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PILLAR OF THE INDUSTRY
THE CONSTANT REPAIRER After more than four decades in the industry, Whitby Collision and Glass’ GM has seen it all—and knows what to expect next BY ALLISON ROGERS
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f you’ve walked through the doors of Whitby Collision and Glass in the last 45 years, you’ve likely encountered Walt Sabadin. Walt has been a fixture in the facility since he was 15 years old—but his infatuation with cars and the automotive sector were ignited long before the seasoned repairer acquired his first industry job. Walt—who grew up in Ajax, Ontario—has always loved cars. He recalls “messing around” with the other neighbourhood kids, painting their bicycles and toy cars to pass the time. He continued to cultivate his interest in his youth, tinkering with electronic parts and learning how to drive a manual transmission. “I had a knack for it,” Walt tells Bodyworx Professional. “My dad would always tell me, ‘you’re gonna be a technician when you’re older.’ And that was just when I was a little guy!” When it came time to attend high school, Walt knew he was destined for a career in automotive repair. Ajax High School offered a wealth of trades-related courses in the 1970s—and he took full advantage. “I took just about every class that I could. Engine rebuilding, transmission rebuilding, electrical diagnosis, small engines, welding, soldering, woodworking, refinishing, machine drafting—absolutely anything that had to do with vehicles.” His dedication paid off. In 1974, a 15-yearold Walt was offered part-time hours cleaning cars at Whitby Collision and Glass. “I used to ride my bike there every day after school, washing cars until the place closed every night. In the summers I was full-time, just doing detailing and cleaning cars at first.” After his first summer, a service manager approached a teenage Walt and asked if he
In addition to growing the business, Walt played a key role in designing Whitby Collision and Glass’ current facility.
could help with some general mechanical work. He obliged, keeping his part-time hours during the school year and returning as a mechanic that summer. The bodyshop manager later asked if he was willing to try his hand at bodywork. Walt accepted and soon began sanding and prepping cars. “When I finished high school, I kept that job and eventually started to get into painting as well. Then I did my apprenticeship, got my license and worked as a flat rate painter until the late 1970s.” Back then, Whitby Collision and Glass was a smaller operation—but business was booming. The shop kept growing—and Walt’s responsibilities on the floor and behind the scenes alongside it. “After I began helping with payroll, I found myself doing more than I could handle, so
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we hired a prepper—he’d prep the cars and I painted them. When we grew again, we hired a painter. After that, I was full-time in the office and management became a two-man operation. I served as assistant manager for a little bit before becoming the bodyshop manager and, eventually, general manager.” At that time, the shop was still writing handwritten estimates—but Walt sensed the incoming waves of technology and wanted to arm himself with computer-based knowledge. So, he enrolled in computer learning courses at Durham College. This was not out of character for Walt, either—he always aims to address industry challenges head-on. In his 45-year career, he says he’s “seen it all,”—and adapting is not a choice. “I’ve seen changes across the board—from basic collision repair to painting to direct repair
