Bodyworx 9#4

Bodyworx HUES HEREAFTER: BASF’S ANNUAL COLOUR REPORT $7.95 Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40841632 86 John Street, Thornhill, ON L3T 1Y2

live VISIT BODYWORXMAG.COM

at this year’s SEMA Show, where the world’s most talented HOW MUCH RUST IS TOO MUCH RUST? WORLDSKILLS RESULTS ON SOLVING THE SKILLS SHORTAGE +MORE

come SEMA STATE OF MIND AN ISLAND OF

show The iconic Vegas show returns Fix Auto Charlottetown brings talent from abroad OPPORTUNITY

COVER Don’t let labour struggles leave your shop standing still. Be proactive like Fix Auto Charlottetown, and make international recruitment a part of your process.

14 20

BY DARRYL SIMMONS

About a month ago, our team returned from the 2022 SEMA Show. We had the pleasure of meeting up with several past Bodyworx cover stars: Meghan McEwen, from this year’s winter issue; Chelsie Lesnoski and Cole Marten from last year’s end-of-year publication; Hannah Kasiri of Edmonton’s Lucky 13 custom paint shop, featured in 2020; Cheyenne Ruether, whose endeavours in Las Vegas were featured in 2019. Not to

followers every day. Hannah has fans across the world—she even told us some brought her year-old issue to SEMA for an autograph! Cheyenne has been featured on TV shows aplenty—the list goes on.

And you could be just like them, too.

It can be difficult to recognize your own efforts—and it may be equally as arduous to pat yourself on the back and accept such recognition for what you might see as your daily duties at work. Or perhaps

If you have a passion for this industry and ideas to match that vigour, you just might be what we’re looking for.

mention the countless potential features we shook hands with on the show floor.

These people all have a few things in common. For one, their careers have bloomed to levels allowing them to take unique opportunities to further their careers. Chelsie and Cole were media partners at this year’s SEMA, riding on the coattails of their success at last year’s Battle of the Builders Young Guns comp. Hannah was signing autographs for lineups of fans at the Indasa booth; Meghan was greeted with a smile from everyone she met. When we saw these individuals, it was clear that they are thriving.

For two, they were all featured on the cover of a magazine for their incredible initiatives in the automotive aftermarket. Meghan has tripled her talents with two auto trades and a motorsports team under her belt; Chelsie and Cole are moving to match their 2021 top-three spot at Battle of the Builders, and gaining ground in Instagram

you’re the opposite—a person who simply knows they’re taking off in the industry and believes your ideas can transform a pillar of our sector.

We won’t say that anyone can be on the cover of Bodyworx Professional; there are some predetermined requirements to being featured, either on the cover or between the pages. But, if you have a passion for this industry and ideas to match that vigour, you just might be what we’re looking for.

So, if you think you have what it takes to be a Bodyworx cover star, reach out to our editorial team. It could be the best decision you’ve ever made.

PUBLISHER

Darryl Simmons publisher@collisionrepairmag.com

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Orest Tkaczuk | orest@mediamatters.ca

EDITOR

Allison Rogers | allison@mediamatters.ca

ART DIRECTOR Yvonne Maschke | yvonne@mediamatters.ca

STAFF WRITERS

Max Reid | max@mediamatters.ca Kate Ng | kate@mediamatters.ca

GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN Cynthia Lee | cynthia@mediamatters.ca

VP OF INDUSTRY RELATIONS & ADVERTISING

Gloria Mann 647.998.5677 | gd.mann@rogers.com

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Ellen Smith 416.312.7446 | ellen@mediamatters.ca

INDUSTRY RELATIONS ASSISTANT

Wanja Mann 647.998.5677 wanjamann1@gmail.com

DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER

Cassie Doyle | cassie@mediamatters.ca

AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT MANAGER James Kerr | james@mediamatters.ca

One-year $25 / Student Discount is 10% Bodyworx Professional ™ is published quarterly, and is dedicated to serving the professionals of the collision repair industry. It is published by Media Matters Inc. Material in BodyworxProfessional™ 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,

INDUSTRY

AIA YEARLY REVIEW

As the year winds down, Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA) has opened its Outlook Study 2022 to AIA members. Findings show that despite strong aftermarket recovery in 2021, overall economic output is still below pre-pandemic levels, though AIA predicts that the sector will recover by the end of 2022. When it comes to labour, “employment has suffered from reduced demand in 2020, but has rebounded in 2021 and is the path to recoup all employment loss in 2022.” As far as consumer-focused trends are concerned, light trucks continue to replace passenger cars in terms of driver demand, despite inflation and the pandemic. AIA notes that kilometres driven have returned to pre-2020, but heightened gas prices have not been fully accounted for and may lead to a dip in non-essential travel. The association predicts exponential growth in the electric vehicle sector, projecting that nearly half of total vehicle registrations in 2028 will be electric vehicles.

THE POWER OF PEOPLE

The automotive aftermarket appears to be leading among the many other industries seeking out highly in-demand skilled trades workers, as the latest employment report from DesRosiers Automo tive Consultants Inc. (DAC) shows that employment in the sector is up 4.2 percent since June 2021. “The aftermarket especially continues to show strength, with employment count increases for both repair facilities and parts stores,” said the managing partner of DAC, Andrew King. Auto dealers and repair facilities now boast total workforces of more than 150,000 and 111,000 employees respectively, according to DAC’s research—figures far surpassing those of other industry sub-sectors. DAC said that in the year be tween June 2021 and 2022, the Canadian auto industry’s workforce expanded from 651,100 to 667,5000 employees.

