Bodyworx 6#4

SPECIAL EDITION OF

TONAL SHIFT: THE PAINT COLOURS THAT WILL DOMINATE ROADS IN 2020!

BODYWORX THE VOICE OF COLLISION REPAIR TECHS & PAINTERS

PROFESSIONAL Regal

Repairer How Tristan Johnson-England pairs pageants with collision repair!

Celebration

Donation 95-year-old Regina Auto Body gives back!

PRIDE OF the

INDUSTRY

Canada's high school auto repair champs take on their next big challenge—building careers in the automotive sector!

+Plus how auto apprenticeship saved SAIT student Clayton McCoy’s future; Paul Carter, Dean of Sask Polytech’s School of Transportation talks the college’s future goals; NAIT instructor Cecile Bukmeier on the power of women in the industry; and much, much more!

Visit bodyworxmag.com Winter 2020 l $7.95 l Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40841632 l 86 John Street, Thornhill, ON L3T 1Y2

CONTENTS

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CANADA’S AUTOTECH CHAMPIONS How Ontario high school students Sam Luff and Vince Servinis took home Toronto’s AutoTech title under the tutelage of their automotive teacher, Jason Rehel!

12 IN THE HEADLIGHTS

16

See what is new in the industry with news, training opportunities, emerging technologies and some of the strongest headlines coming out of the automotive sector!

16 VIVA LAS VEGAS See what this year’s SEMA Show brought to the Strip!

20

20 PRAIRIE POWERHOUSE How Saskatchewan Polytechnic is staying ahead of the college collision curve!

ON THE COVER Sam Luff and Vince Servinis look back on their win at the 2019 Toronto Automotive Technology Competition.

Photos by: Centennial College

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CONTENTS

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26

24 CUE THE BLUES PPG says blue was a popular automotive shade this year—which colours does PPG think will dominate roadways in the coming years?

26 BRAINS, BEAUTY AND BODYWORK

36

How Tristan Johnson-England manages her two passions— pageants and collision repair!

REGULARS 06 PUBLISHER’S PAGE

by Darryl Simmons

28 WOMEN IN AUTO 36 VIVAT REGINA How Mike Mario and the team at Regina Auto Body decided to celebrate the shop’s 95th anniversary!

by Cecile Bukmeier

30 STUDENT SUCCESS

by Ben Hart

31 A SENSE OF PURPOSE

by Clayton McCoy

40 PRODUCTS Check out new products and updates designed to make painting a breeze!

32 A SHADE GREENER

by Rob Kraft

46 FINAL DETAIL

by Allison Rogers

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PUBLISHER’S PAGE

BODYWORX THE VOICE OF COLLISION REPAIR TECHS & PAINTERS

VALUABLE ASSETS The premium on auto repair technicians

I

PUBLISHER Darryl Simmons 647.409.7070 publisher@collisionrepairmag.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Gideon Scanlon 905.370.0101 gideon@mediamatters.ca

BY DARRYL SIMMONS

t may come as a surprise, but the largest business expense for collision repair facilities isn’t the high-tech machinery, nor property costs. It is labour.

A trained auto repair technician is a highly valuable commodity for business owners—and it is always great to be valuable. For one thing, the people who make their livings in bodyshops can expect their wages to consistently rise faster than inflation—which they have. For another, auto technicians enjoy more job security than those working in sectors where the workforce is considered expendable.

In short, if you are a hard-working, dedicated professional, finding a rewarding, wellpaid position in the auto repair sector isn’t just normal—it is expected. In fact, as more new technology arrives in the auto shop, the price owners are willing to pay for experienced repair professionals with a track-record of keeping up with the latest repair procedures is increasing at an even faster rate.

Unfortunately for members of other professions, job security and a straightforward career path isn’t always to be expected.

A few years ago, algorithm-based apps created waves in the legal community. Where, for years, the majority of new graduates would find positions as articling students at law firms, these unprecedented precedent-scanning tools made the positions obsolete. As articling was the penultimate stage of legal training—coming after law school, but before taking bar entrance exams—this shift meant the long-established path to becoming a lawyer suddenly fell apart. Imagine—getting all the way through an undergraduate degree, through law school and then having one’s career ambitions halted by an app!

Of course, the fact that employers are willing to pay a premium for top techs doesn’t necessarily mean the industry is right for everyone. While the demand for trained repair technicians grows, the North American collision sector is, for the first time in a long time, seeing an increase in the number of people entering it. This means competition for postsecondary course spots is also increasing, as the rate at which colleges can increase their

PROFESSIONAL

enrolment numbers is, in most circumstances, slower than the increase in applicants.

If you have an interest in automobiles and are hard-working, dedicated and driven enough to succeed in a demanding environment, there is a good chance you will be able to break into the industry.

If you are such a person, I encourage you to do some research on programs offered at different colleges. Not only do different colleges have different approaches and facility capabilities, but some have quirky specializations that you may be particularly drawn to.

If you have an interest in automobiles and are hard-working, dedicated and driven enough to succeed in a demanding environment, there is a good chance you will be able to break into the industry.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Allison Rogers allison@mediamatters.ca STAFF WRITERS Elizabeth Sargeant elizabeth@mediamatters.ca Samuel Houpt samuel@mediamatters.ca GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jill Thacker jill@mediamatters.ca VP OF INDUSTRY RELATIONS & ADVERTISING Gloria Mann 647.998.5677 advertising@collisionrepairmag.com DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Ellen Smith 416.312.7446 ellen@mediamatters.ca CONTRIBUTORS Cecile Bukmeier, Ben Hart, Clayton McCoy, Rob Kraft

SUBSCRIPTION One-year $25 / Student Discount is 10%

Bodyworx Professional™ is published quartely, and is

dedicated to serving the professionals of the collision repair industry. It is published by Media Matters Inc. Material in Bodyworx Professional™ may not be reproduced in any form without written consent from the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising and disclaims all responsibilities for claims or statements made by its advertisers or independent columnists. All facts, opinions, statements appearing in this publication are those of the writers and editors themselves, and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions or endorsements by the publisher.

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New technology may be taking the sheen of some traditionally well-regarded career paths, its arrival in automobiles is only adding lustre.

Were I a young person looking for a career that would offer me engaging, rewarding work with a clear path forward, I would be wise to seriously consider becoming an auto repair technician.

66 BODYWORXMAG.COM BODYWORXMAG.COM || BODYWORX BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL

“We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.”

Bodyworx Professional is published by Media Matters Inc., publishers of:

TRAINING

DIRECTORY

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ON THE COVER

CANADA’S AUTO TECH CHAMPIONS Toronto Automotive Technology Competition champs Sam Luff and Vince Servinis

By Gideon Scanlon

L

ast winter, in the hours after the 2019 Toronto Automotive Technology Competition, Sam Luff and Vince Servinis could not shake the same dark thought from their minds.

How did we go so wrong?

Replaying each stage of the gruelling competition, they both found themselves doubting more and more of the heat-of-the-moment decisions they had made. As the judges prepared to announce the top three teams, both students, from St. Brother Andre Catholic High School in Markham, Ontario prepared themselves for disappointment.

When the winners were announced, the boys did not recognize the third-place team.

In second place, however, was the other team from their high school. Then, the winning team was announced—Sam and Vince sat stunned before being cheered forward.

“It is easy to focus on all the little mistakes you make when working under pressure,” says Vince speaking to Bodyworx Professional close to a year after his victory. “But it was an amazing moment for me.”

“One of my proudest,” says Sam. “It was such a surprise.”

During the competition, which was held during the Canadian International AutoShow

last February, Sam and Vince went head-to-head against 18 other high school teams to perform a number of timed technical tasks. Sam and Vince also worked on a Volkswagen Beetle that had been rigged with a no-start condition by Centennial College’s automotive instructors.

Sam and Vince credit their success to one man—Jason Rehel.

Mr. Rehel, as they know him, taught both boys through four years of automotive classes in high school. He also coached them for both competitions, along with the second-place team, Ethan Wong and Alessandro Albi, at the Toronto competition..

“It was a proud moment for all of us,” says

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Jason, who had coached another team to victory in 2017. “We’ve immortalized it with a plaque in the classroom.

2019 marked the third consecutive year a team from the Markham high school claimed the trophy.

As a direct result of Sam and Vince’s performance, the pair served as the sole Canadian entrants to the National Automotive Technology Competition in New York last spring. The boys were set to compete against a field of 29 other teams, each the champions of a regional-level competition similar to the Toronto Automotive Technology Competition.

“We knew it was going to be a difficult show

ON THE COVER

FINAL DETAIL

“As educators, we know that our classes aren’t going to be for everyone. If we can get a student interested in any course, though, we can help provide them a path to follow. That’s why it is so important to give young people the chance to try as much as possible in school.”

—Jason Rehel

(Left) Sam Luff and Vince Servinis performed timed technical tasks and worked on a new Volkswagen Beetle that had been rigged with a no-start condition by automotive instructors from Centennial College.

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ON THE COVER

Sam and Vince weren’t the only winners from St. Brother Andre Catholic High School—their classmates Ethan Wong and Alessandro Albi, also taught by Jason Rehel, snagged second place.

going in,” Vince says. “The U.S. competitions aren’t like the ones in Canada—and so we had a lot to familiarize ourselves with going in.”

Despite the differences between the challenges and tools used in the American showdown of champions, the boys did Canada proud.

They place 12th, well into the top half of the elite field.

“It was wild. We had not expected all the people, but we didn’t let that stop us from focusing on the challenges,” Sam says.

“We were really proud to represent Canada there.”

Today, Sam and Vince are absorbed in their post-secondary courses.

Vince is studying motive power engineering at Centennial College. Sam is enrolled in a Bachelor of Automotive Engineering Course at the Ontario Institute of Technology. They book look forward to rewarding careers in different ar-

eas of the automotive sector.

While both Sam and Vince are looking forward to spending their lives around vehicles, both are clear on the fact that the lessons they learned in Mr. Rehel’s class would have been valuable to them had they chosen different paths.

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“Mr. Rehel made learning fun in a way we both found really engaging,” says Sam. “He never complained about all the overtime hours he spent with us.”

“After four years, you get to know these young men and women,” said Jason. “You get invested in helping them.

I’m glad when they say that I’ve made a difference.”

“There are a lot of practical life skills packed into those courses,” says Vince.

“Anyone who drives—or ever plans to—really should know the basics. Changing a tire, checking oil and basic maintenance aren’t things people always get the chance to pick up.”

“He’s a great teacher,” says Vince. “We first met him in Grade 9, and both signed-up for his classes right through high school.He made us feel passionate about automotive skills.”

