Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland — The best bodyshops can become like an extended family to their employees and CSN Precision Collision Automotive is no exception, as the team at the Grand Falls-Windsor, N.L. bodyshop banded together to give a very special gift to a young technician.
Eighteen-year-old Logan LeDrew started working at the shop in 2019 as part of a five-week program, which he then took full-time since graduating from high school. He has a developmental disability and has quickly become a beacon of positivity and work ethic for his co-workers.
“He comes to work with a smile every day and there’s absolutely nothing that I can’t get him to do,” said the manager of CSN Precision Collision, Barry Budden.
LeDrew’s presence at the shop is such a driving force for his colleagues that they jumped at an idea to say thanks to a friend.
“I was approached by some co-workers. They gave me the idea that they would like to do up a vehicle for Logan because he’s due to get his licence shortly. I went around to the rest of the co-workers and everybody was all for it. So I got the wheels in motion,” Budden said.
Budden and his team spent their weekends and overtime getting the vehicle fixed up for LeDrew, working with parts and the vehicle inspection donated from Dyke’s Auto Centre and paint materials donated from PPG Canada.
The front bumper on LeDrew’s car is even his own handiwork, thinking at the time that he was refinishing a customer’s car, until they handed him the keys.
“I was speechless,” said LeDrew. When asked what he loves about working in the shop, he said: “The people.”
For Budden and the team, the process was a pleasure through and through.
“It brings everybody closer together. They all worked on a project for one of their co-workers,” he said. “Logan’s general upbeat attitude just brings everybody together as well. You can’t wipe the smile off his face.”
