BRITISH COLUMBIA | REGIONAL NEWS
BASH IN BURNABY After what felt like an eternity of COVID-19 restrictions, FinishMaster B.C. was finally able to hold its twenty-second annual trade show over the second week of September, as more than 250 guests gathered for the festivities and returned home with armfuls of gifts and prizes. The automotive refinishing company held their annual […]
New Chief in Town: AutoCanada appoints Azim Lalani to CFO starting Q1 2023
Toronto, Ontario — This new year will see more than a flip of the calendar for the team at AutoCanada, as the national MSO group has announced that Azim Lalani will take over as CFO at the beginning of the 2023 fiscal year. Lalani brings more than a quarter century of experience in the real […]
Holding Steady: ICBC files to freeze basic insurance rates for next two years
Vancouver, British Columbia — The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia has filed an application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) for no increase to basic insurance rates for the next two years. “Holding firm on ICBC’s basic insurance rate for two more years will help millions of drivers with their monthly bills amid global […]
Passing the Torch: CSN, Lift Group to carry on charitable traditions of former B.C. owner
Kelowna, British Columbia — When Lift Auto Group brings a new shop into its fold, it does not simply come with four walls, a ceiling and some equipment, but with a promise that the legacy of its former owner will live on; to that end, Methal Abougoush can rest assured that his annual Father’s Day […]
Light as a Leaf, Dead as a Brick: West Vancouver charging station bricks two Nissan Leafs in one night
Vancouver, British Columbia — Most every driver has experience with bad gas at some point—not the “too much coffee” kind, the kind from a pump. Well, an EV charging station in West Vancouver has drawn attention for being the first station in Canada to offer bad charges, rendering two vehicles inoperable before being removed. Within […]
Hert Reputations: Hertz to pay out $168 million for false car theft accusations
Toronto, Ontario — The Hertz car rental company is being forced to pay customers approximately $168 million by the end of the year, after falsely accusing an undisclosed number of customers of stealing rented vehicles. According to a press release from the company, this settlement will resolve more than 95 percent of pending theft report […]
Growing Pains: 2023 Vancouver International Auto Show cancelled
Vancouver, British Columbia — The Vancouver International Auto Show has been cancelled, marking the annual event as the latest in a series of cancelled regional auto shows. “For the last several months, we have been working with vehicle manufacturers and other partners in anticipating of returning in-person to celebrate the hundredth edition of the traditional auto […]
Putting it on Paper: B.C. to reinstate mandatory certifications for tradespeople
Victoria, British Columbia — The province of British Columbia is proud to announce more details in its plan to re-launch the provincial certification process for skilled tradespeople, under the name SkilledTradesBC. The province says the new organization, renamed from the Industry Training Authority, will work to “raise the profile of skilled trades, modernize trades training […]
Cash for the Furnace: Insurance bureau says ICBC on track to lose $298 million this year
Vancouver, British Columbia — The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) reported Friday that British Columbia’s crown insurance company is on track to record a financial loss of $298 million for this year. Vice president of IBC’s western and Pacific regions, Aaron Sutherland, called this update from the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) “incredibly disappointing” […]
‘Till the Wheels Fall Off: 70 percent of B.C. drivers holding onto current cars ‘much longer,’ BCAA survey says
Burnaby, British Columbia — High costs of living are causing many British Columbia drivers to hold on to their aging vehicles just a little while longer, according to a recent survey conducted on behalf of the British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA). The survey, carried out by Leger, found that 70 percent of B.C. drivers intend […]