TO SCALE

Dealerships beat out the aftermarket in revenue this year, accord ing to J.D. Power’s 2022 Canada Customer Service Index, which shows that dealer repairs captured more than half of the industry revenue from competition. The study found that dealership-based service centres accounted for 47 percent of all service visits and captured 58 percent of industry revenue this year, reversing the market share gains of aftermarket shops reported in 2021. The average per-visit spend for dealership customers in 2022 is $394. For aftermarket visits, the average cost sits at $247–nearly $150 cheaper than the dealership.

Customers appear to have equal faith in the quality of both dealership and aftermarket work. The percentage of aftermarket customers who said all service work was completed right the first time was 95 percent in 2022; down two percent from 2021. The dealership segment reported 94 percent of customers citing service completion upon first visit; like the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.

PEOPLE AND POLICY

The Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA) and a team of 20 associates across Canada were in parliament on October 18, bringing the right to repair issue to Ottawa. The association’s message was clear: “Give Canadian consumers a choice when it comes to auto repair.” AIA Canada was supported by executives from numerous automotive compa nies operating in Canada, including representatives from collision repair banners. Twenty-five MPs arrived for an all-party panel discussion, before association members broke off to meet one-on-one with local riding representatives to discuss the spe cifics of how consumers can attain greater choice on a community level.

This call-to-action extends to every single Canadian for AIA Canada, and as such, the association is also asking for individuals to reach out to their local MPs and insist that the right to repair be among their chief priorities.

TECH TRENDS

RIVIAN IS READY

As of late September, Transport Canada has authorized Rivian to sell vehicles in Canada. The news came days after Drive Tesla Canada reported that Rivian in fact, did not receive certification, following its application to Transport Canada earlier this month. The electric automaker reached out to the site a day later to clarify that it never failed the application; the OEM was simply required to provide supple mental information to finalize its certs. To meet Transport Canada’s certification requirements, Rivian had to meet specific standards in speedometer units of measure, certain labels, immobilizer require ments for anti-theft, pass-by noise standards and more.

TRIPLE THREAT

Several false advertising lawsuits have been leveled against Tesla recently, leaving the OEM with the possibility of class action lawsuits taking shape in California and Florida. In California, Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP announced a class action lawsuit alleging that Tesla misled the public regarding its autopilot and full self-driving (FSD) technology, saying that the OEM made untrue and mislead ing statements while having yet to produce a fully self-driving car. Meanwhile in Florida, a Palm Beach County court has set a date in February for the first in a series of autopilot collision trials. According to an article published by Bloomberg, the name “autopilot” might lull drivers into a false sense of security that the vehicle could automatically pilot themselves. Collision Repair has reported on various incidents where individuals and state or provincial bodies accused Tesla of false advertising, factories painting over vehicle damage, unresolved problems in a vehicle series and missing components such as brake pads.

FAREWELL FLIGHT

NO GREEN, NO PROBLEM

Big-name automakers are struggling to find a track to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, according to a recent report by the Capgemini Research Institute. The academic think-tank says investment in sustainability initiatives has fallen to less than one percent in 2022, compared to 1.22 percent in 2019. At current investment levels, greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 will be reduced by 24 percent—a far cry from the average goal of 45 percent reduction. These reduc tions were accomplished by less than 10 percent of companies in the industry actively working towards sustainability strategies, meaning that more than 90 percent of companies failed to make the necessary adaptations. The goal of the United Nations 2050 Paris Agreement is to reduce global warming to pre-industrial levels, preventing extreme climate changes that could result in unpleasant to unlivable living conditions around the world.

A flying car startup backed by Google co-founder, Larry Page, will wind down operations after 12 years of work to develop an affordable electrical aircraft capable of vertical takeoff. KittyHawk announced via a LinkedIn post that the company would be shutting its doors, but had yet to work out the details for what’s coming next. While the reasons for closure have not been released, it appears that KittyHawk’s people and technology may continue in a different capacity. Wisk, a joint venture between KittyHawk and Boeing will continue.

Collision Repair can confirm that the OEM has visited collision centres in several Canadian city centres, though the nature of those meetings was not specified.

KittyHawk has previously worked on ultralight electric aircraft that can be flown by non-pilots, a remotely piloted passenger carrying aircraft and a fixed wing electric aircraft that can fly more than 100 miles (160 kilo metres) on a single charge and is “100 times quieter than a helicopter.”

TRAINING

LEADING EDGE LEARNING

The CWB Group has announced an exciting new collaboration alongside Volkswagen Group Canada–a dedicated OEM collision repair training centre to serve Audi and Volkswagen brands. The first-of-its-kind facility will be located at the CWB Group facility in Milton, Ontario. It will showcase an OEM training environment utilizing the latest equipment and developing technician skills in repairing modern vehicles according to factory standards, said the companies. Scott Wideman, collision program manager at Volkswagen Group Canada, told  Collision Repair  courses could begin as early as November 2022. “The creation of the Canadian Collision Repair Academy is a significant milestone for our market as it represents the first body repair training centre of its kind for any OEMs in Canada. The vision for creating this training centre results from the participation and hard work of numerous stakeholders: Volkswagen Group Canada Inc., the CWB Group, equipment manufacturers and distributors. The facility will allow Volkswagen and Audi to deliver body repair training to support safe and proper repair techniques according to factory guidelines,” said Wideman. “I would like to thank all the stakeholders for making this dream a reality and for their commitment to our shared vision. The opportunities and the potential for the Canadian Collision Repair Academy are tremendous, and I look forward to furthering the training and advancement of the body repair industry, especially as vehicle technology evolves. This will all be made possible through this significant achievement; a body repair training centre developed in Canada for Canadians!”

