PUBLISHER’S PAGE

CELEBRATING THE SECTOR

A world of opportunity awaits you in auto repair

BY DARRYL SIMMONS

The Alberta Trades Hall of Fame recently approached our editorial team with a message it wanted to share with our readers.

It asked for members of the auto repair sector to forward the names of individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication and commitment to the trade and who advanced apprenticeship and industry training in Alberta.

I was delighted. Finally, the amazing work of the technicians, painters, preppers, detailers and anyone else in the industry who makes the magic happen would be officially recognized. This news is a big deal. The people in this industry are true problem solvers. For every job that they work on, they have to thinkthrough their approach and be precise in their execution of it. They deserve far more praise than they get.

I hope other provinces soon follow in Alberta’s footsteps.

I also like to think that Bodyworx Professional played a small role in bringing the public’s understanding of the work done by auto repair industry professionals to light.

Seven years ago, when the magazine was launched, we sought to promote a positive image of the industry. At the time, there was no publication devoted to the tradespeople in the automotive aftermarket.

In the years since, the magazine has been proud to share the amazing work of so many passionate people. In each issue, we highlight their stories in the hope that young people considering their futures might stumble upon the magazine and consider a rewarding career in the collision sector.

Opportunities are everywhere for young people in this business, and more of them will realize that if we point them in the right direction.

Auto repair facilities offer a world of opportunity for young people, and not just in roles as technicians and painters. There is room for innovative customer service professionals, web-designers and managerial positions too.

Auto repair facilities offer a world of opportunity for young people, and not just in roles as technicians and painters. There is room for innovative customer service professionals, web-designers and managerial positions too.

If you are interested in sinking your teeth into the world of auto repair, read on. Let this magazine show you how rewarding a life in the field can be!

PUBLISHER Darryl Simmons 647.409.7070 publisher@collisionrepairmag.com

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Gideon Scanlon 905.370.0101 gideon@mediamatters.ca

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Allison Rogers allison@mediamatters.ca

ART DIRECTOR Yvonne Corvers yvonne@mediamatters.ca

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Katherine Stevens katie@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

DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER Cassie Doyle cassie@mediamatters.ca

CONTRIBUTORS Howard Berg, Rick Francouer, Ben Hart, Kelly Roberts, Bill Speed, ‘Forty’; A Progressive Estimator

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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CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK

Tyler St. Martin’s got the bodyshop in his blood

BY ALLISON ROGERS

“Honestly, I just love fixing cars. I love to take something that’s smashed up and make it look beautiful again–even better than factory standards. The money, of course is good, but the finished product is what really drives me.” – Tyler St. Martin

Tyler St. Martin is continuing his family’s technician tradition by working as a tech at Assured Allards in Kanata, Ont.

Growing up, Tyler St. Martin had an entire bodyshop as his playground.

He spent his childhood around totalled trucks, smashedup sedans and every bit of glitz and glamour his family’s bodyshop had to offer—so it’s really no wonder Tyler became an automotive technician himself.

St. Martin Auto Body opened in North Bay, Ontario in the 1970s. Tyler’s grandfather, Henry ‘Chick’ St. Martin headed the operation, and his father worked as a technician there—and, as a young auto enthusiast, Tyler often tagged along.

“I’ve basically been in the bodyshop since I could walk,” Tyler told Bodyworx Professional. “And have been doing it ever since.” Some of Tyler’s fondest memories come from Saturday mornings in the bodyshop, when Papa St. Martin would arrive with a fresh box of Timbits in tow. These mornings would be spent washing cars, snacking on sweets and joking around with the rest of the family working in the shop.

When he was old enough to get his hands on the cars at St. Martin Auto Body, Tyler took full advantage and began helping out more on the floor. It was during these years that Tyler began to consider collision repair as a career, but he ultimately opted to pursue a different trade.

Fate, however, quickly brought him back to the bodyshop. “At that point, I was finally ready to buckle down and said, ‘alright, let’s go all-in and get your license.’ I went through the stages of schooling—Levels 1, 2 and 3—wrote my test and went flat-rate,” said Tyler. “That was eight or nine years ago.”

Tyler briefly left the field to pursue another trade, but fate brought him back. He then attended Ottawa’s Algonquin College and completed his apprenticeship under his father.

There’s always something to do in the Allards bodyshop—Tyler says it’s the busiest shop in town!

Already equipped with experience in his youth, Tyler attended Algonquin College’s Auto Body Repairer program and completed an apprenticeship under his father at a facility in Oshawa, Ontario.

He later returned to Parliament Hill when his wife secured a job in the medical field, and soon began working at Assured Allards.

“This was the first shop I came to when I moved to Ottawa, and it’s where I’ve been since,” he said. “As the biggest shop in the area, it’s always super busy. We’ve got high production rates and the management staff are always supportive and ensure we have the proper equipment for the job. That’s what really stands out about working here.”

Like many techs, Tyler recognizes the challenges presented by technological advancements. With new metal compositions and advanced technology systems onboard modern vehicles, keeping up with the most up to date of collision

Tyler says he’s seen a shift in customer service as consumers become more knowledgeable about their vehicles.

repair procedures can be taxing—but he says the availability of high-tech tools at Assured is his saving grace and makes it slightly easier to adapt.

Conversely, Tyler has noticed that customers are becoming increasingly pickier with their before-and-after results.

“Everyone is a little savvier nowadays and has a particular vision of how things should look when the job is done,” he said. “People are paying huge money for these cars, so it’s more than a method of transportation to them—they’re their babies.”

Regardless, Tyler can’t help but grin after completing a job. “Honestly, I just love fixing cars. I love to take something that’s smashed up and make it look beautiful again—even better than factory standards. The money, of course, is good, but the finished product is what really drives me.” While he is passionate about his trade, Tyler questions why other young people aren’t as interested in auto body repairs. He says, in recent years, it’s been tough attracting youth to collision repair careers, and having the help you need, when you need it, can be tricky.

“Maybe it’s that kids are more into different things, like technology and computers, as they grow up—maybe they don’t see the point of physical labour as much nowadays,” said Tyler. “I feel like a lot of them just want to use their brains and don’t recognize the pride that comes with hard work and getting your hands a little bit dirty.”

But, for those that are ready to pursue the tricks of the trades, Tyler has some words of wisdom:

“Put in the hard work, stick it out, finish your apprenticeship and get your license—it’ll pay off in the end.”

And, for his fellow tradespeople, Tyler has some additional advice:

“Always wear your safety stuff—your masks, your gloves and your PPE,” scolds Tyler. “Because you never know what could happen.”