YOUNG GUN RESTORATIONS

GETTING HANDS-ON IN SASKATCHEWAN

Hands On Outreach and Development Centre connects with local youth through classic restorations

BY ALLISON ROGERS The kids really get a hands-on experience—with professional supervision, of course!

One Saskatchewan not-for-profit is sparking automotive interest through one-on-one mentorship and classic restorations.

It all started nine years ago, when Rick Langlais, founder of Saskatoon’s Hands On Outreach and Development Centre, approached Tom Bissonnette at Parr Auto Body to see if some of the children that frequented the program could stop by and learn a thing or two about automotive skills.

Bissonnette pointed to a couple of challenges with the original idea. The shop at Parr Auto Body is very busy and it could prove difficult to transport the kids from the inner city core out to Parr Auto Body’s facility. Parr Auto Body is located about 10 kilometers from Saskatoon’s downtown, in an east side business area. Instead, Bissonnette suggested that if Langlais could find a building downtown, he could see if there were volunteers willing to come down and work with the kids. Over the course of the next year, Langlais found a property downtown, renovated it to house a shop area, got the necessary equipment donated and approached Bissonnette a second time. Before starting the project, Langlais and Bissonette traveled to Vancouver to meet with Mark McKim and check out the Customs for Urban Teens (CUT) program. The CUT Program puts car enthusiasts side-by-side with young people to work on classic and custom car restorations.

Langlais and Bissonette returned to Saskatoon with a vision of what was possible, and they set about finding a good car to re-build. With the help of many donors and mem

The kids are currently hard at work restoring a 1969 Mustang convertible.

Of course, Hands On and Sask Polytech both hope to spark some interest in the trades along the way!

Hands On’s program aims to foster a one-on-one mentorship experience.

The not-for-profit organization also aims to give valuable life skills to the local youth.

bers of the Saskatoon Auto Body Association, the team raised money and recruited volunteers to work with the kids and rebuild the Nova.

“When we were introduced to them, we loved what they were doing,” said Paul Carter, Dean of Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s School of Transportation. “We offered up our large, state-of-the-art facility and one of our faculty members for their program.”

The partnership began about a year ago. Once a week—sometimes twice—Sask Polytech faculty and local technicians volunteer their time to suit up to help the kids with their restoration. Through the program, local youth are given a safe, fun and creative activity for the after-school hours—keeping them out of harm’s way and teaching them valuable life lessons in the process.

The group is currently working its second build—a 1969 Mustang convertible—which it started under the guidance of Scott Kucharyshen, head of Sask Polytech’s Auto Body Technician program in the fall of 2018.

According to Hands On, the Mustang’s original body was in rough shape, so the group practically had to begin from the ground up. A jig was constructed, and the kids began building the frame on top of it.

In the fall of 2019, a second evening was added to complete more work on the Mustang’s engine and powertrain. The crew removed the manual transmission—sold to a local buyer—in favour of an automatic version.

In early February, the Mustang’s floor was installed.

“It literally fell right in,” reads a restoration update. “Thanks to good parts, plenty of careful measuring and the kids’ hard work.” Of course, Hands On Outreach and Sask Polytech both hope they can generate some interest in the trades and careers in autobody repair along the way.

“There are some students that stand out,” said Carter. “I hope to see some of them at the college in September.”

For more information on Hands On Outreach, visit handsonoutreach.ca.