“We learned a lot about problem solving and thinking through doing tasks—in a much more hands-on way than in other classes,”

ON THE COVER

FINAL DETAIL

says Sam. “That is a valuable lesson for anyone.”

Jason is glad his students feel his lessons were of value beyond whatever they planned to do in their careers. In fact, he believes both to be walking demonstrations for the value of vocational training at the secondary level.

“As educators, we know that our classes aren’t going to be for everyone,” says Jason. “If we can get a student interested in any course, though, we can help provide them a path to follow. That’s why it is so important to give young people the chance to try as much as possible in school.”

Sam tests his skills at the steering, suspension and brakes station.

2020 TORONTO AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY COMPETITION What’s in store for the 21st annual competition The upcoming 2020 Toronto Automotive Technology Competition will be held during the Canadian International Auto Show on Wednesday, February 12 at the Metro Convention Centre. Pre-selected two-person teams from high schools across Southern Ontario will go head to head diagnosing, repairing and correcting vehicles purposefully outfitted with faults and operating problems. Contestants will also face five workstations designed to test their abilities and knowledge of technical automotive repair.

Students currently studying automotive services technology at the secondary level are eligible for competition.

Registration for the 2020 competition is now open!

To register your school, visit transportation.centennialcollege.ca.

Registration is open until January 17, 2020.

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IN THE HEADLIGHTS

INDUSTRY PORSCHE’S PARTS PARTY Porsche Canada has opened its first national parts distribution centre, strategically located near many of the province’s 400-series highways in Mississauga, Ont.’s Heartland Town Centre. Operations commenced on October 1, and Porsche will use both ground and air delivery to ship parts to its 19 Canadian dealers. The 100,000 sq. ft. facility is also just 17 kilometres from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport and 65km from Hamilton, Ont.’s John C. Munro airport. Porsche did not reveal how much the new facility cost, but the brand has been doing well in the Great North: it sold an unprecedented 8,904 vehicles in 2018, up eight percent from the 8,249 vehicles it sold in 2017. At the time of the centre’s opening, Porsche’s 2019 vehicle sales were up five percent, with 6,796 vehicles sold in the first three quarters of the year.

Porsche opened its very first Canadian parts distribution centre on Oct. 1.

ROBO RELIANCE

SITE SEARCH

We may never be able to fully rely on AI solutions in collision repair facilities, says James Spears, founder of Spears Consulting Group. During Guild 21’s recent conference, in which Spears was a guest speaker, the consultant gave caution toward using AI software as a crutch. Spears says we may never have 100 percent reliance on AI, though he is fascinated by its use in the Will we ever be able to rely on AI? James Spears says no. industry. He believes the software “helps us get in the right direction” during a repair, but still asked the question: “How well would the consumer be protected if we completely let AI do estimates?” He concluded, “every factor–newer materials, ADAS systems, sensors–would need to line up perfectly as to ensure we’re not putting someone’s life at risk, I hope we never get to that 100 percent reliance.”

The Ontario government has announced its first-ever job site challenge.

The challenge aims to identify construction-ready sites where automakers or manufacturers could invest by building a large plant, creating both direct and supply-chain jobs for the province.

The challenge invites municipalities, economic development agencies and industrial property owners to propose potential ‘mega sites’—large plots of land between 500 and 1,500 acres that are already zoned, or could be, for heavy industrial use. The province will be accepting proposals between January 1 and March 31 and will judge the land according to predetermined criteria. When a list of potential sites is acquired, it will launch a marketing campaign showcasing the sites to potential investors. The first locations are expected to be made available to investors in the fall of 2020.

PROCEDURE PRESSURE “Every single vehicle, every single make, every single model,” is the sentiment passed from Mike Anderson, consultant at Collision Advice, regarding his views on researching OEM guidelines for cure times. During his presentation at the Global Finishing Solutions booth at this year’s SEMA Show, Anderson showed examples from OEM documents demonstrating a wide range of curing temperatures and time requirements he feels are not being taken into account by repairers. Not only do the specific requirements for curing times and temperatures have a wide range, but repercussions for missing them do, too. Anderson warns that, while the effectiveness of paint and adhesion could be jeopardized, this could also cause further damage could to electrical systems. When it comes to EVs, this could mean killing the central battery. Anderson also spoke to the complexity of painting near ADAS sensors. With ADAS technology and curing guidelines alike, he advises repairers look to OEM procedures when refinishing.

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BRAND NEW BANNER Uni-Select took the stage at AAPEX in early November to announce a new banner program coming to Canadian repair facilities in 2020.

The Bumper to Bumper collision repair banner program, catering to independent repair facilities, will aim to foster customer loyalty in local communities. Uni-Select has operated its Bumper to Bumper—Canada’s Parts People program for auto parts wholesalers since 2006, but the new collision repair-focused program aims to foster customer loyalty in local communities. Uni-Select’s existing banner, the Uni-Pro program, will continue offering its services to any shops choosing not to rebrand.

Uni-Select CEO Brent Windom also issued awards to the company’s suppliers—including SureWerx, pictured above, and PPG Canada—at AAPEX.

IN THE HEADLIGHTS

FINAL DETAIL

TECH TRENDS IN THE LOOP

SMASHING SUCCESS

Construction has begun at the General Motors assembly plant in southern Oshawa, Ontario. Come the facility’s closure at the end of December 2019, GM will be transforming the site into a trial track for autonomous and electric vehicles.

The oval-shaped track is part of a $170-million investment announced in May, with which GM hopes to position itself on the cutting edge of autonomous and electric vehicle technology development in Canada. The track will run just under a quarter-mile—or 0.40 kilometres—in length, with banked curves to allow the tested vehicles to operate at normal or high speeds during trials. There will be two straight sections of roadway on the inside of the track, as well as service roads to surrounding buildings. According to GM Canada, the track will also be modelled after Canadian highways to allow for more accurate real-world testing scenarios.

Tesla’s all-electric pickup truck is finally here—and it is certainly something.

On November 21, Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed the long-promised Cybertruck. The stainless steel alloy truck—which has been dubbed a “large metallic trapezoid” by even the biggest of brand fans—will come in three versions, with a 250-mile range (402 kilometres), 300-mile range (484km) and 500-mile range (564 km). According to Musk, the Cybertruck can reach speeds of 60 mph (0 to 96.5 km/h) in just 2.9 seconds, while the top-tier version can travel just under half a kilometre in 10.8 seconds. The truck also features Tesla Armor Glass, which Musk coined “metal transparent glass,” deeming it unbreakable. A demonstration was held on stage with a Armor Glass prototype and a metal ball, but when it came time to test the integrity of the truck’s actual Tesla’s first all-electric pickup, windows, they shattered the Cybertruck. when hit with the testing ball. Musk looked uncomfortable as he watched on, saying, “maybe that was a little too hard,” after witnessing the scene. The Cybertruck starts at US$39,900 for the 250-mile range version; the 300-mile range adds US$10,000 to that tag; while the 500-mile variant is said to wrack up a bill of US$69,900. With the launch, Tesla is dipping its toes into one of the most profitable corners of the U.S. auto market, as pickup trucks account for one in every six vehicles sold in the States.

AUTOMAKERS IN THE AIR

In an effort to rise above the rest, Porsche has signed a memorandum of understanding with Boeing to begin developing a concept for a luxury electric-powered vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Working alongside Boeing’s subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences, Porsche aims to develop a working concept for an eVTOL aircraft—which operates like a helicopSAFETY SYSTEM SKEPTICS ter—to “explore the Nearly half of Canadian drivers believe advanced vehicle safety premium urban air technologies pose a risk to overall road safety, according to a mobility market and the extension of urban study published by Desjardins Insurance. The study explored traffic into airspace.” what Canadians really think about advancing vehicle techOther companies are nology—specifically opinions on the usefulness of advanced Porsche has its head in the clouds with its new concept. also pursuing flying car safety systems such as automatic braking and lane-departure endeavours, including warnings. Results showed, while 51 percent of respondents premium automaker Daimler, which recently invested in believe safety features are necessary to make roads safer, 48 percent of drivers think that vehicle safety technologies pose a risk to road safety. an all-electric air taxi startup, Volocopter.

TACTICAL TORONTO The City of Toronto’s Automated Vehicles Tactical Plan, which was unveiled October 17 and outlines the city’s plans to be AV-ready by 2022, has been green-lit by the Toronto city council. Developed by Toronto’s interdivisional working group on automated vehicles, which is comprised of dozens of divisions and agencies, the strategy includes five projects the city plans to pursue over the next three years: an automated shuttle in the West Rouge neighbourhood; specially implemented zones dedicated to autonomous testing and transportation innovation; the development of AV testing responses and incident preparedness protocols; numerous public education initiatives and human interaction tests and further research and development.

Toronto plans to be fully prepared for autonomous vehicles by 2022.

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IN THE HEADLIGHTS

TRAINING EV EDUCATED

INSTRUCTION INVITATION

The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is taking a step in a greener direction, as the college plans to launch a new electric vehicle training program in the new year. After receiving financial support from government organization CleanBC as well as completing a pilot project, BCIT has announced it will be launching its newly developed EV Maintenance Training Program, whichis designed to assure that the province’s workforce has the skills and training needed to support more electric vehicles on the road. B.C currently boasts the highest number of EVs in Canada, with about 30,000 EVs on its roads. BCIT has said it is also planning to develop an EV curriculum for electric buses and heavy-duty trucks.

In early November, Pro Spot took to the Top Golf centre in Las Vegas, Nevada to perform product demonstrations for Pro Spot’s trending equipment, inform the industry of the company’s plans in 2020 and to announce a training initiative for experienced technicians—including those in Canada. The program, which has been in development for six months, aims to bring Pro Spot’s distributor technicians to Carlsbad to receive full factory training. Ewing even said the program would be available to Canadian technicians. “We would like to bring the program up to Canada, but we just don’t have the resources to do that,” said Ewing. “We just think it’d be more beneficial to bring the Canadian techs down to Carlsbad. And you know what, taking a trip down to Carlsbad in the middle of January—it doesn’t sound too bad!”

Pro Spot announced a new training initiative during SEMA week.

RED SEAL READY

British Columbia’s Ashton College has launched a new program, offering Red Seal online preparation courses for six Red Seal trades, including automotive technician. Ashton College, which has two B.C. campuses—one in Vancouver and another in Abbotsford—will now offer prep courses for Red Seal’s carpenter, plumber, construction, electrician, industrial electrician, heavy equipment operator and automotive technician programs. The online courses may be pursued from anywhere in Canada and will help students review all the trade-specific concepts and theories necessary to challenge and successfully pass the Red Seal examination. Led by Red Seal certified, the program will use assignments and multiple-choice tests to prepare students for the Red Seal exam.

