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DEPARTMENTS Page 4

EDITOR’S LETTER – A group of U of Calgary engineering students convert a gas motor to electrical power, potentially opening sustainable doors for our north.

Page 28

WOMEN AND WHEELS – The only thing better than a road trip is coming home again says T.D. Patterson

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ELECTRIC AVENUE – What happens when Lucid Motors partners with Electrify Canada? Electricity!

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THE ATLANTIC ROAD REPORT – Amendments to Nova Scotia’s Motor Vehicle Act permits operation of e-scooters on municipal roads. • More!

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NEWS OF THE WEIRD – Wouldja believe a stolen car is returned to its rightful owner . . . 40 years after the fact?

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COMMUNITY MATTERS – Sean Maddox has a call to arms

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“SMALL BUT MIGHTY BUSINESS” NAPA shop diversifies and satisfies

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FAREWELL TO A FRIEND – Uni-Select bids farewell to Ralph Moore

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PROCOLOR COLLISION WELCOMES ITS FIRST-EVER ATLANTIC LOCATION – P.E.I. becomes the Atlantic launchpad for a planned network of service centers

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“ALIGNING PEOPLE AND INNOVATION TO DRIVE EXCELLENCE” – Safety’s but one reason why Hunter’s customers keep coming back for decades. By Carter Hammett

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“DRIVE THRU OIL CHANGE” Rhino Truck Lube officially opens for business in Dartmouth N.S. By Kristen Lipscombe

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THE ART OF SHIFTING – It could be a manual transmission or a major life event says Dana Smith. But at the end of the day it’s all about perspective.

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HUMAN HIGHWAY – the Pandemic’s caused a lot of changes in our spending behaviour, including the slow but steady growth of car sales online

COVER BY JAMES SOMERS

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3

Letter from the Editor

BUILDING A BETTER ATV

E

By Carter Hammett

VERY ONCE IN A WHILE AN INNOVATIVE PROJECT COMES ALONG THAT ACTS AS A FORCE FOR POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE WHILE BENEFITTING THE COMMUNITY.

Recently I found myself applauding the actions of a group of University of Calgary engineering students who happened to find a way of converting an all-terrain (ATV) vehicle to electric power in a way that would help Indigenous communities living in remote regions.

Up in Canada’s great white north, ATV’s are a way of life and considered a necessity.

The Arctic Institute of North America’s Kluane Lake Research Station lies about 220 kilometres northwest of Whitehorse.

Established in 1961, the station is home to research in a variety of fields including hydroponics, weather and renewable energy. There, Henry Penn, a researcher working on developing sustainable energy projects wanted to identify a method of converting a gas-powered Kubota utility vehicle used at the station to an electric

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motor. Enter a team of students from the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering: Marlin Sako, Alejandro Sulbaran, Natasha Eden, Jasmine McDermott, Austin Bercier and Wylie Pietsch. Two of the students have a cultural connection to the project as Bercier is Metis and McDermott is Cree. Both had been looking for ways to give back to their communities.

Part of the impetus for initiating such a project is that gas prices in northern communities are ridiculously expensive: 13.6 – 30 cents per kW.h of electricity, way above the Canadian average of 12.9 cents per kW.h.

In their project overview, the students add that with the area’s low population density and remote location, electrical needs are usually met by more expensive and carbon-intensive energy sources like gasoline and diesel generators.

To date, solar batteries have been able to generate enough power to operate the

ATV for up to 90 minutes. Recharging the unit merely involves plugging it in to a standard power outlet. Northern communities have a heavy reliance on these midsize vehicles as they are constantly used to ferry people and supplies around some of the harshest landscapes in the world.

With winter temperatures averaging -30C, weather became a major factor in every step of the design process.

But that challenge aside, the initiative was fraught with problems almost from its inception. Chief among these was maneuvering through a global supply chain shortage, which drove prices up and put a severe strain on deliverables.

And yet the team persevered and bashed on regardless, delivering a product that respects the land and takes the context of its community into consideration throughout the design process. The conversion cost about $7,000 and took about a week to complete. Additionally, the conversion was completed in a manner that is modular, affordable, and easily replicable so that surrounding Indigenous communities may also take advantage of this project’s findings and solutions.

I’m as big a fan of all the technological bells and whistles that marry with automotive design as anyone else, but seeing a vision that not only enhances a community’s selfreliance but also incorporates cultural context while looking beyond immediate needs is something else altogether. The students are to be applauded not only for their vision and generosity of spirit, but also for creating a potential prototype that might provide the foundation for a sustainable future for generations to come. For more on the project visit: Petrol to Electric Kubota Conversion Kit – Engineering Design Fair 2022 (ucalgary.ca).

HUMAN H ONLINE CAR SALES BECOM T

HE PANDEMIC’S HAD PROFOUND EFFECTS ON CONSUMER SPENDING AND BEHAVIOUR. AGILE CAR SELLERS ARE NOW MOVING THEIR INVENTORIES ONLINE WHERE PURCHASES ARE SLOWLY BUT SURELY BECOMING THE “NEW NORMAL.”

