Store Info - About Scott's
Owners - Gerry & Jan Scott
<Click Here for Gerry's Biography>
Our Mission : Pursuing excellence by providing product and service that will positively impact lives for God's purpose.
Store Tour - (Check out our store with a live tour!)
History Highlights
1952 – Garfield & Tillie Ferris opened “The Gospel Book Store” as a second business to their office supply and typewriter repair business – next to the Buffalo Hotel on Ross St.
1955 – New owners Michael and Celia Karachen took over and for the next 20 years faithfully served the Christian community of Central Alberta. In 1965, they purchased Ferg’s Music Store also. Many customers will remember the opening in the wall between the two stores by which Michael and Celia would communicate to each other during business hours.
1975 – The Gospel Book Store was purchased by Bob Forbes, a college teacher who relocated the business across Ross St. next to the Club Café.
1978 – New owners Arnold and Betty Stauffer took over and began an aggressive expansion of merchandise. They renamed the store “Gospel Books n’ Music” to reflect the increasing emphasis on Christian music. They also doubled the floor s[ace by moving up onto street level.
1983 – Arnold was led to take seminary training in the States, so he sold the store to Peter Hansum who moved the business to its previous location on 48th Street.
1988 – The store was sold to Jan and Gerry Scott and a new era begins of increased product selection to serve the Christian community.
1992 – The store expanded its mail order service plus provided a nation-wide toll free 800 number for the convenience of all long distance customers.
1997 – The store further expanded its mail order service by making the toll free number for all of North America. A website on the Internet for customers to access was also developed.
1999 – A second store was purchased in Saskatoon, SK. and the name of both stores was changed to “Scott’s Parable Christian Stores”. Saskatoon opens a brand new 10,000 sq. ft store in the River City Mall, consolidating 3 existing businesses into the new location. Doors to the new store were opened on the Labor Day weekend in September .
2000 – Scott’s Parable Christian Stores – Red Deer relocates to its brand new location on the west side of Hwy. 2 South in Red Deer. The new 15,000 sq. ft. store becomes Canada’s largest Christian retail store.
2002 – Scott’s Parable Christian Stores – Red Deer wins the distinction of winning the Western Canada’s Store of the Year award at CBA (Christian Booksellers Association), Richmond, B.C. In addition, the store received the second place for the Outstanding Gift Department from among all Christian bookstores in Canada and the USA. The store also received an award from the Red Deer Express for the most Outstanding Gifts, Music and Books, and Café.
November 2002 – Scott’s Parable Christian Stores – Red Deer celebrate their 50th year of ministry in Red Deer and Central Alberta.
September 2009 – Scott’s Parable Christian Stores – Saskatoon celebrate their 10th year of ministry in Saskatoon and surrounding area.
October 2009 - Gerry Scott is awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Gospel Music Association - Canada in Calgary, Alberta in recognition of over 50 years of service to the Christian Music industry in numerous capacities.