EDUCATION ENDOWMENT

BASF recently donated $200,000 worth of paint supplies and equipment to the Collision Repair Education Fund.

Automotive refinishing students across North America can look forward to new spray guns, paints, materials and other equipment, thanks to an estimated $200,000 donation from BASF. The Collision Repair Education Foundation received the donation and the materials will support multiple automotive refinish programs at several schools in the United States. A portion of the donated spray guns will be available through an upcoming CREF student scholarship and tool grant program set to begin in early 2020.

BASF also raised funds for the foudation during a private event at SEMA.

ONTARIO’S ON IT The provincial government is taking steps to address skills shortages by expanding its investment in pre-apprenticeship training by more than $2.5 million. On November 8. Ontario’s government passed the Modernizing the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Act, 2019 to help transform skilled trades and apprenticeship programs. Ontario will provide an additional $2.5 million in funding for local colleges and community organizations to deliver pre-apprenticeship training programs, which give students invaluable experience and knowledge in the trades, as well as foundational job skills.

The expanded investment will fund 91 projects across the province, including the Tropicana Employment Centre’s Auto Body and Collision Damage Repairer program, and will prepare more than 1,800 Ontarians for careers in the skilled trades.

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Ontario has announced additional funding for the skilled trades.

IN THE HEADLIGHTS

FINAL DETAIL

BELIEVE IT OR NOT MUSHING IN MONTANA American authorities dealt with a peculiar low-speed pursuit last week when they were forced to chase down a runaway dog sled in a snowstorm. The incident was captured via dashcam from a police cruiser in Billings, Montana. The video shows the sled dogs—travelling rogue and without a driver—sprinting over an overpass and leading authorities on a low-speed chase for several blocks. Two police cruisers were involved, but the dogs remain unfazed as they attempt to slow them down, with the pack veering in between the cruisers at every chance they get. Jen Mignard, the pack’s owner, said she was out practicing with her pack when she fell off the sled—and her team continued without her. “The dogs work together amazingly as my team,” said Mignard.

“I thought, ‘Well this is no good,’ but I was sure they would just go back to my pickup.” Immediately after losing her pack, Mignard posted a local Facebook group for lost pets, asking for information or any recent sightings. Luckily, The pack was eventually stopped near a residential side street and Mignard was able to pick them up from the local animal shelter the next day.

BLAST FROM THE PAST

FAST AND THE FURRIEST

What do you do when you accidentally purchase a turbojet engine instead of a regular turbine engine? Well, if you live in Amish country, you attach it to a wooden cart to create a jet-powered buggy, of course. When an auto enthusiast purchased what is essentially a miniature jet engine instead of a regular turbine engine for an upcoming build, he decided to make the most of his mistake and construct a jet-powered buggy.

While the buggy tops out at speeds between 88.5 km/h and 96.5 km/h, that is a heck of a lot faster than any horse could ever pull it. Even if it is not that quick, you can’t deny the buggy puts on an impressive show—the blue flame that spews from its backend has left crowds mesmerized. According to its builders, the jet-powered buggy will be used in upcoming drag racing exhibitions across the U.S.

A viral video of a dog that took its owner’s car for an hour-long spin around a Florida neighbourhood has been making its rounds this week, triggering chuckles across the internet. When left alone inside the running vehicle, the large black dog somehow managed to pop the gearshift into reverse.

As the car lazily spins around the cul-de-sac, the pup hangs out, peering out the windows at the crowd gathering on the sidewalk. As the Mercury Sable sedan circles the street, it can be seen taking out garbage A Florida pup took its owner’s car for a spin—literally. cans, recycling bins—even a neighbour’s mailbox—though the pup never strays outside the designated roadway. The canine joyride eventually came to an end when police were able to break into the car via its keypad and unleash the pet from inside. The car’s human driver has promised to pay for the damaged mailbox, and police were happy to report that the dog was perfectly fine—though he now has need for speed.

When a man bought a jet engine instead of a regular turbine engine, he attached it to a buggy and hit the road.

BAD HAIR DAY When a woman witnessed an explosion that shattered her Honda Civic’s sunroof, she was left shaken, shocked Be wary of what you store in your centre console! and absolutely baffled as to what caused the blast. It wasn’t until 15 minutes later when the woman’s daughter located a bottle of dry shampoo with the bottom blown off that they realized the aerosol container, which had been stored in the centre console for a full day, had been heated to the point of combustion. The canister had burst, blowing the console cover off its hinges, shattering the car’s sunroof and landing 50 feet away from the Civic.

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SEMA SHOW

MAYHEM IN THE MOJAVE All that North America’s largest aftermarket trade show had to offer!

By Sam Houpt

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SEMA SHOW

FINAL DETAIL

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f you went down to Las Vegas looking for some auto aftermarket-themed excitement, this year’s SEMA Show had it in spades. If you missed out–no sweat–Bodyworx Professional has your back! Our staff had their cameras ready to capture the big moments, bright smiles and warm reunions seen on the convention floor.

John Turner, general manager for SATA Canada, and Sam Houpt of Media Matters.

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SEMA SHOW

Kayli, Ronald and Ronald Kemperle II of Albert Kemperle.

Left to right: Heidi, Jason Couillard, JP Kleniewski, Gretel, John Turner and Michael Murphy.

‘Crazy painters’ Tom and Mitch Kelly visited PPG’s booth to sign autographs.

BATTLE OF THE

BUILDERS (Left) Jim and Mike Ring of Spring Green, Wisconsin took home the top prize with their 1969 Chevrolet Camaro.

(Below) Darin Smith’s 1972 Chevrolet C10 shortbed was named the bestbuilt truck during the competition.

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SEMA’s annual ‘Battle of the Builders’ competition recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of SEMA vehicle builders. The competition is a fan-favourite, as it gives enthusiasts and fans a chance to learn the stories behind the unique builds, get to know the builders and be inspired along the way.

Winners were crowned in four categories: ‘Sport Compacts’, ‘Truck/Off Road’, ‘Young Guns’ and ‘Hot Rods’.

In the Sport Compact category, T.J. Russell won with his 1991 Porsche 911. Louie Shefchik was named a finalist for his work on

(Left) T.J. Russell won the ‘Sport Compact’ category 1991 Porsche 911 build.

(Below) 25-year-old Luke Merrill won the ‘Young Guns’ section with his 1940 twodoor Chevy sedan.

SEMA SHOW

FINAL DETAIL

a 1968 Iso Rivolta, while Edison Sarkisyan’s 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder was also recognized.

Darin Smith’s 1972 Chevrolet C10 shortbed was named the best-built truck/off road vehicle.

Finalists Erik Barnlund and Randy Borcherding were recognized for their 1972 Ford Bronco

and 1955 Chevrolet truck, respectively.

Luke Merrill’s 1940 Chevrolet two-door sedan mesmerized crowds during the ‘Young Guns’ section, which celebrates builders under 27 years of age. Kyle Ray’s 1988 BMW E30 and Brad Swaney’s 1971 Chevrolet C10 were also impressive as finalists.

For ‘Hot Rods’, honorable mentions went to Eric Peratt’s 1936 Ford Roadster and Gary Corkell for his 1932 Ford Phantom.

In the end, there could only be one winner.

Jim and Mike Ring, known as the Ringbrothers, not only dominated the Hot Rod category with VALKYRJA, their 1969 Chevrolet Camaro—also snagging the overall prize of ‘Top Ride’.

One car took the name ‘ignited’ a little too literally and burst into flames during its final drifts at SEMA Ignited.

Known as the SEMA Show afterparty, SEMA Ignited is held at the Platinum Lot and features food, music, demonstrations and, of course, lots of drifting.

SEMA IGNITED Held on the Platinum Lot, this event was held as the culmination of the week at SEMA. Custom cars made from around the world came to life during the SEMA Cruise, before parking in the lot for closer inspection from the public. All Battle of the Builders finalists were in attendance as live music and a banquet

kicked off the night.

Guest circulated among the food trucks stationed around the lot while Formula Drift gave drifting demonstrations. One car took the name ‘Ignited’ too literally and burst into flames during its final drifts, though, thankfully, no one was injured, and the festivities soon

continued. Nitro Circus wowed the crowds with stunt shows in the center ring, with Cackle Cars—restored dragsters from the ‘60s—blasting their engines in flame-filled, deafening roars to ensure that all senses were overloaded in this final send-off to a vehicle-appreciative week.

SEMA VEHICLES OF THE YEAR These awards were announced just in time for the SEMA Show so buyers and onlookers would know exactly which brands to keep an eye out for.

Ford took home the ‘Car of the Year’ award with its signature Mustang, with the ‘Truck of the Year’ award handed over to Chevrolet

SEMA’s 4x4/SUV of 2019.

The Polaris RZR was the Powersports Vehicle of the Year.

for its Silverado. The Jeep Wrangler was named the ‘4×4/SUV of the Year’ while Audi placed first in the ‘Sport Compact of the Year’ category with its RS 3. Finally, the ‘Powersports Vehicle of the Year’ which was given to the Polaris RZR.

Ford’s signature Mustang was named Car of the Year.

SEMA’s truck of the year.

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SCHOOL PROFILE

Sask Polytech’s 16-week Automotive Painter program is offered jointly through the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission.

The trades college offers its auto repair programs at two of its four campuses— Regina and Saskatoon.

The Regina campus’ Auto Body Technician programs commence each January and are marketed almost entirely toward international students.

PRAIRIE POWERHOUSE Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Auto Repair

By Allison Rogers

S

askatchewan Polytechnic’s auto repair programs generated some excitement recently, as the trades college became the first—and only—post-secondary school in Canada with I-CAR Gold Class Certification.

To achieve the certification, Sask Polytech was required to train all its faculty members according to I-CAR’s Platinum level—the highest tier of individual I-CAR certification—which then allowed the facility to apply for Gold Class certification.

The school, which has four campuses throughout the province—one in Moose Jaw, another in Saskatoon, one in Regina and one in Prince Albert—was also the first school in the nation to become a Certified Collision Care provider, according to Paul Carter, Dean of Sask Polytech’s School of Transportation.

“Our certifications really demonstrate our commitment to quality, as well as our commitment to not only meet, but exceed the requirements that are placed on our industry,”

Carter told Bodyworx Professional. “We want our industry partners to feel confident that the equipment we are using, our instructors and our taught techniques are high-standard, up-to-date and relevant to the industry. We don’t see OEM procedures as an upcoming change—this is current state stuff.”

Sask Polytech offers two auto repair programs.

First, it oversees the in-school portion of the Automotive Painter apprenticeship, which is offered through the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission.

The 16-week applied certificate teaches painters-in-training how to dismantle and assemble vehicles, hammer out small dings, prepare, prime and refinish vehicle panels as well as repairing paint defects.