By Carter Hammett

Two years after Dena Sacks of Markham O.N. was laid off in 2020, her financial situation appearing bleak, she found herself coming to terms with an uncomfortable decision.

Realizing she needed to pay off a rather sizeable loan, the 69-year-old Sacks decided it was time to sell her 2018

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Hyundai Tucson “I wasn’t happy about selling my vehicle,” she says.

“However, when I contacted Canada Drives and spoke to Balil Imtiaz, he put me at ease and told me he would handle everything. He was very personable, very efficient.”

While the decision to sell a vehicle to pay off a loan isn’t exactly a novel idea, deciding to sell her car online was.

And it’s an idea that’s slowly but surely gaining traction with a wider audience.

PANDEMIC-IGNITED SPENDING CHANGES

Now that we’re entering the sixth—or is it the sixtieth?-variant in the never-ending merry-go-round of pandemic outbreaks, it’s intriguing to note how drastically Covid has

HIGHWAY MING ‘THE NEW NORMAL’ impacted our behaviour and changed old spending patterns.

From the rise of the Great Resignation and hybrid workplaces to the birth of “microcredentials” there’s no denying how extreme the impact that Covid has been on our social infrastructure and behaviour. Indeed, contactless drop offs, QR codes on menus and online everything is certainly part of the current Zeitgeist.

One of the most significant changes has been the increased migration of consumers towards online purchases.

And chief among those has been the increased interest of consumers in purchasing vehicles online.

In 2021 CARFAX Canada asked over 2000 Canadians who had recently purchased new or used vehicles about some of their purchasing preferences. Only 8% said they

would purchase their next vehicle online, while a rather astonishing 92% demonstrated a clear preference for buying a car at the dealership.

One would think that online purchases would appeal to a younger tech-savvy crowd, but this too is somewhat surprising. Only 12% of new car buyers between 18-and-24 demonstrated interest in purchasing a vehicle online. That figure dropped to 6% with the 55+ crowd.

Despite changes to our Pandemic-related behaviour, most Canadians want a tactile experience and the opportunity to test-drive their potential purchase.

Compare these figures to a 2020 Google Consumer Survey which suggested that 60% of Canadians looking to buy a vehicle would use an online purchase option, while 17%

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7

From the Showroom Floor

would purchase a car sooner if there was an online option.

An at-home test drive ranked as the best alternative to an auto showroom visit, with about one third of all Canadians weighing in. Hot on the heels of these results were car review videos, an online configurator, a digital showroom, VR test drives and video conferences.

Compared to other countries, Canada has been slower to embrace online purchasing. A partial explanation for this is that some stages of the car purchase journey tend to rely on in-person activity, Things like insurance and registration or applying for financing can create some friction if done digitally.

Google Canada’s research demonstrates that Canadians are actually spending less time purchasing their cars, committing to their purchases in less than two weeks. About 59% have made their purchases in less than a month. The bottom line is that vehicle buyers are relying on

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online research rather than trekking to the dealerships.

Not surprisingly although national car sales had dropped by as much as 19.6% in 2021, dealerships were still in full swing.

However with the rise of online automotive showrooms and options to buy online with services like Clutch—which is also available in Nova Scotia--and Autozen increasing their visibility, buying and selling vehicles online stands poised ready to become the next hot thing.

SELL MY CAR In April of this year, Canada Drives (canadadrives.ca), an online car shopping platform, announced the launch of its “Sell My Car” feature. Canadians can receive a guaranteed quote online and are then given the option to sell their current vehicle directly to Canada Drives.

The vehicle can be picked up as early as the next day.

The press release states that with the

new feature, customers are given a quote within two minutes and can decide to either sell their vehicle and receive the money via direct deposit, or trade it in for a new one. Canada Drives will also take care of paying off any existing loans on the customer’s current vehicle. On average, selling a car privately takes more than four weeks; now with Canada Drives, the whole process can take as little as 48 hours.

“The entire team has been working hard behind the scenes to launch the new feature,” says Canada Drives founder and Co-CEO Cody Green. “For Canadians looking to sell their vehicle, they can visit Canadadrives.ca and fill in their vehicle details. In real-time, they will receive a guaranteed quote online and then have the option to sell their current vehicle directly to Canada Drives. As soon as the next day, their vehicle can be picked up and money transferred to their account.

If a customer wants to trade in a vehicle,

From the Showroom Floor

CANADA DRIVES FOUNDER AND CO-CEO CODY GREEN

they can access Canada Drives’ inventory of thousands of certified vehicles. The value of the trade-in will be deducted from the total cost of the new car and Canada Drives will pick up the trade-in when the new car is delivered.“ Green says that when consumers visit the website, details on their current vehicle are collected, including the vehicle’s make, model, location and condition. The algorithm will generate a fair market value based on local retail prices of similar vehicles and the expected reconditioning costs.

