06/19/2026
It’s business as usual at Niverville Car Wash at 114 Main Street in spite of a completely new ownership group operating under a very unique profit-sharing model.
In recent weeks, a familiar group of local businessmen have taken ownership of the Main Street car wash business. They’ve invited the Niverville Nighthawks and Niverville Fair to join them as shareholders in the venture.
As it’s structured, the hockey team and the community fair collectively own 15 percent of Niverville Car Wash. The balance is comprised of a managing ownership group which includes Bryan Trottier, Will Cuccaro, Jeremy Braun, Dan Harder and Ray Dowse.
So, to support the Main Street car wash means, at the same time, supporting your favourite local MJHL team and your annual hometown festival.
Dowse describes the five individual shareholders as people who are passionate about their community and want to find creative ways for non-profit organizations to achieve sustainability.
“The opportunity to collaborate with the Nighthawks, which are a community-owned non-profit organization, and of course the Niverville Fair, which is also a non-profit, this takes away or helps from the reliance on sponsorships and fundraising and stuff like that so they have more day-to-day income they can rely on that is outside of fundraising and donations,” Dowse says.
The collaboration of these specific not-for-profits is no accident. Dowse says they already share many of the same associations and resources.
“Dustin Krahn, who’s a big part of the fair committee, is also on the committee for the Nighthawks, so we’re always sharing ideas,” Dowse says. We're sharing some of the costs on different things between the two non-profits. So, this is just a real natural fit for us to collaborate on this endeavor.”
In some ways, this venture is a kind of pilot project for the group. If it works, and the ownership team believes it will, they can imagine the formation of similar alliances in the future.
The idea first came to Dowse when he was in Green Bay, Wisconson, touring the Lambeau Field where the Packers play.
According to Dowse, the Green Bay Packers are the only non-profit franchise in major professional sport. Like the Nighthawks, their shareholders hold no equity and receive no dividends.
“The [former] CEO of the Packers, Bob Harlan, transformed the fortunes of the team in the 1990’s from being a bottom revenue team in the smallest market in professional sports into an organization today boasting top ten annual revenues in the NFL,” says Dowse.
Prior to that, Dowse says the team was heavily dependent on gate revenue and game day sponsorships for their survival. Now, the facility can generate revenue all year round because they hold shares in property and businesses in the area.
“That tour in Green Bay provided me with new inspiration along with clarity,” Dowse concludes. “A properly structured non-profit has the means to not only survive but thrive.”
In the first few weeks of car wash management, Dowse said they’ve faced a number of hiccups and learning curves. He thanks the community for its patience as they work out the kinks.
Brenda Sawatzky, NivervilleOnline.com | Friday, Jun 12 2026, 5:00 AM