At the end of the program, students spend a week in an auto bodyshop to sample their newly acquired skills.

Sask Polytech also offers a one-year Auto Body Technician certificate, which is

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designed to arm students with a solid foundation of repair knowledge, as well as the practical applied skills required for working Bodyworx Professional spoke to Paul Car ter, dea n of Sask Polytech’s School of Transportation, to lear n more about its auto rep air programs.

SCHOOL PROFILE

FINAL DETAIL

in collision repair and surrounding industries.

Students receive practical training in the areas of basic and advanced metal work, basic and advanced painting, benchwork and safe working procedures, door servicing, glass installation and electrical systems, industry communications, welding and more.

“Our auto body techs are trained in a variety of tasks, but you could find yourself specializing in painting, frame and wheel alignment, glass installation or body repair,” said Carter.

According to Carter, approximately 50 students are enrolled in Auto Body Technician program annually, with 24 students at the Regina and another 24 attending the Saskatoon campus.

The Regina campus’ one-year repair program is marketed almost entirely toward international students, but it welcomes domestic students if there is space.

And who said learning can’t be fun? According to Carter, the students have their fair share of fun in the shop, unleashing their creativity on a variety of repairs—even classic restorations.

“This really is a great trade—fun, even,” said Carter. “Our program fixes late-model

vehicles, heavy hits, total-loss vehicles—so the students are working with the newest technology but also completing restoration work on classic cars—just because it’s fun.”

When asked what he would tell students

considering a career in automotive repair, Carter beamed.

“If you like cars, being an auto body technician is like being a magician—these techs can really fix anything!”

The one-year Auto Body Technician certificate aims to prepare students with a basis of repair knowledge and hands-on skills required for working in the industry.

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GOT SKILLS? Adriana LaGrange, Alberta’s minister of education, and Demetrios Nicolaides, minister of advanced education, received a welding lesson from local grade 12 student Sigrun Chipman.

A SCORE FOR SKILLS CANADA ALBERTA Province increases skilled trades funding

By Allison Rogers

I

n a refreshing end-of-year announcement, Alberta has said it will be increasing skilled trades funding, enabling more youth to pursue and learn about careers in the trades and showcase their talents on a national stage.

Over the next four years, Skills Canada Alberta funding will be increased to $8 million. Each year the organization will receive $2 million, up $500,000 from the previous yearly commitment of $1.5 million.

The increased funding aims to help expand exposure to trades and technology at junior high and high schools, as well as enable more high school and post-secondary students to compete at regional, provincial and national skilled trades competitions with Skills Canada Alberta.

Adriana LaGrange, Alberta’s minister of education, and Demetrios Nicolaides, minister of advanced education, celebrated after a welding lesson from local grade 12 student Sigrun Chipman and following the announcement of new funding to support Skills Canada Alberta

and skilled trades education.

“Skills Canada Alberta gives students the opportunity to learn practical skills, explore their interests and learn from industry professionals,” said LaGrange. “Participation in the competitions provides valuable hands-on experi-

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ence in a specific trade or profession and opens their minds to so many career opportunities.

This helps prepare future generations for the workforce and gives them the job-ready skills to ensure employability after high school and success in our economy.”

Muhammad Afzal, 2019 WorldSkills competitor and cover star for last month’s issue of Bodyworx Professional, shares what Skills Canada Alberta has done for him.

GOT SKILLS?

FINAL DETAIL Ministers LaGrange and Nicolaides celebrate the news after their welding lesson.

“Alberta’s high number of talented apprentices is a result of the strong links between industry, government and education stakeholders,” said Ray Massey, president of Skills Canada Alberta.

“We greatly appreciate this government’s support of Skills Canada Alberta as we work to promote respected careers in the trades and technologies and ensure apprentices have the skills they need to succeed. Their success is good for Alberta.”

In addition to increased funding for Skills Canada Alberta, the province announced significant funding for apprenticeship learning programs. It will be tripling its scholarship funding through a new $1.5-million high school apprenticeship program, which consolidates previous programs and will help more high school students access the education and training needed to get jobs in the trades.

It will also provide $10 million over the next four years to the Women Building Futures program to help create more opportunities for women to explore the skilled trades and get the training they need to launch careers in a variety of occupations.

Alberta will also bring increased funding to its CAREERS: The Next Generation program to more than $6 million a year by the 20222023 season. Through the program, the province aims to provide 6,000 students with paid internships and further skilled trades and technologies learning opportunities in junior high and high schools.

Finally, the province provided Skills Canada Alberta with $200,000 to support its recent participation in the 2019 WorldSkills international competition, which was held in Kazan, Russia, in August and saw four young Albertans compete among 1,300 apprentices from more than 70 countries globally.

“It’s great to see people talking about Skills Canada,” 2019 WorldSkills competitor Pascal Doiron told Bodyworx Professional.

“You hardly ever hear about it in the news at all, and there are so many young people out there that could have the same amazing experiences I did if they only heard more about it.”

WINTER 2020 | BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL 23

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A BIT OF COLOUR

FEELING

BLUE? PPG’s cyan-tific findings say blue is 2019’s automotive colour of the year

BY ALLISON ROGERS

A

ccording to PPG’s coatings division, the general consumer—now, more than ever—has a desire to make a statement with their vehicle, whether it be through the bold hues they choose to sport or the brands they buy.

As the consumer shifts toward self-expression, more outlandish colours—like violet-toned chromatic shifts and complex shimmers on vibrant shades—have been making a comeback.

Bold purples, striking oranges and lemon-zest yellows may still be few and far between on North American roads, but one bold colour gained some significant ground this year—blue.

In late November, PPG unveiled its 2019

automotive colour trends, revealing a rise in the popularity of blue vehicles in North America.

According to PPG’s findings, blue was the most popular automotive colour in North America this year—next to neutral shades like black, white, silver and gray—with 10 percent of this year’s automotive builds sporting a version of the shade.

Other countries shared the pigment’s popularity; Europe saw the largest number of consumers choosing blue for their vehicles in 2019 at 11 percent—up one percent from last year. The Asia Pacific saw seven percent of consumers adopting blue as their shade of choice, but only two percent of South American

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vehicles sport the hue.

Globally, eight percent of vehicles manufactured this year were blue-toned.

According to PPG, the popularity of blue vehicles is expected to rise in the next four years, as the hue offers many nuanced shades that can be transformed with different pigment effects, fine or coarse metallic flakes, luminous micas and sparkling glass flakes.

PPG also said the shade’s popularity could be linked to the desire to escape from technology and reconnect with natural elements, such as the sea and the sky.

Silver also gained some ground, with the shade’s popularity increasing by five percent

A BIT OF COLOUR

FINAL DETAIL

since last year. Consumers seem to be steering away from white, as the shade’s popularity dropped four percent this year.

“We see bolder colours making a comeback in many consumer segments,” said Jane Harrington, PPG manager of colour styling and automotive OEM coatings. “The versatility of automotive blues—from light sky blue to rich indigo—allows consumers to make a statement while also ensuring the colour maintains a certain level of productivity.”

The themes represented in PPG’s colour

TIMELY TONES PPG’s 2020 trends palette predicts the incoming colour trends of the next three years. The brand examined rapid changes taking place in the core areas of human experience—technology, climate and globalization—to construct a palette of automotive colour trends believed to continue in the marketplace between now and 2023.

According to the company, the automotive shades of the future will reflect the following three themes:

trends palette—which the company has titled ‘Flow’—represents rapid changes taking place in three core areas of human experience: technology, climate and globalization.

And the colours span more than just automotive shades—according to the PPG paint brand, consumers also tend to gravitate toward blue tones in their homes and electronics. Earlier this year PPG announced its 2020 colour of the year, ‘Chinese Porcelain’, a blend of cobalt and moody ink blue that is said to impart calmness, hopefulness and restful sleep.

1. ON THE MOVE PPG says this theme represents joyful creativity and unexpected colour combinations, including saturated spectrums with layered tint effects that express high-energy mobility.

2. AT THE CORE This theme is grounded and balanced in simplicity and well-being. The palette shows subtle ceramic tones with a “nostalgic influence.” This theme’s fundamental shades include blues and natural greens representing environmental responsibility and conscious consumption.

3. IN THE KNOW A theme that connects nature with technology, including neutral shades with metal-inspired gold and copper tones.

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INDUSTRY PROFILE

Tristan Johnson-England has two passions—autobody work and beauty pageants.

The passionate painter hopes to someday own her own business.

BRAINS, BEAUTY AND BODYWORK

How Tristan Johnson-England blends beauty pageants with auto repair

BY ALLISON ROGERS

A

t ten years old, Tristan Johnson-England sat in the backseat of her parents’ car as it cruised down the Saskatchewan countryside. When it passed a proudly displayed bodyshop with its doors wide open, Tristan spotted a painter inside.

As she watched him airbrush intricate designs on the car’s body, Tristan begged her parents to pull over so she could sneak a closer look.

When they obliged, she dashed away from their sides and took post beside the painter.

She was mesmerized.

“Ever since that day, that’s what I’ve wanted to do,” she told Bodyworx Professional.

Once old enough, 23-year-old Tristan from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, attended Saskatchewan Polytechnic, successfully obtaining her Auto Body Technician certificate and completing the first and second levels of her work placement.

She has dreams of finishing her autobody schooling to officially become a journeyperson and aims to later work in business operations before eventually opening her own aftermarket facility.

“That was the original plan, at least,” said Tristan.

Her career path took a U-turn four years ago. While enduring a late-night study session prepping for her autobody technician exams, she happened to spot a Facebook post advertising a local beauty pageant. Intrigued by the idea and looking for a hobby to fill her spare time, she decided to fill out an application.

“The next day during exams I got a phone call, and that’s how it happened,” she said.

“It wasn’t something I had really been wanting to do or had even thought about. I just saw the ad and thought, ‘oh, cool, something to pass the time.’”

Four years down the road and Tristan holds the title of Miss International Tourism Canada.

She recently represented Canada in Malaysia while competing in the Miss Tourism International pageant. Tristan was among forty contestants from forty countries, all vying for the crown and title of Miss Tourism International 2019.

It is no secret that her two passions are drastically different. Rather than succumb to

societal norms, Tristan chose to tackle her dreams head-on, blending beauty pageants with collision repair and bodywork.

Even though the pageant world cascaded

Pursuing beauty pageants was never in Tristan’s plan—she discovered the program through a Facebook ad and the rest is history!

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INDUSTRY PROFILE Tristan recently represented Canada at the Miss Tourism International Pageant in Malayasia.

upon her by chance, Tristan has found some elements to be helpful to her career as a collision repairer.