“We developed and built our platform to ensure the customer’s experience lived up to our high standards. We created a website that provided a seamless car buying experience that was easy to navigate and clicks away from excellent customer service–and their next vehicle.”

There can be no arguing with the simple convenience of purchasing a car online. Doing the preliminary research online can save time and reduce a lot of potential stress, including avoiding aggressive sales tactics by showroom sellers. It’s now much easier to shop around while comparing prices and assessing features that match your criteria.

On the flip side, it can be difficult to understand the condition of the car you might be interested in. You may be putting yourself at risk by committing to a vehicle with deficits you might not be comfortable with. Furthermore, it can be difficult communicating concerns to the seller with a lot of unclear pingponging messages that can make the sales process cumbersome. Of course test drives are still done mainly on the lot.

WHAT ABOUT THAT FINANCING THING ANYWAY? Naturally, obtaining the best possible loan option is of great importance. But what are the options when choosing between an online lender or in-house financing that’s offered by a dealership?

Usually, dealerships are more akin to a loan broker who will identify a third-party lender for your loan. One of the downsides of this however, is that most likely you won’t be getting the most bang for your buck. On the other hand, car dealerships often have less constrictive approval criteria.

Conversely, online vehicle financing holds appeal for virtually any type of consumer, including people with poor credit ratings. The options for online car financing are virtually unlimited. Be sure to obtain a lender who’s reputable, get a preapproval letter—which can often help you negotiate a decent deal with the dealership--and make sure to compare options.

Canada Drives actually started out as a financing service offered to Canadian car buyers, says Cody Green. “We pride ourselves on helping our users find a great vehicle and want to make it easy to get behind the wheel whether they are paying cash or need financing. From completing the finance application to signing the finance documents– everything is done 100% online. We work with all of the major lenders in the country to ensure customers are getting a great rate.”

If a customer wants to trade in a vehicle, they have access to Canada Drives’ exhaustive inventory of certified vehicles. The value of the trade-in will be deducted from the total cost of the new car and Canada Drives will pick up the trade-in when the new car is delivered.

FINAL THOUGHTS In September 2021, CarGurus, an online automotive 10

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From the Showroom Floor

platform for buying and selling vehicles, released a study that examined short-andlong-term trends of how vehicle shoppers reacted to the pandemic, as part of a series of studies that delved into variables like digital retail and vehicle inventory.

“Our most recent COVID-19 consumer sentiment study has shown that the pandemic has reshaped transportation and car-shopping for the foreseeable future,” said Madison Gross, Director of Consumer Insights at CarGurus. “As consumers continue to steer clear of shared mobility and turn to purchasing their own vehicle instead, they are interested in the ease of digital retail, with more people hoping to complete part of the car-buying process at home.”

Outcomes for the study included the fact that 63% of all consumers surveyed stated they’re more interested than ever in shopping for cars online. Furthermore, consumer expectations remain high. Even

as potential buyers made gradual and cautious returns to the showroom, they were more interested in retaining some of the pandemic-related changes, including pre-scheduled dealership appointments, test drives at home and at-home delivery.

Clearly, the vehicle-buying public’s behaviour has changed, and so have expectations. The collective hope appears to indicate that these dealership changes are in for the long haul.

“During the pandemic, we saw the pendulum swing for customer comfortability from brick and mortar to online stores,” says Cody Green. “This trend continued for those looking to sell items as well. In the used car market, we are now at the tipping point where customers are demanding more control and transparency from dealerships–especially with increased demand for vehicles–and feel that traditional dealerships are not offering the best price for the vehicle. We are remov-

ing salespeople out of the equation and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. We expect this trend to only continue as more Canadians feel comfortable making these types of transactions online.” This includes purchasers like Dena Sacks. “This was my first time selling my car online,” she says. “Balil took care of everything and was very personable and caring at the same time because he knew this was a difficult time for me.

The advantages of selling my vehicle in-person weren’t there. More so, there would be disadvantages of selling my vehicle in person, i.e. the paperwork involved, certification and everything else that would be involved to sell my vehicle privately. I didn’t really have to do much of anything because Balil handled it all. I felt that the wool wasn’t being pulled over my eyes compared to traditional dealerships. It was an absolutely pleasurable experience.”

HERE ARE SOME OF THE PLACES YOU CAN BUY A CAR ONLINE . . .

CANADA DRIVES

own app for both Androids and iOS. The site offers pre-approval for car loans as well.

The entire process of buying a car, from financing to contract signing can be completed online. Purchases will also come with a 30-day warranty, a 7-day money-back return policy and same-day delivery in select provinces.

Online car financing through its partners, including allowing buyers to qualify for financing before choosing a car.

CLUTCH Since their 2016 inception, Clutch has sold over 1000 cars annually.

Their online platform allows Canadians to browse their inventory of over 700+ used vehicles.

Each vehicle is detailed with information regarding the price, features, and specs. It also has detailed images of the interior and exterior of the vehicle.

Moreover, every car on the site has a CARFAX report and undergoes a 210 Point Inspection, ensuring the car is in good condition.