BACK TO CLASS

Repairify recently unveiled plans to launch its dedicated training program, the Repairify Institute in 2023, The platform will serve as a technical training program for automotive professionals and will be available in Canada, with a French language stream coming later, said the company. According to a company newsletter, this is the industry’s first course built on adaptive learning, adjusting course material based on the learner’s strengths and weaknesses. Students can attend various academies to learn about various automotive topics or receive certification. The program also features a mentorship support program that tracks progress of newly learned skills and a Proof of Skill concept, where students must demonstrate mastery of the skills they’ve learned to perform safe and proper repairs.The Institute’s physical locations serve as examination and certification hubs for students, and includes classrooms, oral examination areas and shop spaces. The first Center of Excellence, Repairify’s name for these institutions, is slated to open near Dallas in early 2023.

MORE SEATS AT SAIT

The auto body program at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) is among three training institutions in the province due to receive a boost in classroom funding, thanks to a recent investment. In addition to its northern counterpart NAIT, as well as Portage College and its many campuses, SAIT’s auto body technician and automotive service technician programs are due to receive $187,810 of a total $1.37 million investment earmarked for opening up additional seats in classrooms. The Alberta government says this investment comes as part of a three-year plan to inject $15 million into apprenticeship education programs at post-secondary institutions across the province. As part of this round of investment, which the government says will open at least 300 seats in classrooms, NAIT will receive $764,396 for its pipe, electrical and power line training programs, while Portage College will get $421,000 for its steamfitting, pipefitting and heavy equipment mechanics programs.

MACH-E MATERIALS, GAB ON GLASS

Ford dropped the third edition of its 2022 “On Target”newsletters in early October, where the legacy OEM offered a reminder to glass repair technicians, clarified some welding details on the Mustang Mach-E SUV and announced the approval of a lift table from Bosch. Ford made a point of opening this issue of its sea sonal repair newsletter with a note to glass repair technicians that windshields are for more than to just “keep the rain out,” but are now directly integrated with a vehicle’s electronic and software communications systems, making proper OEM-approved ADAS calibration procedure crucial following any glass repair or replacement. To that end, the automaker is calling on glass technicians who work with Ford vehicles to come on board the Ford Certified Glass Network (FCGN), get themselves equipped with official Ford calibration tools and keep up with their regular over-the-air updates. Ford also reaffirmed its stance on certain repair details concerning the Mustang Mach-E SUV, specifically that the use of heat is still prohibited on bumper beams present in the vehicle. “Bumper beams are typically constructed of highstrength (HS) or stronger-class steel. If the bumper beam shows evidence of a kink or tear it is not repairable and must be replaced. The use of heat to repair these components is not allowed and will result in weakening the component. Minor damage may be corrected through cold straightening only,” read Ford’s newsletter.

Volkswagen and the CWB’s joint venture represents the first body repair training centre of its kind for any OEM operating in Canada. Trainees will receive education in Volkswagen and Audi repair methods.

“The Repairify Institute is the embodiment of the Repairify Mission to help automotive repair professionals in their quest to simplify complex repairs,” said Cris Hollingsworth, president of Repairify. “Not only are we enabling this mission with our patented technology, but we also are building curriculum and courses that help technicians achieve and maintain certification in their desired areas of expertise.”

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?!

CLOSEST OF CALLS

A North Vancouver driver is grateful to be unharmed after a transport truck with an insecure load launched a large metal beam through the driver’s side of her windshield. On October 7 at the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge. Resident Susan Milne said, “everything happened so fast. I didn’t have a lot of time to consider what my options were.” Vancouver police suspect that the truck was heading in the opposite direction of Milne when the beam fell, bounced from the bridge into her vehicle, and was blocked by the steering wheel. Milne said North Vancouver firefighters and police soon arrived, but no ambulance ever arrived–one was diverted to a more urgent incident, while other was delayed by congested traffic. With only a few cuts and bruises and her son unharmed, Milne considers herself lucky that things hadn’t been more dire.

MONEY PIT

Just when you thought your childhood fear of quicksand has passed, your car is consumed by the earth. That is what four Edmonton residents must be thinking after a sinkhole after a sinkhole opened in the parking lot of a south-end Infiniti dealership on September 20. Owner of the neigh bouring Mercedes-Benz Heritage Valley dealership, Lucky Uppal told CTV News Edmonton that he is lucky the hole didn’t open any closer, or his showroom would be in the pit. The sinkhole consumed four vehicles: two new, one used and one belonging to a customer. A recovery professional said the hole was likely caused by an overflowing underground stormwater tank that washed away the earth beneath the parking lot, causing the pavement to give way. The Edmonton Power Corporation (EPCOR) ruled that because it formed on private property the dealership is obligated to clean up the damage itself.

