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107 Pandora Avenue West
Location Map
Henry's Car Wash.
The entire wall is 16 ft. x 104 ft = 1,664 sq ft.
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Location: E side Day bet. Pandora & Melrose; East Face
Occupant: Henry's Car Wash
District: Transcona
Neighbourhood: Melrose
Artist(s): Sarah Collard (Collard Creations)
Year: 2021
Sponsors: Transcona BIZ, Take Pride Winnipeg!, Dulux Paints, Herc Rentals
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Sarah Collard: "Tom Ethans, the Executive Director of Take Pride Winnipeg
approached me with the idea of painting a Mural while I was recovering from surgery. I
was asked to go see Leila at Transcona BIZ and see about a Mural for Henry's Car
Wash. I was delighted to find the entire area renovated, new gas pumps, a Petro
Canada station, Henry's Car Wash with new bays plus a brand new Tim Horton's drive
thru (Yippee)! The two owners of the property seemed nice and helpful. Leila, the new
Executive Director at Transcona Business Improvement Zone helped me find the proper
photos to use. I painted two watercolour designs throughout the summer as the Mural
design was altered to perfection."
"Due to the size of the wall and time constraints, I decided to use a lift. This definitely
made things easier for me - although at first it was perilous as I sank the lift in the
gravel. The Herc Rentals lift demonstrator quickly pulled me out and got me on my way
(phew). I had to purchase 4 x 8 sheets of plywood and have them cut in half and lay
them close to the wall, over the gravel in order to operate the lift. By the time this Mural
was a go, I was eager to get started so I started and did not stop (for much). In the
beginning, I painted at night, priming and drawing out the shapes and slowly I started
blocking in colours, painting straight through the weekends, furiously trying to get it
done. As soon as I blocked in the basic colour of each shape, I went over the entire
Mural again, slowly adding details to every section. I took my time on the details and
went at my own pace. It was very evident every day which part I had completed. Each
night I would post on Facebook (social media) and delete previous in-progress photos.
This was enjoyable. I liked examining each photo to see where I went wrong and where
I went right. Every morning I would grab a Timmies and be on my way. There was a
construction crew paving Pandora Street while I was painting. Sometimes they were
loud so I used ear protection. At other times, I wore a safety vest and steel toed boots.
It was fun to dress like a construction worker and toss off my apparel as the day
progressed. There was a tree that was in the way so I decided to paint around it
(adding an apple tree, children and an extra car)."
"This summer has been a very ambitious summer for me because I have painted 3
Murals. Henry's Car Wash was the third mural I Painted in 2021. This has pleased me
greatly since I was not sure how the operation would affect my eyesight. Gradually over
3 months, my body and mind have grown stronger and clearer. The part that saddens
me is that my daughter Sonja and my son Manny are not with me. They have helped
me in the past but are living out of province. It has been lonely without them. My dear
father passed away in March leaving me breathless and emotional. This Mural has
helped to brighten my days since I used colours that looked good against a grey
background. The light, the pastels, the pink, yellow and green peruse my sight and
calm my nerves. My father Terry Collard was a Ford man. He worked at Ford Motor
Company in Oakville (COD) for well over 30 years and passed this legacy onto his 5
children. I made an art exhibition entitled "Vehicular Traffic" which displays 10 Ford
Motor Vehicles through 100 years in Canada. This can be viewed and understood
better on my website www.sarahcollard.ca. In this Mural, I was able to depict the
famous Ford Mustang, Mustang GT (1967,1969) and the Ford Thunderbird which
thrilled me. I think there are also a couple Chevrolet's in there somewhere (just to be
fair to others). COVID-19 has not diminished my business. I am thriving."
====
The following piece by Louise Hedman was published in Canstar News
in Oct 5,
2018:
"The passing of a Transcona institution"
As time goes on it's inevitable that the old will fade away to make way for the
new. When you live in a community for your entire life, you notice those things
when they happen. Another long-time business in Transcona will soon be closing
its big doors - but thankfully not forever. Henry's Car Wash has been a special
place in our community, where people went to clean their vehicles, purchase
fuel and groceries and, most importantly, stay connected. Whether we
realized it or not, it was a social hub. Ed Enns, who purchased it as an
opportunity for his son, was the original owner of the car wash. Henry Enns quit
his job at Winnipeg Electric to purchase the business in 1965. At the time, it
was an automatic car wash with a couple of self-serve bays. Over the years, it
changed over to all self-serve bays and added propane and diesel fuel
pumps. The business operated as a Gulf station until 1985, when Petro
Canada acquired Gulf Canada Ltd.
Br>
Henry, along with his wife Erna and their seven children, grew the business into
one the residents of Transcona will fondly remember. This family arrangement
allowed some of the children to work alongside their parents, as well as some
local CN guys and many Transcona students who worked at the service station
on a part-time basis.
The most important person in the operation was Henry. He was always there
with a big smile on his face and was welcoming and friendly to everyone. He
would visit with the patrons, admire their vehicles, ask how their days were and
share a few laughs. He genuinely cared about his customers and always
wanted them to feel good.
He loved when kids would come in and always had suckers waiting for them.
Elderly Transcona residents and friends would drop by just to visit and often
helped Henry out with his day-to-day duties. An example of Henry's caring
demeanour is the story of a family whose vehicle broke down just before
Christmas; Henry would not leave until the vehicle was repaired and he
knew they could all get home for Christmas. The family was overwhelmingly
grateful to him. Although the Enns family sold the service station over 16 years
ago, the memories will remain for all of us who knew Henry and helped to
support the business for over 60 years.
Now the building is scheduled to be demolished to make way for a new car wash,
gas station and Tim Hortons restaurant. While Henry's Car Wash will be gone, it
will not be forgotten.
The new building will bring a fresh start to the location and allow future
generations to make new memories. Thanks for brightening our days, Henry and
family.
===
Upon Henry's death, his obituary read:
- HENRY ENNS It is with great sadness that the family announces the peaceful
passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather on February 16, 2006
at the Bethania Personal Care Home. He is survived by his beloved wife Erna
of 51 years and children, Brenda (David), Carol (Vern), David (Sheryl), Dennis
(Laura), Charlene (Alain), Darlene, Lisa (Kevin); his 17 grandchildren; his
brother Peter and wife Mildred; his brother-in-law Ron Cathcart; along with
numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father and mother,
John and Helen Enns, his sister Madeline, also his brother and sister-in-law, Vic
and Margaret. Dad was born on May 21, 1922 in Leonidowka, South Russia
and immigrated to Canada with his family in 1924. He was raised in Meadows,
MB, met his wife Erna in Winnipeg and married her in 1954. Dad served in the
Canadian Military from 1942 to 1946, upon his return to Winnipeg, he was
employed with Winnipeg Electric for 25 years of service and opened his own
business in Transcona called Henry's Car Wash Ltd. Dad resided in the RM of
Springfield, where his happiest moments were spending time with his clients at
the car wash, family gatherings and puttering around his yard. Funeral service
will take place on Tuesday, February 21 at Albright Church, 3400 De Vries
Ave., at 10:30 a.m. with viewing prior to the service. Interment to following in
Sunnyside Cemetery. The family would like to thank the staff at the Bethania
Personal Care Home for their kindness and care-giving during this past year. In
lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Henry's memory to Alzheimer
Manitoba, 120 Donald St., Winnipeg, MB R3C 4G2. FRIENDS FUNERAL
SERVICE 2146 Main Street
This website is extremely grateful to Sarah Collard for sharing her research on Henry
Enns with us.
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