In his book Notes For The Children: A Journey Through Life’s Broken Road, Pat Priestner offers a candid reflection on his remarkable rise in the automotive industry and the personal struggles he faced along the way. Beginning his career washing cars, Priestner eventually founded one of the largest dealer groups in Canada, CanadaOne Auto, but his path was far from smooth.
Drawing on thousands of notes from team meetings at his dealerships, the book was initially a professional reflection. However, with encouragement from his wife Diana and one of his daughters, Priestner added deeply personal stories, revealing a side of himself his children barely knew. In the opening chapter, Priestner recounts a chaotic childhood marked by alcoholic parents and financial instability. Despite these challenges, he says, “If the book helps anyone, I’m thrilled.”
In an interview, Priestner shared how his personal journey mirrors the hidden struggles many others experience, particularly the challenges that often remain unspoken. “We all have a story,” he said, noting that his transparency about his past was motivated by a desire to help his children and grandchildren understand his life better.
Priestner’s entrepreneurial journey began when he dropped out of university to sell cars, determined to avoid the financial hardships his parents faced. His determination quickly paid off—he became the top Chrysler salesman in Canada within his first year. From there, his career took off, and at the age of 26, he and his twin brother Mike bought into a struggling Chrysler dealership in London, Ontario. Within a year, the dealership turned around, and new car sales tripled.
However, the pressures of success took a toll. Priestner battled alcoholism, saw his first marriage end, and experienced a rift with his brother. But over time, he sought mindfulness practices and Buddhism, finding peace and balance in both his personal and professional life. He attributes much of his growth to working through his emotions and stresses the importance of this ongoing effort: “If you’re not working on that, your life is going to be pretty tough.”
Having founded AutoCanada, Priestner left the company in 2017. His book not only recounts his business success but also serves as a testament to his personal growth and journey toward contentment. All proceeds from the book go to Well-being Canada, a mental health initiative founded by Priestner and his wife Diana, which focuses on providing youth with wellness tools.
For more information, or to purchase the book, visit www.notesforthechildren.com or find it on Amazon.