Ritchie Bros presented a CA$100,000 cheque to the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation during its multi-million dollar heavy equipment auction in Kelowna, B.C. today (June 3, 2008). The funds came from Ritchie Bros., Dave Ritchie and Russ and Ellen Cmolik. The auction attracted more than 1,600 registered bidders from eight countries as well as a number of special guests including Dave and John Ritchie, who founded the Company with their brother Ken 50 years ago in Kelowna. Other significant attendees included CEO Peter Blake, most of the partners who owned Ritchie Bros. before it went public in 1998, and many former customers and employees.

The three Ritchie brothers - Dave, John and Ken - conducted their first unreserved public auction at the local scout hall in Kelowna in 1958, selling $2,000 of furniture. They conducted their first unreserved industrial equipment auction in Radium, B.C. in 1963.

Historical photos and a special 50th anniversary photo taken at the Kelowna auction site can be downloaded from www.rbauction.com/media. A photo of the cheque presentation will be available shortly.

Posted: 06|4|08 at 8:53 am. Filed under: Canada.