“The confidence aspect really ties the two together. There’s a lot of confidence training with beauty pageants and I feel like a lot of that empowerment has directly translated into what I’m doing for work. I think it’s really made me more confident in myself and my repairs.”

And, as a painter and a pageant queen, Tristan now has two creative outlets.

“There’s a lot of creativity within pageants.

Yes, it’s more with clothes, hair and make-up, but you channel the same creativity that you channel in the bodyshop,” she told Bodyworx Professional. “It’s the same as if you’re airbrushing a vehicle. You must channel the same sort of creativity to make something beautiful.

And, if you’re having a bad day creativity-wise, you should not be in that paint booth.”

According to the beauty queen herself, this past year has been a test of Tristan’s determination.She had to hit the books are learn the basics of fashion, make-up, styling and walking in high heels.

After working with National Defense and the Cadet program this past summer, Tristan only had one month to prepare for her international competition. She decided to take a brief step away from the automotive sector, but said she is eager to get back to it.

“I’m looking to get back into my autobody work once I’m done with this competition season and representing Canada in Malaysia,”

FINAL DETAIL

she said. “It’s something I am extremely passionate about—especially airbrushing. It’s so much fun and the materials and methods are always changing, so you’re constantly on top of what new models are like and exactly what you need to be doing to repair them” Now, Tristan wants to pass on what she’s learned to future generations of trades workers.

While navigating her two passions can be tricky due to their stark differences, Tristan wants other young girls who are considering entering a career in the trades to embrace her stick-to-itiveness.

“If you have found something that you are super passionate about, you should never care about what other people are saying to you,” said Tristan. “If you like to deal with wires and really want to be a technician, stop worrying about what the haters have to say. You should worry about what you want.

“You will always have a family and friends there to support you, so if someone is trying to be rude or mean or put you down, it doesn’t matter. After all, you’re the one who is doing it, not them.”

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INDUSTRY INSIGHT

WOMEN IN AUTO Welcoming women to the collision repair industry

BY CECILE BUKMEIER

W

omen have been working on vehicles since they were invented—there was even an automobile Girl Scout badge created for girls who demonstrated skills in driving, mechanics and first aid in the early 19th century.

Automobile manufacturing plants were open to hiring women to sew upholstery, assemble and final polish mass-produced vehicles to support industrialization. During the war, more than one million women entered the Canadian work force for the first time.

available before. There was a huge shift in traditionally women’s industries, from food processing and textiles to industries like heavy manufacturing and vehicle production. Some factories even preferred women workers for some tasks because they were detail-oriented and suited to delicate work.

Women who were working in these jobs enjoyed and excelled at them. They worked alongside their male counterparts doing the same tasks, often for lower wages.

The women’s movement in the 1960s

force as they got married and had families.

Today, many women still carry the majority of childcare, housework and care in their households. Finding a career with flexible work arrangements that can help accommodate childcare needs has always been a challenge. Choosing to enter a non-traditional career often seems like another layer of responsibility to an already complex life.

On top of that, there is often a negative perception towards skilled trades, with the assumption that these jobs are low paying,

I believe the industry is woman friendly. People are more accepting to the idea of having women in the back of the shop and trusting their knowledge of vehicles. Not every shop or scenario is the same, but many are progressing towards a diverse workforce. Not everyone will enjoy getting their hands dirty, that is not a gender stereotype, it is just personal preference.

There was initial reluctance to allow women into new, non-traditional fields of employment.

However, as the war continued, the country soon realized it needed more contribution.

Incentives were introduced to attract women into the workforce, and they took on many skilled trade occupations that were not

demanded better working conditions, equal pay and made many women aware of their independence and their right to control their own lives. At the end of the war, soldiers returned home and incentives for women in the workplace were withdrawn or phased out.

Women were encouraged to leave the labor

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physically demanding and less academically challenging.

People search for a career that is empowering and rewarding for their life and society still tells youth to focus on obtaining a degree to start a career they do not enjoy, without even considering the skilled trades. Skilled

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

FINAL DETAIL

trade careers require dexterity, stamina and hand-eye coordination, they provide the ability to undertake new skills that will help perform various tasks with confidence.

Being able to volunteer with Skills Canada has allowed me to meet other women across the country working in the repair industry and share insights on trends in their area. A common challenge all women face working in non-traditional careers is being underestimated. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean the shops or other technicians are to blame—a lot of the technicians today do not judge others based on gender, but on technical ineptitude. As anyone gains more knowledge and experience, they increase their skills and, in turn, prove that they can handle the tasks required to succeed in this industry.

The challenge of ‘proving yourself’ is common across the auto body trade. Each repair has different challenges and you must show your skills and precision on each task, every time. It takes a long time, and many failed attempts to become proficient. Men and women are both capable of building the strength and skill needed to work on vehicles. Women are meticulous by nature and being precise comes with the territory of collision repair. Their approach to a job could be different in terms of detail and

organizational skills.

The problem is not that women are not capable—I think women just aren’t as interested in doing auto body because of the perceptions of shop culture. The environment employees work in, the attitudes and the way staff interact all play a part in shop culture.

I believe the industry is woman friendly.

People are more accepting to the idea of having women in the back of the shop and trusting their knowledge of vehicles. Not every shop or scenario is the same, but many are progressing towards a diverse workforce.

Not everyone will enjoy getting their hands dirty, that is not a gender stereotype, it is just personal preference.

There are many jobs that collision repair can include. I never knew where my career could take me when I first started in the industry.

I was only interested in getting to work on cars and learning how to do things right so I could be proud of what I did. As I progressed, I came to realize how diverse the industry is and how many different pathways I could take. Technician, estimator, detailer, trainer, sales representative, insurance adjustor, parts managers—to name a few examples.

It is always a struggle for the first few women in a shop environment because they are the ground breakers–they must break

the misconceptions and accept that they will be one of a few in the industry. Connecting with and networking with women across the industry creates a community. Even if you are the only women in a shop in the entire town, there are ways to become part of a community using online forums, social media groups and networking opportunities through events like the Women’s Industry Network, Skills Canada and CCIF. Women who are currently in the collision industry play a crucial role in the recruitment of other women. They need to be mentors and champions, building other women up and helping them to pursue a position in the skilled trades. We need to support each other. Connecting with like-minded individuals and even sharing some common struggles help to develop a community.

I believe the collision industry is seeing a positive increase of women entering, but there is still a long way to go. We need to continue to attract, develop and advance women and I believe we will come to a point where it is not rare to have women working in the shop or being involved in the repair industry. Coming together and promoting what we love about this industry will make other women feel like they are wanted and appreciated and have a place here.

Cecile Bukmeier is an autobody instructor at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. She can be reached at CecileB@NAIT.ca.

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STUDENT PROFILE

STUDENT SUCCESS How auto body apprenticeship helped Clayton McCoy get his life back on track

BY BEN HART

S

ince his arrival at SAIT, Clayton has been an inspirational student for many of his peers and instructors. He has consistently demonstrated an abundance of traits pertaining to good work ethics.

I first met Clayton when he attended SAIT for his second period of technical training.

Right off the bat, his knowledge and attitude clearly displayed his vast potential. His growth continued as he progressed through his third

and tribulations.

So, why am I mentioning the story of his past? Clayton has been an excellent student and is truly an asset to the trade. My comments are 100 percent genuine and do not require the qualification of his past.

Defining Clayton as a good technician—for a recovering addict is truly an insult. He is a good technician, period.

The next question that arises is that, if I

and hard work can pay off-they are not unobtainable ideals or worn our rhetoric. I hope this article and Clayton’s story is able to reach many readers and provide inspiration for them amid their own struggles.

This article is not actually about myself, about the school or even about Clayton. The article is about inspiration.

I am a huge supporter of the trades. I wholeheartedly believe the trades provide a

I am a huge supporter of the trades and believe the trades provide a lifechanging career and lifestyle that is suitable for people of all backgrounds.

Race, gender and previous life choices can all be left out of the equation if you’re a hard worker and have a willingness to learn.

and fourth periods of technical training.

Towards the end of Clayton’s second period of training, he disclosed his past concerning his recovery process. At that point, I did not know what his addiction was to, nor did I know about the other deleterious events that he had experienced years before. My knowledge of Clayton’s past remained stagnant all the way into the fourth period when he and I discussed this article.

It was not until I read Clayton’s first draft that I began to relize the extent of his trials

truly feel this way, why mention his past in this article at all? That answer is simple: Perhaps there are some readers who may be dealing with their own addictions or other obstacles.

The moral of the story is that perseverance

life-changing career and lifestyle that is suitable for people of all backgrounds. Race, gender and previous life choices can all be left out of the equation if you’re a hard worker and have a willingness to learn.

Ben Hart is a Red Seal autobody technician and refinisher with nearly two decades of experience in the industry. For the past two years, he has instructed apprenticeship programs at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). He can be reached at ben.hart@sait.ca.

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STUDENT PROFILE

FINAL DETAIL

A SENSE OF PURPOSE How I learned success through auto body apprenticeship

BY CLAYTON MCCOY

A

pprenticing has been one of the best things I have done since my recovery from addiction.

Like many addicts, my childhood was rough and led me down a well-trodden path of addiction, criminality and brief incarceration. It led me to neglect my responsibilities to my family, community and myself.

Thanks to SAIT’s Autobody Technician Program, I was able to recover from my addiction—but it’s surely been an uphill climb.

With the help of support workers in my initial recovery centre, I had wracked my brain for interests and applied them to any career suggestions. As a child, I had always loved to tinker and fix things—I looked back to being six years old and helping my grandfather fix his tractor, a huge smile plastered on my face as we drove it around the yard.

I knew long before entering the initial 90-day

recovery program that I’d need to find a job after to keep myself afloat. With no credible skillset on paper, I had no idea where to start.

Armed with my interests and little else, I ventured off and applied to every auto body shop I could find. Nearing the end of the day, I walked into one shop, shared my story, and— much to my surprise—they gave me a shot.

It gave me an opportunity to wipe the slate clean. I soon discovered that it didn’t matter if I lacked experience in this area yet, all I needed was to demonstrate my loyalty to the trade and a willingness to work hard and learn.

I later applied to SAIT’s apprentice program and was accepted.

I was initially scared to start my first year of school—although I later learned I was great at it. My grades were the highest in my life.

I realized I had always been lost and with so many obstacles preventing me from reaching

Clayton McCoy is a student at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, where he is enrolled in the Auto Body Technician Apprentice program. He can be reached at mccoyrepairs@gmail.com.

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It gave me an opportunity to wipe the slate clean. I soon discovered that it didn’t matter if I lacked experience in this area yet, all I needed was to demonstrate my loyalty to the trade and a willingness to work hard and learn. my potential. The auto body trade was my first employer that unleashed my potential for growth and learning.

