Ken Achs recently appeared on Rooted Here, a podcast series from The Bamboo Pod featuring local entrepreneurs, innovators, and community leaders.
In the episode, Ken reflects on his early years in professional drag racing, the beginnings of Mid-West, and the lessons learned through more than six decades in business. The conversation covers everything from Top Fuel and Funny Car racing to real estate, calculated risk, long-term growth and how his definition of success has evolved over the years.
The full episode, No Finish Line: How Drag Racing Shaped a Lifetime in Business, is attached below.
On June 27, 2024, Ken Achs appeared on Shaw TV’s television program Connect with Randy Pshebylo to reflect on 60 years of business discussing Mid-West’s early days on Broadway Avenue, drag racing, getting through tough economic cycles, and why Saskatoon will always be home.
The television segment has been replayed frequently on the Roger’s community channel and is available online on the show’s YouTube channel.
Mid-West is currently constructing a two-building office and warehouse project that will be the future home of PCL in Saskatoon’s Marquis Industrial sector.
Desirably located on the corner of Faithfull Avenue and 64th Street, the buildings will be completed in early 2025 with PCL completing its interior buildout and moving in later in the year.
PCL is Canada’s largest construction company and is an exciting addition to Mid-West’s portfolio of commercial real estate tenants.
On April 1, 1964, Ken Achs opened Mid-West Automotive on Broadway Avenue in Saskatoon. The business has since evolved into a conglomerate that is highly regarded in the Saskatoon business community and has spanned across Western North America.
While the company has grown and evolved, one constant throughout the years is the day-to-day involvement of Ken who, now in his 80s, leads by example and is involved in nearly every aspect of the company’s operations on a daily basis.
The accomplishments of Ken and the company were celebrated in June with a 60th anniversary celebration at Saskatoon’s iconic Delta Bessborough Hotel with Mid-West’s business partners, colleagues, employees, friends, and dignitaries all coming together to commemorate this milestone.
Mid-West has again partnered with Victoria’s premier condo builder, Abstract Developments. The latest collaboration between the two companies is on the construction of a 87-unit residential condominium called “Oak & Stone” in Saanich, British Columbia (adjacent to Victoria on Vancouver Island). Construction started in June of 2024 and will wrap-up in early 2027.
Mid-West has completed the construction of a boutique retail development on 8th Street in Saskatoon. This development is adjacent and connected to Mid-West’s original building which was originally home to Mid-West Muffler & Brake which is now one of Mid-West’s OK Tire franchise.
The project was completed in 2023 and included an expansion and complete rebuild of the OK Tire storefront and 5 new retail bays. In addition to OK Tire it is now home to Don’s Photo, Supplement World, Domino’s Pizza, and Smoke’s Poutinerie.
Mid-West and Capital Rivers Commercial have joined forces to develop and build a two-building medical office project in the Sacramento, California suburb of Elk Grove. Construction of the approximately 40,000 square foot development will start in August 2023 and will be completed in the summer of 2024. The site will become the long-term homes for Fresenius Medical Care, the world’s leading provider of products and services for people with chronic kidney failure and Welbe Heath, a leading physician-led senior health services provider.
Mid-West has partnered with Victoria’s premier condo builder, Abstract Developments, on a new construction project of a 99-unit residential condominium called “Central Block” in Esquimalt, British Columbia (adjacent to Victoria on Vancouver Island). Construction will start in August 2023 and will wrap-up in early 2026.
