Toronto, Ontario — Tropicana Community Services recently celebrated the graduation of its 2023 and 2024 classes in the Auto Body and Collision Damage Repairer 310B Pre-Apprenticeship Program. Marking 14 years of the organization’s dedication to skills development in the Canadian collision repair industry, the ceremony highlighted the program’s role in addressing the skilled labour needs of Ontario’s autobody sector.
Held at Centennial College, this year’s ceremony held special significance as, for the first time, graduates were awarded Certificates of Achievement from the college, recognizing their technical training and readiness for careers in collision repair. Tropicana’s President & Chair of the Board, Anthony Grey, and leaders from Centennial College joined family, friends and industry stakeholders in honouring the hard work and dedication that each graduate brought to their studies and hands-on work placements.
The Pre-Apprenticeship Program, funded by the Government of Canada as well as Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, provides tuition-free training to participants aged 18 years to 30 years, including academic upgrading; 12 weeks of technical instruction and valuable paid work placements. This rigorous 30-week program has equipped graduates with not only the skills required for entry-level work in autobody repair but also the confidence and experience to excel in a competitive field.
Awards were also handed out during the ceremony, including the Toyota Canada scholarship, facilitated through the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA). Through this two-year scholarship, recipients can access funds to further their education and training toward attaining a Red Seal Ontario Apprenticeship in the trade of Auto Body and Collision Damage Repairer 310B Apprenticeship. This year’s recipient is Nya Excell.
Tropicana also awarded the Class of 2024 Tropicana Community Services Student Success Scholarship to Dylan Christensen, Jay Patel, John Paul Mukhwana, Nkili Codrington The Tropicana Community Services Student Success Scholarship is a cash award, paid towards the recipient’s level 2 administrative fees, if they continue their apprenticeship career path. It is awarded to graduating students who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 4.0 or greater. We are proud to announce the following recipients.
Finally, the Community Award was given to retired auto body professor Jim Miles and Alan McClelland, retired dean at Centennial College. This award celebrates years of dedicated service, hard work and other valuable contributions towards the success of the Auto Body & Collision Damage Repairer 310B Pre-apprenticeship Level 1 program.
Tropicana’s community-focused approach extends to its industry partners, whose contributions play a vital role in supporting graduates through scholarships, employment opportunities, and hands-on industry exposure. The partnership with the industry is crucial and Tropicana’s collaborative efforts have paved the way for these graduates to begin fulfilling careers. As the demand for skilled trades grows across Canada, programs like Tropicana’s continue to fuel the collision repair industry’s future, preparing graduates to lead with professionalism and skill.