SCIENTIFIC ODDITIES

Bodywork meets arts and crafts with the University of Tokyo’s latest project: a pair of motorized eyes for autonomous vehicles (AVs), intended to alert pedestrians to whether they’ve been seen by the vehicle. Unlike today’s vehicles, future AVs may not have human drivers, and require the ability to telegraph “driver” intent to pedestrians. Researchers created scenarios in a virtual reality environment, where nine male and nine female pedestrians decide whether it was safe to cross the road. In half the tests, the AV would wait for the pedestrian, while the other half drove through. Half featured googly eyes; half without. It was found that the googly eyes helped male pedestrians make fewer dangerous road crossings, while fewer female pedestri ans chose to wait for a car intending to stop. In both cases, the googly eyes resulted in smoother and safer crossings for pedestrians and vehicles alike.

The sinkhole consumed four vehicles: two new, one used and one belonging to a customer.

It

TECHY TAPWATER

Two hydrogen fuel cell electric buses were recently on display at the Edmonton Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle Expo, where one official decided to prove how clean the tech is by drinking straight from a bus tailpipe. The two buses—Xcelsior models manufactured by New Flyer—use a Ballard fuel cell electric engine, which releases water and heat instead of greenhouse gas emissions. The verdict? It quenches. These buses are part of Alberta’s $9.8 million Zero Emissions Hydrogen Transit initiative to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Edmonton’s energy transition strategy aims to cut emissions by 35 percent, com pared to levels recorded in 2005. The locale looks to achieve this by 2025 and cut a further 50 percent by 2030. The city is striving for zero-net emissions per person by 2050.

Fancy a glass of fuel-cell-sourced H2O? They say it’s shockingly refreshing.

was found that the googly eyes helped male pedestrians make fewer dangerous road crossings, while fewer female pedestrians chose to wait for a car intending to stop.

Photo @joeiscranky on Twitter

FIND TOP TALENT TODAY!

Powered by Collision Repair

COMING HOME TO A NEW PLACE

BY MAX REID

Locality and the vision of the neighbourhood body shop have long been sources of pride for the collision industry. It stirs up a wave of nostalgia—jumpsuit uniforms, bright signs that end with “and Sons”—the whole bit.

But the world in which we live is far more global than that of our grandparents who first opened those “and Sons” shops.

Many of our technicians have hit the road to look for the shop that can make the best use of their skills, while on the flip side, business owners know they can no longer count on poaching local talent from their competitors.

Welcoming newcomers to Canada has become a lifeline for collision centres like Fix Auto Charlottetown.

When estimator and assistant manager Katherine Gordillo immigrated to Canada from Ecuador during the pandemic, finding work was not the biggest issue on her plate—she was an established businessperson in her home country, with credentials to her name—the issue was finding an employer who would work with her through the immigration process and help her grow her career.

In her first steps into the automotive indus try, having secured a job in downtown Toronto doing customer service for a collision repair consolidator, Katherine realized that simply finding a job was not enough. She needed to find a company with that was willing to support her immigration application.

“One day I spoke with my manager, and I

said, ‘I am an immigrant, here is my paperwork. I have an open work permit and at some point, I will need your support to be able to extend my permit. I want to know if you are open to that,’” said Katherine.

She was told that immigration assistance is reserved for skilled positions like technicians and painters, and that even though she was in the process of being groomed to become an estimator, she would not be granted a work permit extension.

Seeing no path forward at her current job, Katherine sought out a change.

“I came to Canada in the middle of the pandemic. In Toronto, everything was locked down. At the time I said, ‘I don’t want this life,’ so I looked for the safest place to live

“If you go to a business and see they’re having problems trying to find a candidate for a position, why wouldn’t you look outside of the country, overseas—you have the whole world to choose from.”

– Katherine Gordillo, Estimator and assistant manager, Fix Auto Charlottetown

“Everybody in our shop is fairly close,” said David. “We’re a close team, everybody is friends and we all get along, so a lot of it is just about making sure not to alienate people who are coming into the shop. That’s not just with workers coming from other countries, but with anybody we hire—they need to fit into our environment.”

“We started in this location probably about eight or nine years ago now,” said David. “We were in a different area of town prior to this, and eventually outgrew that location. Now we’re looking for location number three because, once again, we’ve outgrown the one we’re in.”

during the pandemic. I found P. E.I., and David,” she recalled.

“I’m a third-generation owner; been in the industry for about 20 years,” said David Gaudet, owner and manager of Fix Auto Charlottetown.

David and his family’s shop have been a fixture on the island for decades, and while Katherine is by no means the first foreign employee to walk through his doors, the path to getting her set up in her new home came with unprecedented challenges.

“At the time, it was very difficult to come to P.E.I. because the island was closed. I had to prove to the government that I have had all the COVID tests and vaccines, and proof that I had a job to keep me there,” she said.

After her job offer and COVID-related paper work came through and she was approved to move to the island, Katherine rose through the ranks at Fix Auto Charlottetown, from a role in customer service to the estimating job she had long been preparing for.

When the issue of immigration paperwork again reared its head, Katherine was instilled not with a feeling of disappointment, but a newfound hope and trust in the company she works for.

“When I asked about extending my work permit, David was open to helping me with immigration. From there I said, ‘Okay, this company wants to support me and my job, so I want to stay here’,” she said.

“I can’t take credit for the work involved with sponsoring Kathy—she’s a very hard worker; she took care of all the paperwork—all I really had to do was provide some signatures when required. She was the first person for whom I had to be that involved with their permanent residency,” said David.

Like nearly every other collision repair centre currently operating in Canada, Fix Auto Charlottetown has had some trouble drawing in local painters and technicians to work the production floor as of late.