Sell or trade your vehicle online as well and get an estimate via an online calculator. In-house financing available through Clutch partners.

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UNHAGGLE

AUTOTRADER One of the higher profile shopping sites, Auto Trader takes things a step further by selling virtually anything that moves: boats, motorcycles and even snowmobiles. Search for both new and used cars (including certified pre-owned vehicles) according to your preferences such as the car mileage, age, model, colour, price and other criteria.

CARPAGES This site only allows governmentregistered dealers or identity-verified individuals to sell, so you have peace of mind since consumers are only dealing with reputable sellers. CarPages also has its

Unhaggle brings the deals to you. Enter the details you’re looking for, determine the average vehicle price based on your criteria, review a dealer’s cost report, then be part of a reverse auction whereby dealers put in bids for you to purchase a car from them, not the other way around.

Unhaggle then sends your request to the top dealers in your area who will offer their best prices.

CAR GURUS This dealer-only app will retrieve a list of vehicles that match the criteria you demand. This means you’ll only obtain a list of options from different car dealerships. Through it, you’ll be able to filter by the car’s safety rating, cabin size and fuel economy, which is hard to find. Car Gurus will also provide you with a price rating of each vehicle based on what other dealers are charging. This service can also determine a per-month payment estimate for budget-conscious buyers.

Around the Atlantic

SMALL BUT MIGHTY BUSINESS: FROM AUTO PARTS TO FISHING GEAR, NEWFOUNDLAND NAPA SHOP PROVIDES SUPPLIES AND SMILES TO SATISFY EVERY CUSTOMER

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ESTLED ON THE QUAINT N O R T H COAST OF NE WFOUNDLAND, IN A TINY TOWN WITH A POPULATION OF JUST OVER 1,300 PEOPLE, YOU’LL FIND AN EXTRA SPECIAL SORT OF FAMILY-OWNED NAPA AUTO PARTS STORE, WITH THE PHILOSOPHY THAT “GOOD SERVICE IS GOOD BUSINESS.”

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“We live in a small area and you really wouldn’t be able to survive just on auto parts alone,” said Lorne Small, who owns DRS Sales and Services Ltd. in Baie Verte, Nfld., along with wife Michelle Small. “We have to diversify.”

In total, there are only about 5,000 people living on the entire Baie Verte Peninsula.

Although NAPA automotive supplies are the small business’s “bread and butter,” making up about 70 per cent of its sales, DRS Sales and Services also provides gear and services for people who work in the local gold mine, run by Rambler Metals and Mining.

“They’re an underground mine which

uses battery-operated equipment; you can’t use a combustible engine underneath the surface,” Lorne explained. “So we supply batteries, different types of parts, oils specific to electric vehicles, as well as safety equipment such as masks and respirators.”

“We’re a little bit removed from the major service areas, so we try to do what we can,” he said.

Lorne and Michelle’s professional backgrounds are also unique. He fished crab and shrimp offshore, while she was as a licensed practical nurse (LPN), before they took over the NAPA Auto Parts location 10 years ago this December.

“The owner of the business ap-

Around the Atlantic

proached me,” Lorne said, “and we worked something out.” Lorne spent a year managing the store under the former owner, during which time he “learned the ropes” and fell in love with the potential the store had to serve the community in a

family.

But the DRS name stuck, and so too has the business’s reputation for being a fair and reliable shop stocked with everything customers need to get their own jobs done.

variety of ways.

When they took over, they decided to name the store after their son Dylan, niece Robyn and daughter Stefanie, and DRS Sales and Services was born.

“Our family means a lot to us,” Lorne said, although he added with a chuckle that a lot of people call the shop looking for medical supplies since the acronym is the same one used for doctors.

Coincidentally, Dylan and Stefanie both work as nurses, following in their mother’s original footsteps within the medical field in St. John’s, while Robyn works in retail like her aunt and uncle, selling furniture in Cornerbrook.

First grandchild Hannah is also a source of pride of Lorne, Michelle and

“I take care of ordering the parts, keeping everything going, sales calls and trying to find out what the mines need, what the garages need, what other industries in the area need,” Lorne said of his role. “We make sure we’re on top of that so that we’ve always got the parts when they need them, and I work the counter as well.”

Meanwhile, Michelle “looks after the financial side and keeps everybody happy.”

When they took over the business a decade ago, the Smalls decide to build the auto parts shop into a business that could serve multiple industries simply because that’s what the small community needed.

“We grew this business tremendously

WE’RE BIG ON

SECOND CHANCES. Thrift Stores

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in the last few years,” Lorne said.

That also includes goods for Lorne’s former colleagues in the fishing industry.

“We supply filters and oils and hydraulic parts,” he added. “All this stuff, by the way, comes from NAPA, but people don’t realize just how much NAPA carries.

They’ve got a long list of things that they supply.”

Their logo actually reflects Lorne’s family fishing heritage, combining images of a ship’s wheel and compass. “We wanted to incorporate that to let people know that we understand the dynamics of this area and let people know that we can meet their needs.”