There have been accolades, but they have been worthwhile. My efforts and passion in the industry have allowed me to rise above and grow rapidly in the trade, and I am proud to say that I have been a top student in my class year after year.

My goal in the trades is to teach and help others become successful. In the meantime, I will continue to strive for excellence at this stage of my journey. Working in this trade, I wake up every day and am excited to go to work because I am continuously learning so much. My efforts and passion have allowed me to rise above my past.

I have so much gratitude: towards the industry, for giving me a shot when I had no experience, to my instructors that have shown me dedication and hope in this trade.

Apprenticing gave me a great sense of purpose and was the first notable achievement of my life—outside of recovery, of course.

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READER RESPONSE

PAINTER’S CORNER Calling on the paint and solvents industry for better environmental awareness

BY ROB KRAFT

D

id you know that the paint and solvents industry has been emitting consistent levels of volatile organic compound emissions since the 1990s? That’s nearly 30 years of methodic air pollution.

And what’s been done about it within the industry? Within the tens of thousands of bodyshops across Canada? Very little.

For those that do not know, volatile organic compound emissions—or VOC emissions— are solvents that are released into the air as paint dries. They can be found in many

demonstrating air pollutant emissions for all of the top-emitting industries—whether it be the manufacturing, gas and oil, home woodfire burning, and so on. The two industries with the largest volatile organic compound (VOC) air pollutant emissions numbers are none other than the gas and oil industry and the paint and solvents industry.

According to data from Statistics Canada, 18.5 percent of Canada’s VOC emissions in 2017 were born from the paint and solvent industry—which is only second to numbers

on reducing its VOC air pollutant emissions.

From 1990 through 2017, the industry’s VOC emissions have remained at consistent levels. In 1990, paint and solvents were the second-place contributor and produced 357.5 kilotonnes of VOC emissions. In 2000—395.9 kilotonnes. And it only got marginally better from there, with the industry remaining at consistent levels through 2010, when it produced 316.4 kilotonnes of VOC emissions.

In 2017, the most recent data provided by Canadian records, the industry contributed

The main discussion needs to be why there hasn’t been any discussion in regulatory changes along with mandatory enforcement for immediate environmental sustainability within our automotive paint and refinishing industry. The reality boils down to the fact that, until we start talking about our startling consistent levels in VOC emissions and the factors leading us toward 30 more years of consistent numbers, all is for naught.

popular compounds, including adhesives, aerosol coatings and even household cleaning supplies. Moreover, a reaction occurs when the invisible chemicals come into contact with natural sunlight, where nitrogen oxide and ground-level ozone are emitted—two of the main components of smog.

In recent years I have researched statistics from Environment Canada on climate change

from the gas and oil industry.

Contributions from the gas and oil industry can be understood; the industry is stable in Canada. There will always be more cars on the road, and there will always be Canadians that need fuel to heat their homes.

What can’t be understood is the fact that the paint and solvent industry has seriously neglected practical measures and discussions

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334.6 kilotonnes of VOC emissions.

Why has nothing changed for nearly three decades? It’s fairly simple—there have not been enough regulatory changes by the federal government, nor mandatory enforcement when it comes to VOC emissions. It personally startles me that it remains perfectly legal to paint a car in your backyard, openly releasing considerable amounts of VOC emissions into the atmosphere.

READER RESPONSE

FINAL DETAIL

While the federal government has taken steps to regulate both manufacturers and suppliers, little has been done to enforce the VOC emissions being emitted from the tens of thousands of body shops across Canada. And further than that—I’ve come to learn that trades colleges often teach decades-old procedures and practices to our young, impressionable students. I’ve hired young staffers that, when they step into the

shop, cannot believe how opposite today’s advanced procedural applications are versus what they were taught in schools.

The main discussion needs to be why there hasn’t been any discussion in regulatory changes along with mandatory enforcement for immediate environmental sustainability within our automotive paint and refinishing industry. The reality boils down to that until we start talking about our startling consistent

levels in VOC emissions and the factors leading us toward 30 more years of consistent numbers, all is for naught. Something needs to be done.

Rob Kraft is the owner and operator of Moncton, N.B.’s Flawless Automotive Paint Repair. He can be reached at robtk@mail.com.

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SURVEY RESULTS

TOO MUCH TECH? Repairers want to give advanced product solutions ‘a good old college try’ before purchasing

By Allison Rogers

I

n the age of rapidly increasing technology, the auto repair sector has seen its fair share of eye-catching product solutions.

Ultraviolet lamps promising to slice paint drying times in half, reducing times to fractional numbers; or diagnostic scanners allowing technicians to remotely dial in and receive assistance with repair procedures.

The waves of new products are coming in tides— and all with innovative and impressive promises.

Bodyworx Professional asked its readers what they think about the so-called state-of-the-art solutions of today—and, while only half said they always kept up to date with the latest products, only 25 percent believed that these sophisticated solutions can truly help provide even faster, more efficient repairs.

That doesn’t mean they were not willing to

take today’s tech for a test drive.

These new products often promise to streamline repair procedures by allowing technicians to look up procedure guides remotely, and without stepping away from the vehicle they are repairing—and product development teams seem to be hitting the marker here.

More than 60 percent of respondents agreed they feel their workflow is disrupted when they step away from a vehicle to look up a procedure.

Another 37.5 percent said they never feel their workflow is disrupted.

One reader pointed out that modern diagnostic solutions—when used correctly—will often help reduce repair times by providing accurate diagnoses.

“If we correctly diagnose the repair up front,

My facility keeps up-to-date with the latest waves of product technology.

50% NO 50% YES

50% NEUTRAL

the total repair will take less time and be more profitable,” said one respondent. “That’s my thought process in the wake of all of this.”

One question remains: are the new waves of product technology really necessary?

Only 25 percent of respondents agreed that high-tech products can actually achieve their goals of streamlining repairs. While another 25 percent said they disagreed with this statement, 50 percent felt neutral about the new product technology.

“Let’s give all these products the good old college try before we can agree,” said one reader.

“Rental makes more sense,” said another.

“Technology just changes too fast. Ask all the shops that bought the first water-based air dryers or aluminum repair equipment that are now obsolete.”

I feel my workflow is disrupted when I need to step away from the vehicle to look up a procedure.

25% YES

37.5% NO

62.5% YES

New tech can help provide faster, more efficient repairs.

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25% NO

BMW SCHOLARSHIP

FINAL DETAIL

INVESTING IN STUDENTS OF THE FUTURE BMW GROUP CANADA CERTIFIED COLLISON REPAIR CENTRE PROGRAM

T

raining in the collision repair industry is essential at both the technician and shop level. It’s more than just knowing how to repair more complex vehicles. Today, technological advances are driving a distinct shift in technical requirements and moving things to the next level. Investing in the students of the future is essential in producing the top talent, which is critical to the success of collision repair centres. More and more we are seeing OEM’s moving to certification programs which ensures the technician, as well as the shop, meet the highest standards of excellence. How do we take the training of students to the next level along with their thorough knowledge of an OEM vehicle?

BMW Group Canada has initiated an innovative and committed approach with a scholarship program designed specifically for a twoyear, pre-apprenticeship college program.

BMW Group Canada in conjunction with their BMW Group Certified Collision Repair Centres (CCRC), is contributing $90,000 over 3 years to scholarships for the collision repair sector at three Canadian colleges; Vancouver Community College (VCC), Centennial College in Toronto and a trade school partner in the Montreal area with a view to expanding a similar program in Quebec this fall. The scholarship awards $5,000 to the top 3 students with an additional $2,000 for the next 2 top students. The BMW Group Canada Body & Paint Pre-Apprenticeship Scholarship Program is jointly

Sponsored Content

"The aim is to demonstrate the quality of these certified facilities at the student level and to steer top students into the CCRC network at a time when finding qualified body techs is a challenge. We want students to have the opportunity to work in bodyshops of the 21st century and to understand the truly specialized nature of collision repair in today’s industry."

- Gary Lin, BMW Group Canada’s CCRC Program Specialist

funded program with participating CCRCs and is an OEM first.

The scholarship criteria are designed specifically for two-year, pre-apprenticeship college programs. Under the current agreement with VCC & Centennial College, the scholarships will have three intakes i.e. students who began the program in the fall of 2018, those who will begin in September 2019 and again in the fall of 2020. The program in Montreal will be slightly different in order to adhere to the provincial education guidelines unique to Quebec.

In order to qualify for the programs in Toronto and Vancouver, applicants must maintain a GPA of 85 percent throughout the program, as well as an 85 percent attendance record. They are also required to complete online BMW Group University courses and one in-class BMW Group Brand Academy

session. The Montreal students are similarly judged and are qualified based on criteria such as student engagement, attendance and overall project/work quality and creativity. Scholarship candidates are required to complete a paid work term at a participating BMW Group CCRC. At VCC and Centennial College, five students chosen by faculty members of the Automotive Collision and Refinish department will receive the $5000 BMW Group Body & Paint Pre-Apprentice Scholarship with the remaining two students receiving $2,000 upon completion of their diploma. The five applicants will be interviewed by BMW Group CCRCs before the end of their second semester and must be employees at a participating CCRC for a minimum threemonth paid internship period after the first year of their college program. This provides students the insight into the world of modern BMW Group CCRCs and reinforces their choice of a career in specialized collision repair.

With the current network of 50 CCRCs growing by 3-4 shops per year, the need to find qualified and brand-ready body technicians increases. This is a sure way of investing in the students-and technicians of the future.

For more information on the BMW Group Canada CCRCs, visit bmwccrc.ca/scholarship.

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SHOP PROFILE

VIVAT REGINA 95-year-old Regina Auto Body gives back

BY SAMUEL HOUPT

I

t has been 95 years since the doors of Regina Auto Body (RAB) first opened on the outskirts of the city’s downtown core. Originally under the ownership of Russ Karels, the shop used to be a blacksmith store—specializing in shoeing horses and repairing dented and scratched carriages. The location soon transformed into a full-fledged auto body shop as more and more vehicles hit Saskatchewan’s roads, and when a General Motors assembly plant opened in Regina, Karels saw the opportunity to expand.

Over the years, RAB would see numerous renovations. Russ Karels, proud of his work, ended up selling the location during the ‘40s to Clarence Thompson and Art Egner, who then sold it to the Marios in 1989. Now, almost a century later, the collision repair centre continues to serve communities in the heart of the province under the ownership of Mike Mario and his nephew, Chad Mario.

While most shops might celebrate this lengthy milestone internally, RAB decided to give back to a community it has served for generations by donating a portion of its October earnings to the Canadian Mental Health Association.

