A Small Town’s Legacy Under Siege

Imagine a small Canadian town, its main street lined with shops where wrenches clank and furnaces hum—a place known for decades as a hub for HVAC expertise and small engine repair. For over a century, these communities have worn their nickname like a badge of honor, a symbol of hard work, ingenuity, and pride. Now, in 2025, a U.S. corporation—Parts Town LLC—has sent a cease-and-desist letter to claim that legacy as their own, targeting partstowncanada.ca, my small business rooted in this tradition. This isn’t just a legal spat; it’s a battle for the soul of Canadian small businesses, and it’s enough to make your blood boil. At OEMHVACPartsCanada.ca, we’re fighting to protect our cultural heritage, and we’re calling on you to join us.

A Community Landmark, Not a Corporate Brand

Across North America, small towns often carry nicknames that tell their stories—think “Maple Syrup Capital” or “Fishing Village.” In places like Pulaski, Virginia, and Jackson, Michigan, the nickname “Parts Town” emerged over a century ago to celebrate thriving HVAC businesses and small engine repair shops. In Canada, towns from Manitoba to Ontario have shared this moniker, their streets alive with the buzz of technicians fixing heaters and lawnmowers. It’s not a brand; it’s a community landmark, etched into the cultural heritage of Canadian small businesses. For us, choosing “Parts Town Canada” was a nod to this legacy as we expanded from HVAC into auto parts and small engine repair. We’re not stealing a logo or mimicking a corporation—we’re honoring a tradition that predates Parts Town LLC by decades.

The Cultural Heritage of Hard Work

This nickname isn’t just a catchy phrase—it’s a living history. Since the early 1900s, Canadian small towns have been hubs for skilled trades, where HVAC technicians kept homes warm through brutal winters and small engine repair shops powered community life. These businesses weren’t just about fixing things; they were about building trust, sharing knowledge, and fostering pride. Annual fairs showcased local talent, with repair shops displaying gleaming carburetors alongside HVAC innovations. Families passed down skills, from tuning furnaces to rebuilding generators, creating a cultural heritage that binds generations. At Parts Town Canada, we’re part of this story, sourcing parts to keep these traditions alive while growing our offerings to include auto components. Our work reflects the grit and heart of Canadian small businesses, and we won’t let a corporate giant erase it with a legal letter.

A Cease-and-Desist That Defies History

In January 2025, Parts Town LLC fired their cease-and-desist at us, claiming our domain infringes their trademark. Their argument? That “Parts Town” belongs to them, a U.S. company selling restaurant parts. It’s absurd—like trademarking “Main Street” and suing every town with a similar name. Their trademark covers kitchen equipment, not our HVAC filters, auto gaskets, or small engine components. Yet, they’re demanding we surrender partstowncanada.ca, a site still under construction with a clear disclaimer: “Not affiliated with Parts Town LLC.” This isn’t about protecting their brand; it’s about bullying a small business into submission. They’re trying to claim a term that’s been part of North American culture since before their company existed, and it’s a slap in the face to Canadian small businesses everywhere.

Historical Evidence They Can’t Ignore

The history of “Parts Town” tells a different story—one they can’t rewrite. Let’s lay out the facts:

• In 1912, Jackson, Michigan, was dubbed “The Auto Parts Town” in local trade journals, celebrating its repair shops.
• By the 1920s, Canadian towns used “Parts Town” in flyers, with ads for “Parts Town Garage” in Alberta.
• A 1952 Manitoba directory listed businesses like “Parts Town Plumbing” and “Parts Town Auto.”
• In 1975, Pulaski, Virginia, hosted a “Parts Festival,” honoring local HVAC and small engine repair.
• 1980s classifieds across Ontario read, “Sale near the parts hub” or “Lost cat by the parts shop.”

This isn’t corporate branding—it’s community identity, as common as “Lake Road” or “Church Street.” Parts Town LLC claiming ownership is like trying to trademark “Canada Day.” The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) emphasizes that trademarks protect distinctive marks, not generic terms woven into cultural heritage.