And under the DRS Sales and Services banner, the Smalls operate a Paint Shop Home Decorating Centre where they sell paint, flooring, scaffolding and other renovation supplies, as well as Stihl chainsaws for the forestry industry. “We’ve got a little bit of everything.”

Lorne and Michelle enjoy helping their friends in town by providing the highest quality customer service possible.

“When somebody comes in and says ‘I’ve tried everywhere to get this. Can you help me,’ I just want to be the one to fill that need,” Lorne said. “It’s very rewarding.”

The Smalls also run a book exchange in their shop, selling gently read books for $1 each and usually donating more than $2,000 annually to different local charities including the town’s foodbank, fire departments and more.

And while this “Small” business is doing big things for the community, “it’s not just about making money.”

“I enjoy helping people,” Lorne said. “I don’t want anyone walking out the door with something that they’re not satisfied with. Our goal every day is to make people happy.”

From the Showroom Floor

GM CREATES 2600 CDN JOBS GM CANADA’S $2 BILLION TRANSFORMATIONAL INVESTMENTS ARE

CREATING 2,600 NEW JOBS NOW AND CANADA’S FIRST ELECTRIC VEHICLE PRODUCTION BY THE END OF 2022

G

M CANADA ANNOUNCED APRIL 4 THAT IT WILL START PRODUCTION AT CANADA’S FIRST FULL-SCALE ELECTRICVEHICLE MANUFACTURING PLANT IN INGERSOLL, ONTARIO LATER THIS YEAR. In addition, at Oshawa Assembly, GM Canada will add light-duty pickup production and a third shift, creating more than 2,600 new jobs since operations resumed at the plant.

Together with the federal and Ontario governments, GM Canada made these announcements at the recently opened Canadian Technical Centre’s (CTC) McLaughlin Advanced Technology

Track in Oshawa, Ontario, highlighting the company’s more than $2 billion in investments to transform its manufacturing operations.

Production of BrightDrop’s electric delivery vans will begin at CAMI Assembly in Ingersoll, Ontario in December 2022, following retooling of the plant this spring and summer.

BrightDrop’s first electric delivery van, the BrightDrop Zevo 600 (formerly EV600) was on hand for demonstrations.

Also on hand was their new BrightDrop Trace (formerly EP1) electric carts, which were developed and tested in large part

by GM’s CTC team in Ontario.

GM Canada also announced the Os-

hawa Assembly plant will be adding light-duty pickup production and a third shift of production in the coming months. As a result, Oshawa will be the only GM plant producing both heavy-duty and light-duty pickups, enabling flexibility and responsiveness to the North American market.

With the addition of the third shift, GM Canada will have added more than 2,600 new jobs in the Oshawa plant since it reopened. Fifty per cent of new production hires at the Oshawa plant are women, reflecting GM’s focus on diversity in the workplace.

GM also announced it will sign onto the Canada Diversity Challenge and the Canada Net Zero Challenge.

“Working with our government partners we have reopened GM’s Oshawa plant, creating thousands of new jobs and recruiting a record number of women in production roles,” said Marissa West, GM Canada president and managing director.

“Later this year, our CAMI plant in Ingersoll will begin Canada’s first full-scale electric vehicle manufacturing with BrightDrop. This partnership with the governments of Ontario and Canada is helping GM build a more diverse, innovative and sustainable industry and EV supply chain for the future – and we are proud to be doing that right here in Canada.”

FAREWELL TO A GOOD FRIEND . . .

I

T IS WITH HEAVY HEARTS THAT WE ANNOUNCE THE PASSING OF MR. RALPH MOORE. RALPH HAD BEEN A PART OF THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY WITH UNI-SELECT FOR OVER 30 YEARS. Ralph and his good friend Eric MacDonald partnered in opening Kings Auto Parts & Service in Montague, P.E.I. in 1988.

Ralph was a mechanic by trade, but he wasn’t just your average mechanic he was a Master Mechanic! He worked on carburetors and electrical problems and knew the business inside and out.

Ralph came across as quiet and reserved, but he loved to talk to anyone that came into his shop. He loved when the sales reps would come visit him as he always had a good joke to tell.

Ralph and Eric sold the business to Ralph’s son Jason Moore in 2014.

Jason has grown the business and is now running under the Bumper to Bumper brand in Montague.

He’s opened a second store in Stratford, P.E.I.. Also working with Jason are his brother Kevin Moore and sister Kim Thompson. Ralph will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and automotive family.

Rest Easy Ralph. - Uni-Select Atlantic

Industry News

PROCOLOR COLLISION WELCOMES ITS FIRST-EVER ATLANTIC LOCATION CHARLOTTETOWN P.E.I. BECOMES FIRST LOCATION IN THE ATLANTIC TO JOIN THE PROCOLOR COLLISION NETWORK

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HARLOTTETOWN P.E.I. BECOMES FIRST LOCATION IN THE ATLANTIC TO JOIN THE PROCOLOR COLLISION NETWORK

ProColor Collision, one of the fastest growing names in collision repair, has spread eastwards, welcoming its first-ever location in the Atlantic region recently.