“It started with tossing around the idea of having an open house to show the changes from the horse and buggy all the way to becoming a Tesla Certified Repair Facility,” explained Mike Mario. “Chad and I started to look at the costs of putting something like that together and we heard about our neighbours down the street, Canadian Mental Health Association Regina Branch, and how it was in need of some renovations and we thought, ‘why don’t we scrap that idea and donate the money we may have spent on an open house

along with our budgeted donations and do a month-long blitz using the $95 to coincide with the 95 years?’”

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By taking $95 from every repair in October, Mario and his team managed to raise over $10,000 towards replacing worn flooring in the mental health facility.

Mario explained his choice as benefactor: “We decided to donate to the Regina Branch for a few reasons,” he said. “One, they are our neighbours and have always reached out to us when they need any vehicle repairs. Two, their building is old and in need of repairs constantly.

Three and most importantly, mental health has touched us in ways that we would have never imagined. When people have a broken leg or arm, it is usually fairly visual. When someone has mental health issues, there are no visual signs, but that person is hurting inside and it is difficult to cure because of the shortage of resources around.”

Mario said he does not believe executing the donation strategy was difficult, and, with the century milestone just over the horizon for the shop, he said he and his staff have already begun brainstorming more donation opportunities.

“The planning has started and we felt so good about what we accomplished with our

SHOP PROFILE

FINAL DETAIL

October donation that we might even do $96 next year, and follow that up until we hit $100 in 2024,” he said. “We will likely have a big party in the shop like we did in 2013 when the Riders won the Grey Cup here in Regina! There are lots of ideas being tossed around so we are in the planning stage. Stay tuned!”

(Right) Mike Mario and the RAB team.

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AWARDS

The PPG Canada team was honoured by Uni-Select, receiving an award for its auto paint and body equipment.

CANADIAN COLOUR COMMITMENT PPG Canada wins paint and body equipment award from Uni-Select

BY ALLISON ROGERS

U

ni-Select took centre stage in Las Vegas, Nevada last week to announce the winners of its annual awards for Canadian suppliers, celebrating the achievements, innovation and service of is most performant partners.

The brand recognized PPG Canada for its commitment and support to the collision repair industry, awarding the company an “Achiever” award for its auto paint and body equipment.

“On behalf of all of us at PPG Canada, we are honoured to receive this award,” Norm Angrove, director, automotive refinish for PPG Canada told Bodyworx Professional.

“Our commitment to providing world-class products, systems and processes to both distribution and end-user customers is on ongoing focus at PPG. We look forward to our continued partnership with Uni-Select, its members and end-user customers.”

Uni-Select also honoured several other Canadian suppliers: Blue Streak-Hygrade

“On behalf of all of us at PPG Canada, we are honoured to receive this award. Our commitment to providing world-class products, systems and processes to both distribution and end-user customers is on ongoing focus at PPG. We look forward to our continued partnership with Uni-Select, its members and end-user customers.”

—Norm Angrove, director of automotive refinish for PPG Canada.

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Motor products was recognized for its sales tools for independent jobbers and installers, while Tenneco—now known as DriV—had the marketing campaign of the year.

Dorman Products won an award for its tech-savviness; supplier SureWerx received the Diamond Award for its products and service; BBB Industries walked away with its achievements in automotive parts sales fully recognized, and NOCO won an award for its collision repair tools and equipment.

It was also announced on November 5 that PPG had earned a 2019 R&D 100 award in the mechanical materials category for its Powercron 160 anionic epoxy e-coat. Designed for manufacturers who finish complex cast profiles in the automotive, heavy-duty equipment and related industries, PPG says its e-coat enables high film builds over multiple substrates and pre-treatment chemistries.

CONNECTING THE CANADIAN COLLISION COMMUNITY Your one-stop source for compelling collision industry content, news and insights!

Do you have a story? Want your shop to be featured?

Interested in contributing? Contact us today!

E: editor@collisionrepairmag.com P: 905-370-0101

Follow Collision Repair Visit collisionrepairmag.com today!

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PRODUCTS

THE ARTIST’S EYE, THE CHEMIST’S SCIENCE Not just a pretty face

W

hen customers bring their damaged vehicles to a collision repair facility, they want them to not only run the way they did prior to a crash but to look brand new, too. A quality paint job is not about more than curb appeal—modern finishes are a synthesis of protective and aesthetic elements, the subtle product of the artist’s eye and the chemist’s science.

Automotive paint is made of three components: a pigment, which gives the paint its colour; a thinner, which levels out the consistency of the paint; and a binder to bind the pigment and thinner. It may seem straightforward, but shopping for automotive paint can sometimes be a daunting task. What’s the difference between waterborne and traditional solvent paint? How about single vs two-stage paint systems? Should you use a primer for car painting?

Getting a paint job right is everything—and it takes more than just good colour sense and a skillful touch with a spray gun to achieve.

Dusty surroundings in the shop or failure to control curing temperatures can turn a pristine mirror finish into a murky, mismatched mess.

Many tried-and-true approaches remain effective, however, with each year comes new innovations. Sometimes subtle and other times bold, 2020 is certainly no exception.

This year has seen the introduction of new innovations, particularly those in exact colour matching and the development of new OEM shades and shifts. New colour-matching technologies and software are constantly

being developed to assure the utmost colour matching potential, while coatings companies all over the world are on a mission to capture the current endeavours in social culture through new hue and pigment developments. Complex shifts inspired by environmental sustainability are being developed for OEM use, while other shades inspired by technological advancement are set to hit the scene in the coming years.

With an even wider spectrum of colours and shifts on the market, the opportunity for perfect colour matching is more

reachable than ever before.

Like other years, the industry has seen further updates to automotive shades, mixing technology and much more. It is exceedingly important to keep up-to-date with the latest painting trends, tips and products to assure your facility is practicing safe, efficient and quality paint repairs.

Flip through the following pages to brush up on your paint product knowledge and learn how to achieve more accurate colour matching, swifter painting speeds and the utmost safety on the shop floor.

“Some of the sophisticated paint technology being offered today allows you to create that match, one that meets the variation of that vehicle. In the old days, you had a standard and you would have maybe one to three variation formulas. Now with the spectrophotometer and the sophisticated software out there, you can basically create unlimited combinations of colour to flawlessly match.”

—Phil Matisak, Global Colour marketing director for Sherwin Williams

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PRODUCTS

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PRIMER SURFACER EP II AEROSOL AKZONOBEL

AkzoNobel’s Primer Surfacer EP II Aerosol is a chromate-free epoxy primer surfacer offering an optimum balance between adhesion and corrosion protection. This primer can be used as a sanding primer surfacer on new parts and on a variety of substrates, including steel, zinc coated steel, aluminum, existing finishes, and more. According to AkzoNobel, the Primer Surfacer EP II can help produce a high-quality repair, administering excellent adhesion and corrosion resistance. are further enhanced. akzonobel.com

ACQUIRE QUANTUM EFX AXALTA COATING

Axalta Coating Systems’ new fifth-generation spectrophotometer - the Acquire Quantum EFX - is compact, quick, and easy to use. Able to read metallic pearl, effect colours and more, the Acquire Quantum EFX integrates Axalta’s Acquire Color System and is re-engineered to fit comfortably in one hand. The Acquire Quantum EFX includes a top-mounted touchscreen, designed for high visibility as well as a “smart cradle,” designed for charging and making connecting with a PC more simple. Painters who struggle with hard-to-reach places may greatly benefit from this compact and easy to use, Wi-Fi enabled tool. axalta.com

LIMCO 151 BASF

This VOC-compliant waterborne cleaning solution from BASF as part of its LIMCO product line, which aims to provide easy-to-use products at reasonable prices. Well-suited to removing light contamination from existing paint films, clean-sanded OEM finishes and most unpainted plastic parts and gel-coated fibreglasses, the cleaner made to clean any water-soluble contaminants.

Designed with ease-of-use in mind, the 151 Cleaner is applied like most other cleaners, and can be wiped off with a clean towel. Not unlike the best tropical juices, the 151 cleaner is not from concentrate—meaning technicians do not need to spend time adding water to the formula.

refinish.basf.us

DOMINION SURE SEAL 3 IN 1 PRIMER DOMINION SURE SEAL LTD.

The Dominion Sure Seal 3 in 1 Primer was designed to provide repairers with faster cycle times and higher returns. Available in three colours, the 3 in 1 Primer can be used over fibreglass, plastics, metals, aluminiums, and SMC. The Dominion Sure Seal primer also offers not only a great film build but also flexibility. Using a fast-drying formula, the primer is ready to be sanded in just 15 minutes, and is paintable in just 30. With a convenient aerosol with a paint-gun style pattern, Dominion Sure Seal’s 3 in 1 primer is easy to use and perfect for repairers who want to save time and money.

dominionsureseal.com

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PRODUCTS

SPRAY MAX 3 IN 1 PRIMER PETER KWASNY INC.

Peter Kwasny Inc.’s Spray Max 3 in 1 primer is high-build, fast-drying, and easy to sand. A good adhesion to steel, aluminum, metal and plastic, the 3 in 1 primer eliminates the need to apply an adhesion primer on plastics. Available in white, grey, and black, the Spray Max primer uses the paint manufacturers original products. Used in auto repair shops, dealerships and industrial customers worldwide, Spraymax is a 1k and 2K professional aerosol paint system that can be used both inside the prep area and outside the traditional paint booth.

spraymax.com

BUMPER AND CLADDING ADHESION PRIMER POLYVANCE

Since 2003, Polyvance’s Bumper and Cladding Adhesion Primer has been helping repairers resolve paint peeling problems. Designed to make it simple to refinish raw TPO-replacement bumpers, the Bumper and Cladding Adhesion Prime ensures that there is no scuffing or sanding required with its 1K formulation. According to Polyvance, repairers just need to clean the plastic with Polyvance’s EcoPrep Zero VOC cleaner and apply one coat of the Bumper and Cladding Coat. After the adhesion is applied, repairers can then spray your approved colour system directly on top. The primer sticks incredibly well and can sustain blasts from a pressure washer. polyvance.com

ULTRA 9K WATERBORNE BASECOAT SYSTEM SHERWIN-WILLIAMS AUTOMOTIVE FINISHES

The Ultra 9K Waterborne Basecoat System is a non-stir system featuring 68 toners (33 chomatics, 10 metallics, 18 pearls, five special-effect toners, one effective additive and one base additive) and a single reducer. With a wet-on-wet application process, the system is designed to produce consistent results regardless of the climate in which it is used. According to Sherwin-Williams, the system is easy to use. The Ultra 9K comes with a colour-retrieval system that includes a spectrophotometer and global colour box.

sherwin-automotive.com

DV1 SPRAY GUN DEVILBISS

Designed with the input of auto painting professionals, the DV1 was created to overcome the challenges of applying the latest coatings. It features new technical features to improve its atomization technology, and is optimized to spray the latest basecoats. According to DeVilbiss the DV1 spray gun is field-proven to be the best-in-class when spraying low VOC waterborne coatings.

autorefinishdevilbiss.com

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PRODUCTS

FINAL DETAIL

FINIXA JOINTSTOPPER FINIXA

Designed with ease-of-use and speed in mind, the FINIXA Jointstopper is designed to make masking a joint before primer application simpler than ever. With its figure 8 shape, the Jointstopper uses high-quality foam that can easily be placed between panels when repairers are ready to spray away!The FINIXA Jointstopper is the quickest way to mask a joint before primer application and is recommended to be removed when the primer is still wet.According to FINIXA, the product can be used in just four easy steps for a quick and great-looking finish. finixa.ca

DEBEER REFINISH WATERBASE 900+ SERIES VALSPAR AUTOMOTIVE

More than a decade ago, Valspar Automotive released the DeBeer Refinish WaterBase 900+ Series.

