia Motors was again in need of expansion. The building underwent a major renovation and was transformed from a two-bay shop into a four-bay shop.
Rich Cote and Kevin Wood have worked together at Dancia since 2013. Kevin has recently taken ownership of the company and is working hard to ensure that Henning’s original vision of a shop that puts the “special” in specialists is honoured.
Now 2023 has rolled around, and Dancia Motors is still Valley-strong and is looking forward to the future!
OUR TEAM
KEVIN WOOD
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One day in late 2012, Rich Cote was spreading the word in the neighbourhood that he was looking for a new mechanic to join the Dancia team as another employee was moving away. Kevin was a mechanic at a nearby shop and already had a professional relationship with Rich - performing Dancia’s wheel alignments. The thought of focusing his mechanical talents and becoming a European specialist was appealing to Kevin and he approached Rich about the position, starting his employment at Dancia on January 2nd 2013.
Kevin was born in Duncan and has spent his entire life in the Cowichan Valley. He Graduated from Frances Kelsey Secondary School in 2004 and started a mechanic apprenticeship at Kal Tire, earning his Automotive Service Technician Red Seal in 2010.
An active volunteer for Scouts Canada, Kevin has been a Scout since 1992. He enjoys camping and the outdoors and believes in Scouts Canada’s mission - to develop well-rounded youth, better prepared for success in the world.
Cowichan is a great place for music! Kevin plays the guitar and sings and is appreciative that there are so many other skilled musicians in this community to play with and listen to.
Kevin has always been interested in machines and how things work! In high school, he built a go kart out of an old “beverage” keg and a Schwinn bicycle he pulled out of the creek!
Kevin and his wife, Sarah live in Mill Bay.
LANDEN
Landen is from the Cowichan Valley and has recently graduated from Cowichan Secondary School. His uncle builds 4x4 rock crawlers in his home shop and got Landen turned onto mechanics. Between the high school automotive dual credit program and Camosun School of Trades and Technology, Landen has earned his Level 1 trade certification. He is happy to be an Automotive Service Technician apprentice at Dancia.
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He is an outdoors enthusiast and enjoys dirt bikes, fishing and hunting. He has a soft spot for muscle cars and loves working on engines. VR is also pretty fun!
NATHAN WHYTE
Nathan Whyte is a passionate automotive enthusiast born and raised in Duncan. From a young age, he developed a love for cars, which was sparked by his grandfather introducing him to quads when he was just five years old. This early exposure to
vehicles paved the way for his lifelong passion, especially for BMWs—cars that always capture his attention, particularly when paired with a well-tuned exhaust.
Starting at the age of 14 with his first car, a 1997 Chevy Blazer, Nathan began honing his mechanical skills, learning how to work on and care for his own vehicles. Over the years, he’s owned several BMWs, expanding his knowledge and experience.
His passion for cars extends beyond just owning them—he’s spent 18 months working as an oil technician, gaining hands-on experience in the automotive field.
When he’s not working on cars, Nathan enjoys traveling, attending car shows, and driving and off-roading with his quad. He is always eager to learn more about vehicles, whether it’s through work, personal projects, or exploring new technologies.
In his downtime, Nathan is an avid video gamer, blending his love for tech and cars in the virtual world.
He is excited to be an apprentice here at Dancia Motors!
NORA WALKER
Nora Walker is a lifelong Cowichan girl! Nora grew up in Westholme and worked at the Village Green back in the good ol’ days. She raised both heck and her family in Cobble Hill and Shawnigan lake and now resides in Cowichan Station with her boy toy, Dave.
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After years of warranty and parts service with John Deere, Nora has made the shift to Automotive Service Advisor. She loves solving problems and hunting down those hard-to-find parts that vintage European vehicles are famous for!
Nora is really excited to meet you and is dedicated to giving you the service that you and your car deserve.
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