ProColor Collision Charlottetown brings advanced collision repair services to Prince Edward Island and is the first

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of many ProColor locations that Fix Network has planned in the Atlantic region.

Over the past 55 years, the independently operated family business, earlier known in the community as Dalziel’s Auto Body, has earned an excellent reputation for exceeding its customers’ expectations in high-quality repairs.

In 1967, young Bill Dalziel began repairing and painting cars in the backyard of his parents’ Sherwood home, building a strong reputation for repairing all makes and models of vehicles.

Over the years, Bill’s modest operation

evolved into a 13,000 square foot facility that today consists of more than 20 work bays, two professional paint booths, a complete car detailing area, and a brandnew office building that houses five office spaces and a large reception area.

Following its alignment with ProColor Collision, the repair centre will now be called ProColor Collision Charlottetown and will continue to build on the trust and loyalty that two generations of the Dalziel family enjoy among customers and insurance providers in Charlottetown. Today, the location is owned and operated by

Bill’s nephew Chris Dalziel, who was inspired to join the business after watching his uncle and dad run the shop successfully.

When Chris took over the family business in 2017, one of his first initiatives was to upgrade the business and explore the possibility of joining an established and well-reputed global aftermarket network. “I remember (Fix Network World President and CEO) Steve Leal visiting our shop many years back and speaking to my uncle Bill about joining the Network,” he says. “We took a lot of time to decide, and, in hindsight, I wish we had taken the call earlier.”

Chris is confident that by joining the ProColor Collision family, he can take his family’s rich aftermarket legacy into the big league of Canadian collision repairers.

“Being the largest collision repair facility on Prince Edward Island has its perks,” he states. “However, the constant battle with insurance companies and customers over what is guaranteed and where the customer can or can’t take their vehicle was the deciding factor when we were planning to align our business with a wellknown aftermarket network.”

Located on 441 Brackley Point Road (Route 15), ProColor Collision Charlottetown was recently upgraded to include a Car-O-Liner bench rack system with the new Vision 3 frame measurement system, allowing the shop’s technicians to gain the Volkswagen, Audi and Tesla certifications for Prince Edward Island. The team recently switched to PPG refinishes and

have plans to install new booth and preparation bays in the new year to allow for proper flow through the shop.

Mark Weeks, regional vice-president – Atlantic, Fix Network, says that the debut of ProColor Collision in the Atlantic region will further reinforce the brand’s enduring reputation across North America as the fastest growing name in auto collision repair and as a community-focused brand.

“ProColor Collision Charlottetown

is an excellent example of independent repair shops wanting to build modern repair centres in the heart of their own communities,” he points out. “For the past 55 years, the Dalziel family has won the hearts and minds of their customers by providing the highest quality in vehicle repair and the best in customer service. We are just as excited to partner with them as they begin the next phase of their aftermarket journey.”

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Tech At The Talk Car byWash Hunter

“ALIGNING PEOPLE AND INNOVATION TO DRIVE EXCELLENCE”

SAFETY, INNOVATION AND EASE OF USE ARE JUST SOME OF THE COMPONENTS THAT KEEP HUNTER’S CUSTOMERS COMING BACK FOR DECADES.

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By Carter Hammett

possible. In today’s ultra-competitive employee market, shops with modern equipment will retain and attract employees more successfully, “ says Andrew Valle, a regional manager overseeing Hunter operations in the Atlantic division.

For Valle, the name of the game is service. That means more than simply offering a value-added service: At Hunter, it’s a core commitment.

“Our dedicated and factory-trained field service team cement the decision of the customer that Hunter was the right Spurred on by opportunities the Panchoice. They are skilled and committed demic created, employees got a taste of people that are also part of the communifreedom and flexibility remote work ofty they work in. At Hunter the investment fered and liked it. Now with restrictions you make with us isn’t the end of a transloosening their social grip in many placaction; rather it is the start of a long-term es, employees are being called back to partnership. Hunter users have access work and many simply aren’t returnto complimentary online training, ing. Employers are being forced to and we also offer onsite and offsite reconsider their management and training programs. We commit to recruitment approaches as well as our customers to work with them benefits offered to perspective new after the investment is made to comers. exceed return on investment exAccording to the Human Repectations.” sources Professionals AssociaComplementing the extion (hrpa.ca) about 53% of all traordinary commitment to Canadian employers responding service is a wide range of supeto a survey conducted by McKinrior products that facilitate ease ANDREW VALLE sey.co, said they were struggling of use, creating a three-dimenwith massive turnover. Even more surprissional user experience in the process. ingly, 36% of all employees who quit their Among these products is the Revojobs, quit with no job to move to. lution Tire Changer. Valle says the maOne of the insights employers might chine is “indifferent to the operator’s want to consider is the fact that employexperience level.” That’s because it ees are customers too. This includes proonly takes a few simple steps to serviding staff with the best in equipment vice a 15-inch, 19-inch run flat, carbon necessary to do their jobs, something that fibre wheel or a 19.5 medium duty asHunter Engineering (hunter.com) knows sembly all in roughly the same time. This a thing or two about. For decades, the machine is also factory equipped with company has been providing top-of-thevideo and audio recording systems so line equipment to customers who in turn we can see how each wheel was serhave demonstrated brand loyalty with revice as well with training videos for turn business. new operators and much more.