Why This Fight Matters to Canadian Small Businesses

This battle isn’t just about one domain—it’s about the future of Canadian small businesses. If Parts Town LLC can claim a century-old community term, what’s next? Will corporations trademark “Maple Street” or “Prairie Town” and demand rebrands from local shops? The precedent is chilling. A bakery in Halifax, a mechanic in Saskatoon, or a craft store in Victoria could face similar cease-and-desist letters, forced to spend thousands on legal fees or lose their identity. The HVAC and small engine repair sectors, cornerstones of small-town Canada, are especially vulnerable. Rebranding isn’t just a cost—it’s a loss of history, recognition, and trust. We’re fighting to ensure Canadian small businesses can operate without fear of corporate overreach, preserving the cultural heritage that defines our communities.

The Emotional and Financial Toll

Running a small business is a labor of love—long hours, tight margins, and endless problem-solving. Add a legal threat, and it’s like shoveling snow in a blizzard. Parts Town LLC’s letters don’t just demand our domain; they drain our energy, pulling focus from customers to courtrooms. Legal fees stack up faster than snowdrifts, and the stress keeps you up at night, wondering if one wrong move could end it all. I’ve heard from other owners—a florist forced to rename, a café fighting a chain over “Brew”—and the toll is universal. Yet, we persist. At Parts Town Canada, we’re channeling that frustration into action, refusing to let a U.S. corporation bully us out of our heritage.

How We’re Fighting Back

We’re not backing down. Here’s our playbook:

• Transparency: This blog exposes every letter and claim, shining a light on corporate tactics. Knowledge is power, and we’re sharing it.
• Community: We’re building a network of Canadian small businesses through #ShareYourStory. Got a cease-and-desist tale? Join us.
• Legal Prep: With Pro Bono Ontario and CFIB, we’re ready for a CIRA dispute. They’d need to prove bad faith—good luck when our 12-year record is spotless.
• Advocacy: We’re pushing for fairer trademark laws, urging MPs to protect small businesses via the Trademarks Act.

Our site’s disclaimer and distinct focus—HVAC, auto, small engines—make their case flimsy, but we’re braced for a fight.

Supporting Cultural Heritage at HVAC Parts Canada

At Parts Town Canada, we’re more than a business—we’re stewards of tradition. For years, we’ve supplied HVAC parts to keep homes warm, sourcing from local vendors to bolster Canadian small businesses. Our expansion into small engine repair and auto parts honors the repair shops that keep communities running, from snowblowers to generators. We sponsor workshops, teaching kids to fix carburetors, ensuring skills endure. Our annual community fair, planned for summer 2025, will celebrate local trades, with booths for HVAC techs and engine tinkerers. This is cultural heritage in action, and no cease-and-desist will stop us.

The Role of Small Engine Repair in Our Legacy

Small engine repair shops are the heartbeat of small towns. They fix the mowers that clear fields, the generators that light homes during outages, and the snowblowers that conquer winter. These aren’t just services—they’re traditions, with skills handed down like family recipes. A grandfather teaching his grandkid to clean a spark plug isn’t just mechanics; it’s pride, continuity, and heritage. Parts Town LLC’s claim threatens this legacy, but we’re fighting to keep these shops thriving, supplying parts to ensure no community loses its pulse.

A Call to Action for Canadian Small Businesses

This fight is bigger than us—it’s for every Canadian small business guarding its roots. If they can target “Parts Town,” no name is safe. Here’s how you can help:

• Share this post on X or Reddit with #ShareYourStory. Let’s amplify the underdog’s voice.
• Email your MP, demanding stronger protections for small businesses under the Trademarks Act.
• Support us at OEMHVACPartsCanada.ca. Every order fuels this fight.
• Share your story at partstowncanada.ca. Have you faced corporate bullying? We’re listening.

Check out Canada’s small business protection page for resources, but we need your voice to push for change.

What’s Next?

This battle’s heating up, and we’re ready. Whether Parts Town LLC escalates to CIRA or court, we’re building a legacy that outlasts their letters. Our next chapter—detailed here—digs deeper into the history they’re trying to erase, connecting our fight to a century of small-town pride. Win or lose, partstowncanada.ca will remain a beacon for Canadian small businesses, a testament to why cultural heritage is worth defending. Stay tuned, and let’s keep the fight alive.