This got Katherine and David talking about what could be done, after social media cam paigns, radio and newspaper ads, online job ads and everything else under the sun was not getting positions filled.

The pair decided that they could leverage Katherine’s experience in human resources to make hiring internationally a standard process for the shop. She says that David’s openness to jump through the hoops of immigration for the sake of solid talent is part of what sets him and his shop apart.

“David is open to hiring internationally and working with immigrants. He is open to giving them the opportunity to prove their skills, and that is the starting point of everything,” said Katherine.

“If you go to a business and see they’re having problems trying to find a candidate for a position, why wouldn’t you look outside of the country, overseas—you have the whole world to choose from, but if the head of the business is not open to it, you can’t do anything.”

Paperwork aside, hiring internationally re quires a massive amount of vetting, as David and Katherine have come to learn, and you can’t always take people at their word when they say they have the skills.

“We’re working with a painter from Belarus right now to try and get him over because he has a huge resume, but we have to really know that because you can write whatever you want on a resume, so we require videos and work references,” said Katherine.

Once a prospective employee has shown they can deliver, David says that a slow pro gression is recommended when getting an employee from abroad used to not just a new shop, but oftentimes, an entirely new language and culture.

“It requires patience. They come here wanting to work and I feel like too often they are too eager to just try and please. They don’t want to stir the pot at all, so if I ask them to go do a job, they’ll go and do it to the best of their ability, but it may not be to where we want it done,” he said.

“You need to have some communication where everybody understands that, here, you’re suited for one area of the shop—you can’t do everything yourself. If assemblies and disassemblies are your strong suit, that is where I am going to put you. To start, it’s just about finding that comfortable point for them where they can start to contribute.”

Approach the situation with the patience you would want if you had to pick up your tools and move across the world, and the benefits will roll in before you know it.

“One fellow, Rafael, is from Mexico. He came to island when he was working on a program in a different industry. He’s dedicated, hard-working and you really couldn’t ask for a better guy. He’s happy to be here working and helping out,” said David.

Rafael says that despite the leap that required him to uproot himself from family and friends, he is grateful to pursue this “worthwhile dream” under the mentorship of David and Katherine.

“Originally, I am from Ecuador where I was a business engineer, but one day I decided to change my life and move countries,” said Katherine. “I wanted to prove to myself that I could take my knowledge and ideas and go another country with another culture and contribute to a new company.”

“I must admit how surprised I am by the understanding and patience that everyone on the team has had with me,” said Rafael Mendez.

“My position required no previous experience and I had never worked in anything related, but everyone was part of my training and now I feel more comfortable with my job.  Additionally, Kathy helped me a lot in the process of transitioning and adapting to the body shop.”

“The other guy, Diego, is from Chile and he has been with us for about a month,” said David. “He has a bit of experience in the automotive industry. It was kind of the same thing; you take them in and just go slow.”

Diego Alvarez expressed a similar sentiment of gratitude as Rafael, and acknowledged the double-edge to immigration.

“Migrating is a breaking point for many,” he said. “It must be well thought out; it is not for all people.”

About Katherine and David, Diego said, “They have been very kind and patient. I am very grateful to David, who has given me this opportunity, and to Kathy who has been very attentive to how my adaptation process has been.”

Fix Auto Charlottetown benefits as a province quickly making immigration part of its identity, as initiatives like the Atlantic Immigration

Program work to accelerate the process for foreign skilled tradespeople looking to work on the island.

“Permanent residency is quicker to gain here in P.E.I. They can get their permanent residency within two years, where I believe in other provinces it can be up to four years,” said David.

Katherine said that, because she had al ready received a job offer, she was approved for permanent residency within a year.

“I have found the island to be a very good place to live. It’s quiet but starting to grow. There are plenty of opportunities you wouldn’t get in bigger cities,” said Katherine.

“Speaking as an immigrant, a lot of immi grants tend to go directly to the big cities, Vancouver, Toronto, where it’s very expensive and you may not have as many opportunities.

“I found that, here in P.E.I. there is a better way to live and grow professionally.”

It wasn’t easy for Katherine to get where she is today, but she feels reassured to have a supportive employer backing her and the many other new Canadians she hopes to bring into the industry.

“Fix Auto Charlottetown didn’t just support me with my immigration paperwork, but in my professional growth as well,” she said.

“Now I’m the assistant manager, and that’s fantastic.”

SEEN

AT SEMA

BODYWORX BRINGS YOU ALL THE HOTTEST SIGHTS

BY ALLISON ROGERS AND MAX REID

The energy was palpable on the show floor; hardly any face was without a beaming smile. The iconic Las Vegas SEMA Show was surely back in full force this year.

The team from Bodyworx Professional was all over the Las Vegas Convention Center during SEMA week, capturing the coolest the exhibition had to offer—just for our readers.

Look at some of our standouts from SEMA 2022.

Past Bodyworx cover star Meghan McEwen and magazine publisher Darryl Simmons.

Dannielle Vaclavik, custom airbrusher.

PHOTO BOOTH

Much love to our readers and all the Canadians that we saw or stopped by our booth at SEMA—and if you missed your chance to say hi or grab a magazine and sticker at this show, subscribe to our daily e-zine to find out where we’ll be next.

Ron Olsson, founder of Pro Spot International, being interviewed by Bodyworx editor Allison Rogers. Looking for more SEMA content? We’ve got interviews galore on the Collision Repair mag YouTube channel!

The Pfaff crew, left to right: Mike Emerson, Dan Silvestri, Jeff Pabst.