“Investing in the right technology Another example of innovative toolmeans investing in your employees. It ing that facilitates customer engagement shows your employees you care not only are Hawkeye Elite Aligners. about the customer experience but the “Because we perform alignment employee experience as well. Give embased on the unique VIN of the vehiployees the best tools possible and most cle, the software in our aligners guide likely they will produce the best results technicians through the needed service

H E R E ’S A PH E NOM E NON THAT’S CURRENTLY SWEEPING NORTH AMERICA. SOME ARE CALLING IT “THE BIG QUIT.” OTHERS ARE CALLING IT “THE GREAT RESIGNATION.” STILL OTHERS ARE CALLING IT “THE TURNOVER TSUNAMI.”

with a repair plan unique to that vehicle.

Most modern vehicles are equipment with some sort of safety system and the Hawkeye Elite will warn technicians in advance of any resets or calibrations that need to be performed after the wheel adjustment.

ADAS Link; our fully functional scan tool, is integrated to the aligner and will then guide technicians step-by-step on how to recalibrate the vehicle safety systems.

Finally once the service is complete; our customers can print from machine or at the advisor desk, the before-and-after alignment results as well the full results of the safety system calibration,” says Valle.

With technology advancing rapidly and the fickle needs of an ever-changing industry, Hunter’s mission statement is “aligning people and innovation to drive excellence.” It’s a commitment that starts at the top and trickles down to assessing the smallest detail, says Valle.

“Within our culture is a high degree of pride in what we do and how we go to market. We want to inspire our customers to also align people and innovation to drive excellence within their organizations.”

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At The Pumps

‘DRIVE THRU OIL CHANGE’: RHINO TRUCK LUBE CENTRE OFFICIALLY OPENS BAY DOORS IN

DARTMOUTH, NOVA SCOTIA TO PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS IN NEED OF QUICK YET HIGH-QUALITY SERVICE

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By Kristen Lipscombe

H AT CA N PERHAPS BE BEST DESCRIBED AS THE STARBUCKS OF THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY HAS OFFICIALLY OPENED ITS BAY DOORS IN DARTMOUTH, N.S. Rhino Truck Lube Centre, located in bustling Burnside Industrial Park, offers “in and out” service for local fleet and long-haul drivers alike, as well as for RVs, with two lube bays and two wash bays that are specially designed to provide service that is both super convenient and highly professional.

“Those are 85-feet long, so the advantage there is that a semi-tractor and trailer can drive right in,” said John O’Donnell, vice-president of operations and marketing for Just Lubes, Ltd., which over-

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sees Jiffy Lube locations across Ontario and Atlantic Canada, and is now leading the charge on growing the Rhino brand.

“They don’t have to unhook and there’s no appointment necessary,” he said.

Professional drivers can now roll right up to the Rhino Truck Lube Centre at 90 Higney Avenue in Dartmouth and expect to receive fast high-quality service from red seal technicians that will help get them right back on the road in under an hour. And for the short time they have to wait, drivers can grab a coffee and take advantage of free WiFi to update their electronic log books in a warm and inviting waiting room.

“It’s a professional, clean environment for the drivers,” O’Donnell said, adding “their only other option is the dealership, and they’d sit there for three or four hours.

It’s all about reducing down time; time is money.”

“We’ve built the centre so that they can drive right in… and have a full oil change done on the truck, grease the trac-

tor, grease the trailer,” O’Donnell said of why Just Lubes is now applying the popular and successful Jiffy Lube model for cars to the trucking industry. “We check all the fluids, and then they’re on their way again.”

The Dartmouth site, which like the Moncton location has partnered with MultiServe Petroleum Equipment Ltd., officially opened for business two months ago in what can be considered Nova Scotia’s trucking hub.

“The one in Burnside, we put it right in the industrial park; it couldn’t be more convenient for truckers,” O’Donnell said.

“All the warehousing, all the truck dealers; everybody’s up there in Burnside, so we put the shop right there. They’re coming in and out of that park all day long, so we’re trying to make it convenient for them.”

“There was no drive thru truck wash in Nova Scotia; ours is the first,” O’Donnell added. “They were having to go all the way to Moncton.” The only other option was a mobile service – until now.

“You can drive through the wash bay, also with no need to unhook, and we use environmentally friendly, high-quality products,” he said. “Our wash bay attendants will hand wash the truck while you wait, ensuring a great looking rig each and every time.”

