CONNECTING DOWNTOWN
In a recent press release made by CSN Collision network, CSN announced that it was excited to welcome CSN RSK Downtown to its network—a Tesla-certified and CCC-certified auto body shop in Hamilton, Ontario.
CSN RSK Downtown was originally founded by Sim Kalsi in 2010 while he was an undergraduate; “I grew up in the automotive industry. That fuelled my passion for working with cars, the craftsmanship and quality of tasks such as painting and repairing vehicles to their OEM specifications.” At its inception, the shop was located in a 3,000 sq. ft. facility. Since then, due to the shop’s success driven by its core values of integrity and quality, CSN RSK Downtown has expanded into its current 11,000 sq. ft. location.
Jasmin Sidhu and Sim Kalsi, owners of CSN RSK Downtown, are delighted to be part of CSN Collision, “We’ve wanted to become part of the CSN Network for a few years and finally joined in 2023. We were drawn in by the similarity of philosophy and the sense of community that CSN provides. It’s the right branding for us, CSN places us on a national stage. Not only do they continue to build our brand alongside network partners, but also create the best shared spaces for the inventive, creative, and driven minds of the collision industry. There are so many incredible success stories and with a diverse network standing behind you to provide support, it only amplifies our goal of rapidly expanding across the market.”
According to the press release, CSN RSK Downtown stated that it prides itself on its presence within the local Hamilton community, “We’re excited to break into an industry that’s often generational. We’re coming in with new ideas and concepts, combined with top end equipment and OEM certifications, to provide a luxury experience with the highest standards of craftsmanship in collision repair. Fostering a strong community is at the heart of our business and working collectively towards the common goal of building the downtown core helps us all thrive,” said Sidhu and Kalsi.
ACING IT
In a social media press release, Consolidated Dealers Co-Op revealed the details of the ACE conference’s successful final day–the event having run from October 18 to the 19, with opening networking activities having taken place on the 17th.
The event, which was held at the Fallsview Casino Resort and Convention centre in Niagara Falls, Ont., featured products and innovative technologies targeted to new-car dealerships, as well as presentations and panels directed to the automotive industry at large.
Key highlights from the three-day event included presentations from Lee Jeyes, head of innovation at Walmart Canada; an ACE “Hotstove” session with NHL legend Haley Wickenheiser, and sports journalist and host Rod Black; as well as discussions on incorporating artificial intelligence into business practices, after-sales retention and training, and the importance of addressing mental health in the workplace.
The final day of the event included breakfast and networking opportunities as well as discussions on “Leading Change, Creating a Culture of Engaged Teams,” with Neil Thornton, president and corporate strategist of Thornton Group.
Other panels during the day featured discussion on data usage in the automotive industry from economics to tracking scans and estimates. The purpose of the event was to highlight the ACE mission which aims to provide education, inspiration and insights to fuel the success and drive of business, while also creating meaningful and purposeful connections with industry partners who will support accelerations towards future goals.
JILL OF ALL TRADES
Centennial College hosted its second Jill of All Trades event on October 24 to help inspire young women in high school to consider careers in the skilled trades and technologies following graduation. The full-day event took place at Centennial’s Ashtonbee campus in Scarborough. More than 100 students from school boards across the GTA attended the event.
Students were able to participate in a variety of workshops designed to give them a chance to try out different aspects of the skilled trades. “Jill of All Trades is an important opportunity to inspire young women about the possibility of trades as a career path they can take,” said Michelle Solomon, outreach coordinator, Women in Non-Traditional Careers, Centennial College. “Trying out the skilled trades excites and empowers students to explore the options that are available in industries like construction and transportation.”
The College’s auto body workshop included activities such as using a plasma cutter to cut a design into a piece of sheet metal. A heavy-duty equipment workshop included activities like taking off and installing one of the over four feet tall wheels on a Caterpillar Loader. “Through first-hand experience, students learn just how rewarding the skilled trades can be,” said Alan McClelland, Dean, School of Transportation, Centennial College. “Centennial College operates one of the largest transportation technology schools in Canada, so it’s a natural site for a skilled-trades orientation like Jill of All Trades.”
The Jill of All Trades event was originally founded by Conestoga College and has been running since 2014.
ADVANCING AVIVA
Aviva AutoCare Centre, powered by CARSTAR, recently hosted a grand opening event to reintroduce themselves to the community as a trusted partner in collision repair for Aviva Canada customers who have experienced an accident. CARSTAR Mississauga North originally opened its doors in 2021 and has now partnered with Aviva Canada with the goal of offering time-efficient and quality repair to Aviva auto insurance customers.
This location marks Aviva Canada’s second Auto Care Centre in the GTA following the opening of their inaugural centre in early June. Aviva AutoCare Centre, powered by CARSTAR, is still located at its original location of 5340 Maingate Drive, Mississauga, Ont., just off the 401 Highway. The 10,000 square foot facility is staffed with an industrious team of knowledgeable and friendly faces that include customer service representatives, technicians, painters, and their leaders, Alzal Moledina and Nahid Daya.
“The opening of our second AutoCare Centre allows us to offer a quick, convenient, and high-quality auto repair experience for more of our customers in the GTA,” says Rosallie Papa-Reid, VP National Claims at Aviva Canada.
“We’re excited to partner with CARSTAR, a trusted business in the community, to help reduce the stress on our customers in their time of need.” The official grand opening took place on Friday, October 13 with members from the community and corporate representatives in attendance. Attendees were treated to light refreshments and lunch, followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony.