Charles Aoun, owner, CamAuto.

Hilary Noack, owner of Ink N Iron in Toronto, with colleague Audrey Batson.

Auli Parviainen, managing director, Car-Rep, and Max Reid, staff writer for Bodyworx Professional.

Bodyworx editor Allison Rogers with Cole Marten and Chelsie Lesnoski of Throttle Thrashers Garage in Penticton, B.C.

KNOCKOUT RIDES

Pro tip for anyone who has never attended a SEMA Show before; stake out the booths of paint companies. They always have some of the flashiest rides to show off.

If you end up in the SEMA Show’s tire hall, you may just find yourself stumbling through a forest of luxury rims like this one.

WINTER 2022 | BODYWORX

Our editor, Allison Rogers, got her hands on the newest SATA minijet 4400 B Lady Edition II.

Whether inside at an exhibitor display, or outside in the burn pit, the SEMA Show has something to see around every corner.

Frequent Collision Repair readers may recognize this plaid Porsche from some of our coverage of Pfaff Motorsports earlier this year.

THE WORLD WOWING

CANADA’S DORIEN LOZEAU AND ABIGAIL KING PAINT AND POLISH THE GLOBAL STAGE

BY ALLISON ROGERS AND MAX REID

Dubbed WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition, the in ternational competition ran a little differently than in years past. Rather than having all the trades compete at one central location, each specialty had its own event in a different global location over a three-month period. Events were held in 15 countries across Europe, Asia and North America. Read on to see how our Canadian duo performed at the international level.

DORIEN IN DENMARK

Dorien Lozeau returned with a Medallion of Excellence for his performance.

The painter based out of CSN Black Ace in St. Paul, Alta., and former Bodyworx Profes sional cover star, faced steep competition at this year’s event. He did Canada proud and came away with some hardware for his fifth place, 712-point finish.

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) instructor Cecile Bukmeier first intro duced Dorien to provincial skills competitions in 2019, where he placed second.

He went on to win the national car painting gold in 2021, but it wasn’t a qualifying year for the global World Skills competition.

When he took to the national stage in Van couver back in May to win another gold medal, Dorien sealed his spot to represent Canada internationally in the car painting competition.

Dorien had mere months to train for the global contest but said the fact that he and his instructor, Bukmeier live in the same province; she would’ve been the car painting trainer for Canada no matter who won the national comp.

“We were able to get in lots of training this year, considering we only had a couple of months,” said Dorien.

Some other contestants had been preparing for years, he told a local news outlet. Even still, Dorien was “only a couple of points” from the top performers.

Dorien also claimed an award for sustain ability; meaning, out of all competitors, he was the one to use the least amount of paint material to complete his job.

“Overall it’s a good pat on the back just to make it this far and get to the world level—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Bodyworx readers should know of Dorien Lozeau and Abigail King, the two competitors representing Canada’s collision repair sector at WorldSkills 2022.

Dorien Lozeau was Skills Canada’s car painting rep after claiming the national title two years in a row.

SOME APPLAUSE FOR ABIGAIL

London, Ontario’s Abigail King came back without a medal but told Fanshawe College’s student newspaper she was still proud of herself for making it to the global stage in Switzerland.

“I did some things I’ve never done before, and competed against people who’ve been in the trade for longer than me,” she explained to the Falcon.

A former student of Fanshawe’s one-year auto body repair program, Abigail spent 11 months preparing for her skills competitions and won gold at Skills Canada’s national event in May.

“Abby displayed a natural talent for welding and sheet metal repair very early in the [auto body repair] program, so she became a perfect candidate for the competition,” said James Shaw, Fanshawe’s Auto Body Program Co-or dinator. “She had expressed some interest to compete early on and took any extra training as available throughout her two semesters of schooling.

Abigail also prides herself on blazing a trail for other female collision repairers.

“We usually have a couple of girls enroll in our program every year,” said one of her college instructors. “This year, we had ten young women enroll in the auto body repair techniques program.”

Abgail’s instructor says she showed a talent for welding and sheet metal repair very early in her training.

HOW DO WE SOLVE THE

SKILLS SHORTAGE

CANADA’S INDUSTRY OFFERS POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

BY ALLISON ROGERS AND KATE NG

You must be living under a rock if you’ve yet to hear the words skills shortage spoken in your shop. In Collision Repair mag’s recent chats with collision centre staff, one industry-wide challenge has been brought to the forefront: a lack of qualified talent. In fact, the most frequently uttered answers to our SEMA Interview questions regarding collision industry challenges were rooted in talent shortages.

The industry has known of this looming position for quite some time, but one sector can’t solve it all. To solve this current conundrum, we need all corners of this industry to come together.

We asked our readers for their opinions on attracting talent to the trade. See what solutions collision centre owners and industry stakeholders across Canada have to offer.

WHAT INITIATIVES COULD DRAW MORE TALENT TO THE INDUSTRY, IN YOUR OPINION?

“A decent wage, like mechanics, plumbers, electricians, etc. Most tradespeople in those industries make at minimum 50 percent more. Until there is a major increase in door rates, we will face a shortage.”

“A better apprenticeship program, having a school program that could operate one day per week would make it a lot easier for apprentices than taking two months off work.”

“CARSTAR has a training facility in Hamilton, Ont. It could be utilized to teach teens some basic repairs, and make it informative and fun. A good first impression could mean something to the youth.”

