Top Trainer: Amir Farrokh appointed new chairman of Skills/Compétences Canada auto repair committee
Blainville, Quebec — Skills/Compétences Canada’s (SCC) National Technical Committee for Autobody Repair has appointed Amir Farrokh as the committee’s new chairman. A technical trainer at Fix Network’s training centre in Blainville, Que., Farrokh will be tasked with developing a testing framework for identifying talented autobody students and apprentices in provincial skills competitions before they go […]
OYAP, Bud: Ontario gov. increases funding for youth apprenticeship program
Whitby, Ontario — Contending with a skilled trades gap that isn’t getting any smaller, the Ontario government has announced that they will be expanding the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP). This expansion will see an additional $2.9 million in funding for OYAP, bringing the government’s total investment in the program to $20 million. Currently, OYAP […]
A New Chapter: Ontario looking to expand Second Career Program, extend training credit
Orillia, Ontario — Looking to make a change? The Ontario government has proposed to expand the Second Career Program and extend the Ontario Jobs Training Tax Credit to help Ontarians pivot their lives toward learning a new skill. Ontario Premier Doug Ford made the announcement from Orillia Truck and Auto Recyclers on Monday. First introduced […]
Double Header: CCIF to host two webinars in first week of Dec., EV safety and recruitment
Toronto, Ontario — Clear your schedules, because CCIF has a couple of webinars on the calendar for the first week of December that will see industry experts tackling the latest in EVs and recruitment. On Dec. 1, Mark Millson of Excellence Auto-Collision is slated to present before a virtual CCIF audience, talking about the critical […]
Fall Fair: Pfaff Autoworks to host job fair at Markham Porsche Centre
Markham, Ontario — If you’re a technician out there looking for an in at a top-tier bodyshop, Pfaff Autoworks’ Markham location may have just the opportunity you’re looking for, as the shop gears up for a job fair next week. On the calendar for next Tuesday from 3-7 p.m. at Pfaff’s 8590 McCowan Road Porsche […]
Networking Together: Rivian repairs, shop culture and straightening covered at Spanesi Interactive Week day four
Naperville, Illinois — Spanesi America served up another three courses of aftermarket insight on Thursday as Interactive Week wraps up its fourth day. The day opened with a discussion of Rivian’s recently launched collision repair certification network with the automaker’s network manager for North America, Frank Phillips. Phillips spoke to the various ways that the […]
It Takes a Village: N.L. bodyshop bands together to fix up car for 18-year-old tech
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 […]
Investing in People: Dave Luehr to host webinar on technician development
Toronto, Ontario — Dave Luehr will be joined by a pair of representatives from I-CAR during his webinar on Tuesday to talk technician development and what shop owners can do to make the most out of their staff. “As a body shop owner or manager, you are clearly aware of the necessity to develop technicians […]
Stepping Stones: Thompson Rivers University launches Women in Trades Exploratory Program, to start in September
Kamloops, British Columbia — In the effort of breaking down the barriers of gender in our industry, Thompson Rivers University has announced its Women in Trades Exploratory Program, set to kick off in September. Students accepted into the program will learn the basics of welding and automotive technician work, on top of a number of […]
Ford’s Failure: Ontario has not enforced mandatory credentials in skilled trades since 2018, CBC reports
Toronto, Ontario — Since 2018, the government of Ontario has not enforced its law requiring skilled tradespeople to maintain the mandatory credentials needed to do their job, CBC News reported Wednesday. Yes, you read that right. For three years now, the Ontario government has allegedly failed to make sure tradespeople are actually licensed to be […]
