SALUTE TO SUNRIDGE
CARSTAR has announced the grand opening of CARSTAR Sunridge, formerly Sunridge Collision and Glass.
Kaizen Automotive Group, which owns and operates CARSTAR Fort McMurray, CARSTAR Strathmore, Carstar Calgary NE and CARSTAR Calgary Blackfoot (Shaw), will now be operating CARSTAR Calgary Sunridge.
CARSTAR Calgary Sunridge is a 1,486 sq. m. (16,000 sq. ft.) newly renovated facility, equipped to handle repairs for all vehicle types. The shop features two downdraft paint booths, accommodating all light-duty vehicles.
With a team of experienced staff and seasoned technicians, including 18 full-time employees in the centre, CARSTAR Sunridge aims to serve as an excellent training ground for new apprentices entering the trade. Additionally, the shop holds Ford and Nissan certifications and is working to obtain additional certifications in the future.
At the time of the signing announcement, the facility was undergoing renovations set to be complete in the fall.
MAKE-A-WISH MAGIC
On July 24, 2024, CSN Harold’s auto body shop in Edmonton revamped the truck of 18-year-old Carter Laframboise, a recent graduate of Sturgeon Composite High School who lives with cystic fibrosis.
The desire to have the truck refurbished was granted to Laframboise through the incredible efforts of Make-A-Wish Northern Alberta. Bennett Douglas, co-owner of CSN Harold’s, expressed his appreciation to everyone who supported the event.
“Witnessing the joy and impact that Make-A-Wish brings to the lives of wish kids like Carter is truly heartwarming. We are honoured to have been involved with this project along with all the other supporters. It’s this community spirit that helps us make these dreams come true,” he said.
GLASS REPAIR GREATNESS
David Chester, technician and manager of a Speedy Glass service centre in Calgary, Alberta has become the first Canadian to win the Best of Belron Competition for auto glass repair and replacement.
The competition, which took place in Lisbon, Portugal from June 12 to 13, saw glass technicians from 30 countries competing in a variety of auto glass tasks.
Chester claimed the title of Best of Belron after excelling in windshield repair, windshield replacement, side-glass replacement and advanced driver safety assistance (ADAS) camera recalibration procedures.
During the competition, each of the four tasks performed by technicians was scored against a grid, including up to 95 steps, alongside measuring several key criteria, including work quality, customer service experience, respect to health and safety protocols and execution speed.
“Winning this title is the result of years of dedication and passion and would never have been possible without the incredible support from my colleagues and peers. It’s an honour to bring this recognition home and to inspire others in our extraordinary community to strive for excellence in their respective field or area of interest. Anything is possible when you set your eyes on a goal and work hard towards it, surrounded by the right people,” Chester concluded in a news release.
The competition, founded in 2002 is held every two years. To qualify for the global event, technicians must first qualify at a national level.