“We need to show young people the opportunities that exist in the industry—especially now with new vehicle technology and the emergence of EVs.”

FAST FACTS

“Allow door rates to increase alongside inflation. We are about nine years behind where we should be at.”

“Higher wages. Collision should have a say in rates, not insurance.”

• 68.7 percent of respondents are COLLISION REPAIR CENTRE OWNERS, MANAGERS

• 21.3 percent of respondents are SUPPLIERS, DISTRIBUTORS • 4.8 percent of respondents are INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVES • 5.2 percent of respondents are EDUCATORS

• 55.7 percent from Ontario

• 8.2 percent from the Maritimes

• 6.6 percent from Manitoba • 4.9 percent from Saskatchewan

• 21.3 percent from Alberta

• 3.3 percent from British Columbia

*82 percent of respondents have worked in the industry 20+ years

“The door rates need to come up. Schools need to offer more trades in workshop classes. Get the youth hands-on and see who takes an interest!”

“Start offering autobody classes in high school. Most teenagers start with a crappy car. [Repairing it themselves] may spark interest in some to pursue a career in the trade.”

“We need to offer flexible hours, benefits, challenging and interesting work, career training and a fair, inclusive working environment.”

“Better pay and benefits. I’ve lost two good techs to the TTC over the years. When you look at compensation for the trades, autobody is the lowest. And, right now, it’s too big an investment [as an owner] to offer anything solid to a young apprentice.”

“It’s tough to pay new employees fair wages when you’re not receiving them.”

“We need national ad campaigns; programs to allow easier access to foreign workers; a national collision repair industry association to work with the insurance industry, with a mission of working on solutions to the skills shortage.”

“We need social media recruitment campaigns.”

“More female-led initiatives.”

WHAT FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO THE SKILLS SHORTAGE?

said low wages

said higher wages in other trades

said poor benefits, compensation packages

said industry image

said work conditions

said tool expenses

PRETTY PATINA TO RUINOUSLY RUSTED

HOW MUCH RUST IS TOO MUCH RUST?

1: OL’ RELIABLE

BY KATE NG

Nothing in life is certain but taxes, waiting in queues and rusting.

For the scientifically inclined, rust is the result of a scientific process known as oxidation. Think of a steel plate as a pure chunk of steel—built as intended by the manufacturer. When exposed to oxygen and water, the steel plate starts to bond with oxygen and create iron oxide —the chemical fusion of oxygen and iron molecules.

While other forms of oxidation like ver digris do exist, most cars are made of iron and not copper parts exposed to vinegar and salty sea water.

While technically a form of degradation, some people do enjoy a bit of wear and tear on their stuff—it makes it theirs, not just another fresh showroom piece.

These are the grades of oxidation, ordered from vintage cool to a literal biohazard.

The rust gives it a weirdly rugged charm— for now.

LEVEL 2: RUSTY CHICKEN POX

The intro level of rust, that most people have exposure to. Minor spots of oxidation, perhaps a roughened matte exterior—nothing that a quick sanding job or abrasive tool won’t fix!

Not too obvious, given that the car’s paint is probably still there—maybe the driver loved the outdoors, likes the old school look, or really hates shiny things.

A vintage that marks the true car connoisseur, or that uncle who insists the check engine light is just a decoration. This is what you trained for as a professional auto body refinisher, to restore worn cars back to their prime.

Small pits of rust are start ing to form—time to bust out that air brush perhaps. And sander, primer, clear coat.

LEVEL

Time to get the car refinished— it gets weird stares from passerbys.

Your car’s journey to become a rusted hulk has only just begun, much like the judgement of your colleagues and friends as you drive a corroded truck straight from a zombie movie set and onto the streets.

Restorers on the other hand, will weep tears of joy at the chance to restore a functional piece of automotive history that has stood the test of time. Perhaps it won’t sound like a drowning narwhal after your care and work.

Actual protection against rust is advised at this point, and attempts to restore such a vehicle vary from foolhardy to overly optimistic.

More rust than metal, only the most desperate drivers and hardened restorers would ever consider touching this ques tionably functional automobile.

This car has evolved into a scientific anomaly testing the limits of the tetanus vaccine, and a blimp piloted by a drunk moose would be safer— your medical team does their job best when not dying of irony.

If this vehicle doesn’t mean the world to you or a customer, perhaps renting or buying a new vehicle might be better?

LEVEL 5: HOPE IS LOST

It might not get into a recycler’s inventory, but it makes a decent plant pot. Why is this still in the yard?

Presumably, this car is old enough to lecture your parents about hard work and determination.

The average used car on Kijiji —local pickup, cash only.

A NEW ARRAY

YOU’RE GOING TO LAVA BASF’S COLOUR TRENDS FOR 2022/23

BASF expects this year’s palette to arrive on roads and driveways in the next three to five model years.

BY KATE NG

With each new year comes a new rainbow—at least, that’s the case for BASF.

The coatings giant has revealed its annual predictive colour trends report, which presents a new palette of automotive hues that align with global trends analyzed by BASF.

“This collection immerses itself in that space to look forward at the future of mobility,” BASF said of this year’s shades.

Dubbed, "A New Array", BASF expects this year’s palette and offshoot variants to arrive on roads and driveways in the next three to five model years.

AMERICAS

BASF’s research suggests that North American and South American drivers seek two main desires: adopting new aesthetics through a flashy car colour—but without the loss of that sophisticated, luxurious vehicle appearance.

