Saskatchewan offers abundant opportunities
When you think of Saskatchewan, you probably think of vast grasslands, agriculture and friendly people; but did you know the province is home to some of the most progressive collision repair centres in Canada?
Saskatchewan has its own association of automotive repairers, dubbed SAAR, which goes to great lengths to advocate for the collision repair industry in the province. In 2020, all Saskatchewan bodyshops were required to achieve I-CAR Gold Class (or an equitable certification) and satisfy a list of tooling and training requirements via the Safe and Quality Auto Repair Project.
The prairie paradise of Saskatchewan has plenty of positions available to collision industry professionals—especially those seeking the latest collision repair techniques, from ADAS calibrations to specialized BETAG training courses and more. Learn more about the opportunities waiting in Estevan or Prince Albert in this issue’s feature focus.
ENJOY LIFE IN ESTEVAN
If you like golf, hockey, motorsports, curling or hunting, Estevan might be the place for you. Estevan has a population of just under 15,000 and is situated a mere 16 kilometres from the Canada-United States border. With two golf courses, an international motor speedway, a bustling curling rink and a top-notch hockey team in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Estevan resident and owner of CARSTAR Estevan, Bill Fonstad says you’ll never be short on things to do.
“You should never be bored in Estevan. We have the same facilities that any big city offers, only we have plenty of affordable houses, and acreages, to choose from.
“TS&M Woodlawn has a very good junior golf program,” says Fonstad. “And the motor speedway is excellent—a lot of Americans come up here for that.” Estevan is known as the “energy city,” says Fonstad, with two coal mines and two power plants, on top of a thriving agricultural industry. “We have a hospital, some very good schools and plenty of daycare or preschool options.”
CARSTAR Estevan has been around since 1985 and went by Ideal Auto Body before Fonstad signed with CARSTAR in 2020. “Most of our work is collision repair—we have lots of deer hits, even moose hits, around here. “The Estevan area is for good hunting—and not just with your car.” It’s good for job hunters, too.
“Estevan has traditionally low unemployment rates. You won’t look very long for work if you’re ever looking for a job.”
To learn more about life in Estevan and opportunities available at CARSTAR Estevan, contact Bill Fonstad at 306-634-2815, or scan the QR code on this page.
BE PART OF P.A. AUTOBODY
If you hate traffic, you’ll think Prince Albert, Saskatchewan is one of the best places on earth.
“If you drive 100 kilometres, it’ll take an hour. There are no traffic jams; you will not sit in your car for 45 minutes just waiting. About 90 percent of our staff go home every day at lunch,” says Shane Goller, owner of P.A. Autobody and TBS Collision in Prince Albert. “Geographically, Prince Albert is a northern community—anyone going north through Saskatchewan funnels through Prince Albert,” says Goller.
The housing market is strong, with the average family home under $300k, and there are plenty of opportunities in recreation, from the arts to indoor or outdoor sports and beyond. “We support recreational programs in the city, and there are a lot of them,” says Goller. “Hockey is huge here, and it’s very affordable to put your kids in sports.”
Prince Albert has plenty to offer outdoor enthusiasts, too, with a network of trails for walkers or cross-country skiers, and “great snowmobiling trails,” too, says Goller.
There’s no shortage of employment opportunities in the city, which touts a population of 50,000 and a trading area of 250,000. “Income is certainly not less here—the sky is really the limit,” says Goller.
P.A. Autobody is the perfect place for the person who loves to learn. “We really preach staying on top of training and new tooling. We pride ourselves on what equipment we use for repairs, and I truly believe we have the best-trained, best technically certified shops in the city.”
P.A. Autobody requires staff to be indentured or obtain journeyman status. To learn more about opportunities in Prince Albert, contact Shane Goller at 306-764-4967 or scan the adjacent QR code.