Being the first VOC compliant refinish system on the market, the 900+ Series is now recognized as a market-leading, lost cost, and high-quality refinisher. The 900+ Series is able to improve coverage with high-opacity hues for all solid, pearl, metallic and xirallic colours. The series is incredibly easy to use and comes with a complete system of must-have primers, clearcoats, and ancillaries. de-beer.com/en

SATAJET 100 B F PRIMER GUN SATA CANADA

The SATAjet 100 B F was designed to be the perfect dedicated primer gun. Introduced to the market in 2008, the 100 series has earned a reputation for being easy to use, durable, and affordable for any repairer. Available in RP and HVLP technology, the SATAjet 100 B F comes in a large variety of nozzle sizes. The SATAjet 100 B F RP with a 1.1 UV nozzle is the recommended choice for the application of UV primer. With a smooth material delivery and minimal overspray, the SATAjet 100 B F is a primer gun that will save time and money in the shop! sata.ca

ULTRA XD PAINT BOOTH GLOBAL FINISHING SOLUTIONS

Global Finishing Solution’s Ultra XD Paint Booth is designed to provide painters with the versatility needed by high-performance auto repair facilities. Known in the industry for its high-efficient heat system, the Ultra XD Paint Booth includes easy-to-use intuitive control panels, downdraft airflow, and controlled airflow ceiling. The paint booth also works to control contamination and maintain superior lighting while maximizing the effectiveness of downdraft airflow. By eliminating dead air zones and allowing paint techs to cover more parts in each booth cycle, the Ultra XD Paint Booth saves technicians is meant to reduce cycle times. globalfinishing.com

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Joey Cannata and Scott Franklin.

Martin Costa and Joey Cannata.

DEALING WITH CHANGE AND CHALLENGE What happens when giving up is not an option

J

oey has always had a passion for cars and food, he attained his first job as a Detailer, earning $5 for every car cleaned, (he was 12 at the time). One day after work, a Technician, (Hong) was washing his hands, he looked at Joey and said, “do you want your hands to look like this every day after work?” at this moment Joey decided this is what he didn’t want to do for the rest of his life. In grade 10, he decided to pursue a career in the Culinary Arts, after high school he enrolled in a Culinary Management program at George Brown College.

After seven years of a combination of formal education and working in various restaurants – he was ready to become a Jr. Sous Chef, but before he took this leap, he decided to take a vacation to Italy with his best friend, and this is where he began to reflect on what he had accomplished so far, and what his life will begin to look like in the future.

Joey realized he had been so consumed by his perusal of his culinary goals, he didn’t realize how little time he had for himself, if he was

to start a family someday, what kind of quality time would he have for them? Putting aside this career path at this point was now the right thing to do – but where to go from here? Reflecting back on his first job, this looked like the logical

route to take, so in May of 2016, he took his first steps in returning to the automotive collision realm by joining Assured’s Richmond Hill team.

Reenergized, his U-turn in career choice was going well, until September 16th of 2016 when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, immediately he started a treatment plan to combat this cancer. On July 2nd 2017, he returned back to his post at Richmond Hill,

Visit our website: assuredauto.ca ADVERTORIAL

wanting to “be the best” – he felt he had no limitations, nothing could hold him back and wanted to make the most of the life he earned “back”, by beating cancer.

He inserted himself in every aspect of the repair process and the customer experience – he thanks Scott Franklin for being his mentor, and sharing his years of experience with him.

With this support behind him, Joey could earn his “stripes” in an industry where he is surrounded by more experienced people, and more importantly their respect. His advice to those starting off in our industry is, “you are going to have bad days – remain focused, and have a plan”. At 23 years of age, Joey Cannata has seen bad days -personally and professionally, aside from taking his own advice, this is what drives Joey.. “I now better understand my dad, which has strengthened my relationship with him – I want to be better than the expectation that he has set out for me…” – just to let you all know, Joey was crowned Assured’s Employee of the Year in 2018.

WHIMSY

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A FIXER’S FANTASY Three fictional universes where the autobody technician is king

A

few months back, Bodyworx Professional highlighted an emerging literary trend--romance novels that get hot for the bodyshop tech.

While the profession may be on the receiving end of chick-lit lusting, this does not seem to translate into real-life romantic results. Technician satisfaction after interactions with the young, heartbroken heirs/heiresses remains unchanged.

Reality is, unfortunately, a bitter disappointment.

To escape, Bodyworx Professional's arts and culture department have taken a deep dive into escapism.

In this article, the team considers the Hollywood film franchises where being an autobody repair technician is akin to being a king.

JURASSIC PARK

When terrifying lizards escape, who do you think is more useful to have around?

A paleontologist, or an auto repairer?

Most people should want to escape in a vehicle far more than they want to stay and take detailed notes on the prehistoric slaughter.

Sure, you may gain the respect of your peers, but will you make it out alive?

These films all take place on islands— why didn’t you just study marine repair?

Top Tip: Stay in the car, unless it stops running. If it stops running, direct a brave child to get out and guide you while you remain within the vehicle. If all else fails, adopt a brontosaurus as your pet.

Sensible Goal: Become the first-ever automotive repairer to use PDR techniques on a tyrannosaurus clawshaped dent.

THE WASTELAND, MAD MAX FILMS

In a radioactive future, brutal gangs fight over the remaining drops of ‘guzzoline’ from within heavily modded cars. True, no one is safe from the savagery and violence.

Having the ability to repair damaged war machines will give desert-dwelling ragea-holics a reason to keep you around.

While plumbers are sure to end up on a barbecue, auto repairers have a good chance at a long—and even happy—life.

Top Tip: Keep your shop’s uniform on, no matter what. Not only will they help let nomadic gangs see your value immediately, but overalls are great at keeping your skin protected from the blazing son.

Sensible Goal: With characters known as Lord Humungous, Toast the Knowing, Master Blaster and Sprog, there are great names to be had. Don’t just get use the title Axle Bender, earn it.

STAR WARS

It seems unlikely that the repair infrastructure exists to handle the Galaxy’s needs, but that may not mean it is easy to find employment. In general, most of the vehicles damaged in the Star Wars saga either go unrepaired for decades—like the Millennium Falcon—or simply explode.

Repairers can take some solace, should they find themselves in a galaxy far, far away. While it might not have saved any of the repair techs working in either Death Star, in general, repairing ships is a better gig than flying them. Unfortunately, there is a good chance your co-worker will be a garbage can.

Top Tip: Mastering the force will allow your employer to save a fortune on lifts.

Sensible Goal: Offer reasonably priced pod racer repairs and keep well clear of jobs inside massive superweapons.

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FINAL DETAIL

CHOOSING PASSION OVER PAYCHECK Shattering the stigma would do the world some good

BY ALLISON ROGERS

“C

hoose a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

It is a cliché cross-stitched into pillows found in the houses of quirky aunts everywhere, endlessly prompting eyerolls and exasperated sighs from men, women and children alike.

But—cheesy as they are—clichés are sometimes clichés for a good reason. In this case, there is a good deal of wisdom that can be learned—at least I think there is.

After all, if you can enjoy what you do and derive a sense of accomplishment for it, you will spend your career feeling accomplished, fulfilled and happy.

If you agree with me—and you really should—then the collision repair sector may have plenty of opportunities for you.

In this issue of Bodyworx Professional, we’ve highlighted the accomplishments of Sam Luff and Vince Servinis. Their passion for vehicles led them through the doors of their high school’s auto shop class in Grade 9.

By Grade 10, Vince knew he was destined for a career in the automotive industry and, in Grade 12, he took his passion to the next level, performing competitive repairs on the national and international stage.

Despite being plagued with doubts and second-guessing their choices post-competition, Sam and Vince were determined to perform at the top of their game—and that determination was recognized and rewarded in the form of a shiny trophy and an all-expenses trip to New York.

Now, nearly a year later, Sam is enrolled in a Bachelor of Automotive Engineering Course at the Ontario Institute of Technology, while ince is an automotive technician student

at Centennial College. Their love of cars is propelling them towards a life-long career in the auto sector—and they haven’t even seen their first paycheques!

Tristan Johnson-England is another example.

She first caught wind of the automotive industry at the tender age of ten and, as a 23-year-old, has now finished her schooling and the first and second levels of her work placement.

She’s had her plan clearly laid out since childhood: go to college, work as a painter,

connections between pageants and auto painting along the way!

And Tristan has some advice for anyone that doubts her abilities: “If I’m happy, who cares!?”

The point I am making here is, if you know what you want, all you have to do is go out and take it. The thing about unwanted criticism is, if you have passion, nothing can faze you.

Keep your eyes on the prize, know what

The thing about criticism is, if you have passion, none of the comments or widespread misconceptions can faze you.

transition into the business side of things and, eventually, own her own shop—but sometimes life throws you a curveball.

Tristan’s hobby as a beauty pageant competitor began to turn into the basis of a second career. While many other sectors would be less welcoming to people with two disconnected passions being pursued simultaneously, this was not the case in the auto repair sector.

As her story shows, the industry’s business owners are delighted by displays of dedication and passion—wherever they may be directed. If she has the drive to commit herself to continuously improving her skills in one area of her life, she will bring the same commitment to other aspects as well. Tristan’s even found some

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you want and, someday, it could be yours.

When you have passion, borders and limits are dissolved and the world is yours for the taking.

Let me end with yet another cliché—one my own nieces and nephews can roll their eyes at someday.

Passion should always be valued as a virtue—not as a vice.

And, in this industry, it is.

Allison Rogers is the associate editor of this issue of Bodyworx Professional.

She can be reached at 905-370-0101 or allison@mediamatters.ca.