“Visions of progress emanate through the Americas colours with depth, texture and compatibility,” wrote the coatings company in its report. “Expressions of natural and simplified options beckon both individuals and communities to embrace liminal spaces.”

North America’s key shade, Lava, shows how technology can deliver on the ecological and the sophistication front, said BASF—a “testament to the myriad of possibilities the viewer experiences” when they first witness the shade.

South America’s main colour, Cozy Values, is a beige-copper colour breaks from the monotone with a brilliant elegance that excludes artisanal innovation, bringing the most out of the vehicles popular in the region.

Cozy Values, expresses the beauty of nat ural elements while alluding to the South American history behind precious metals and metalworking traditions, said BASF.

ASIA

Asia’s colours emphasize the liminal space between the real and the virtual, a new world where people can express their intentions and preferences within their own narratives, away from social pressures.

These colours present a positive, realistic future that reflects individuality.

BASF suggests that Efflorescense beckons the viewer with a unique tactile feel, bringing them into the space of open minds and fresh ideas.

Ran Ran roughly translates to an uncon frontational, laid pack perspective. It flows with the energy of the universe, unbound by rules, said the coatings company.

China’s

These three continents have embraced Minted Gold, which BASF describes simply and effectively as a strong, shiny metallic gold.

Europe’s second colour, Gravatar, is an earthy, yellow shade based on light ivory integrated with fine, natural earth.

EMEA

Asia Pacific’s Efflorescense is a pearly shade of cream. The colour has an eco-friendly process, an emotional feel, and forges a narrative in sustainability and identity, claims BASF.

North America’s colour, Lava depicts a deep charcoal gray with a glowing redness, creating a deep, multi-layered colour showcasing dancing lights upon its coated surface.

The European, Middle Eastern and African (EMEA) continents are represented by BASF via golden tones with high chromaticity, enabling an extreme range of colour from smooth dark tones, subtly complex neutral shades, and unique effects.

This chromatic golden tone modernizes the value of the physical substance to the needs and aspirations of the digital age.

Gravatar is an attention-grabber that in tegrates new matter into the concept of colour—literally.

colour, Ran Ran is a rich, modest yellow with white sparkles to enhance its contrast in the shade, neither too loud nor too soft.

ALL TOGETHER NOW

ARE YOU AN ADVOCATE FOR THE INDUSTRY?

BY ALLISON ROGERS

Iwas recently on a call with one of our columnists, who comes from a western province. Mid-way through our Zoom meeting, the columnist stopped all three of us on the call to ask us our honest opinions on a delicate matter.

Now, our art director, Yvonne; our staff writer, Max and myself all come from Ontario. All three of us would consider ourselves fairly educated in the happenings of other provinces and territories, though we all know each has its uniquely Canadian clichés…whether they ring true or not.

There are certain initiatives that can be done to move our industry toward more open, productive conversation between parties.

The columnist admitted that, when Ontario is mentioned, their brain falls victim to typecasting. Ontarians typically think they’re better than the rest, they told our call. They then asked our team what preconceived notions came to mind when their province was mentioned. Surprisingly, all three of us had positive things to say about this province none of us had been to. I don’t think any of us were lying; surely the columnist thought we were.

This all happened in good spirits—no one was actually accusing anyone of being snooty or anything close, but it highlighted a model we often see in relationships between the verticals of the collision repair space. An industry made up of several connecting checkpoints and numerous verticals, wherein thousands of conversations are had every day—where good communication is required in order for the job, deal or the other to go smoothly. It’s integral that every part of the collision repair process works together, without conflict, from the

first notice of loss through the repair process and onto the delivery. Yet here we are, often at odds—just as some provinces don’t have the clearest (or kindest) perceptions of the others.

Without any conflict may be a slightly unrealistic request—at least in the interim—but there are certain initiatives that can be done to move our industry toward more open, productive conversation between parties, both on local and national levels. Conversations with your boss, your customers, your colleagues and far beyond. Partake in industry groups—there are dozens online, on Facebook and LinkedIn. Every role in this industry can play a part in fostering connection.

The new year is upon us, and with another flip of the calendar comes another year of anticipated changes; steps forward—especially as Right to Repair continues to process through the House. The year 2023 is going to be what we make it—and, if the energy resembles a fraction of the messages received by this magazine of late, it’s going to be a good one.

or 905-370-0101.

Allison Rogers is the editor of Bodyworx Professional. She can be reached at allison@mediamatters.ca,

An iconic comeback.

In 2015, the special SATAminijet 4400 B Lady Edition was introduced, dedicated to the then International Women’s Day motto “Make it happen!”. It was specially designed for female painters and was extremely popular all over the world. To un derline the growing importance of women working in the paint application industry, SATA has revived the “Lady” in a new look.

The limited and numbered special edition of the SATAminijet 4400 B impresses with its unusual design reminding of a henna tattoo.

Three sparkling glass crystals let the “Lady” shine in new bril liance. The lasered lettering “Lady Edition II” on the trigger and the aluminum cup, give the spray gun the perfect final touch.

For safe storage, the Lady Edition II is delivered in a black case with a black insert that perfectly matches the shape of the spray gun and cup. The Lady Edition II is available as a SATAminijet 4400 B RP 1.2 SR cpl. with 0.15 l QCC Aluminium reusable cup.

Art. No. 1160390

Note: The SATAminijet 4400 B is unique and limited to 2022 pieces worldwide. Available from your participating SATA dealer, while stocks last.