The Dartmouth location, featuring Shell products, is the second Rhino Truck Lube Centre in Atlantic Canada, with the first location opening last summer on Venture Drive off Exit 462 in Moncton, N.B., next to the impressive Truck Stop Plus Moncton. Both locations also have a strong focus on health and safety for employees and clients alike. Next up in Rhino’s development plans is opening an Ontario location along Highway 401 in 2023.

“We looked at the business model and said, ‘well, nobody has really done heavy duty truck lube on a national scale in Canada,” O’Donnell said. “There are a few garages and there are a few shops, but we really envision having 10-12 sites all the way along across the TransCanada highway, from coast-to-coast, that will give the long-haul drivers, but also the local fleets, a place that they can go and get their truck serviced as they’re transport-

ing goods.” As the Rhino website, www. rhinotrucklubecentre.ca, states, “after 30plus years in the business of quick lube and care, our management team knows one thing for sure – exactly what it takes to become a well-oiled machine.”

“Our vision is to build centers across the country focused on convenience and reducing downtime for the drivers,” O’Donnell said. “We offer no appointment, warranty approved, drive thru oil change.”

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The Lower 48

ROAD TRIP CENTRAL THE ONLY THING BETTER THAN A ROAD TRIP IS COMING BACK HOME AGAIN.

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By T.D. Patterson

I Y’ALL! SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER ME FROM MY ROAD TRIP TO CALIFORNIA FROM KENTUCKY IN MY 2008 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN LAST MAY. THIS ARTICLE IS ABOUT MY RETURN TRIP BACK TO KENTUCKY. Life in California wasn’t what I expected it to be. The state itself is beautiful. Some of the people are amazing.

The cost of living is outrageous. I spent the last four months living in my van with the pups. It was definitely an adventure.

Beretta, the offspring of my beloved deceased dog Skeeter, is a precocious little pup. She learned how to lock and unlock my van doors. She would get mad at me and lock me out at very inconvenient times. I have had to have friends she wasn’t “mad” at coax her into opening the doors. Needless to say I learned to never leave my keys in the van!

Who knows how many people wondered about my sanity, including me, as I stood outside my van begging this pup to unlock the door and let “Mommy” in.

Spirit just looked innocent and unconcerned. Also she was quick at hitting the child locks to open the windows when I pulled into a parking lot. The major defect of the van was placing the locks on the top of the arm rests. Maybe I spent

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too much time with the dogs but I still think they plotted against me some days!

It made the time bearable though. They were real troopers and there was never a dull moment.

I got the COVID variant Omicron the first of January and that sealed the deal. I called my daughter and told her I wanted to come home. Of course she was excited. She told me I was having a mid-life crisis all along, which could be true. I put a couple tires on my van, got the fluids changed, filled up and got on the road the end of January.

The day I left the temperature reached a high of about 70°f. I add that so you can see the difference of a cross country trip.

I took a different route back. I ran along US Highway 40 a good part of the way. It replaced the historical Route 66 that many songs and movies have been made about.

It was a beautiful trip. I actually spent the first night at a truck stop on Route 66.

After leaving the desert and getting into the Arizona mountains, I saw snow for the first time in over a year.

One of the most gorgeous sites I have ever seen, had to be while entering New Mexico. I just absolutely love the deserts and the rock dwellings and you can see some of those while entering on I40. I would have stopped if not for the pups.

One day I’ll go back and explore when I have more time and funds. I thoroughly enjoyed the drive through the New Mexico deserts and plateaus.

After New Mexico I drove through a corner of Texas. It’s a large state and I just was on the northwest edge. My imagination is really good so envisioned real cowboy country. One can almost imagine John Wayne types riding horses and shooting bad guys.

My route then took me into Oklahoma onto a toll road where I paid $10.00 for the privilege of driving through their fine state.

On to Missouri. I got a speeding ticket although the officer was very nice.

At this point I was almost home; just had a few hundred miles more to go.

I saw the Ozark mountains and knew I was getting

even closer to home. The Ozarks run through the Eastern midwest much like the Rockies run through the west. By now driving through mountains don’t bother me nearly as much.

After a quick stop in Cairo Illinois for gas, I crossed the Ohio River bridge into Kentucky and finally arrived home. Well almost. I still had three hours to drive and got to my daughter’s at 11pm that night.

Somewhere in Texas Beretta decided she wanted to jump across my lap while I was going 75 on the interstate. Up until then she had been the “kid” that hangs on you and repeatedly asks, “are we there yet?” She got a small spanking, but was a little angel the rest of the trip. Spirit mostly just critiqued my driving and gave me looks if I cussed at another driver or went too fast. He’s really too human sometimes. He learned to scratch on the dash when a “pit stop” for necessaries was required. The return trip cost less than the original journey.

Partly because I didn’t add the additional stops and mostly because gas got cheaper as I got farther east. When I woke up the first morning in Kentucky it was 12°. Quite a shock after living in California for almost a year.

I’m settled back in Kentucky and think I’ll stay for a while. I may take more adventures but I’ve decided there really is no place like home. It’s nice to not need a GPS to go to the grocery store and Walmart! Hey, the ocean was amazing though! Maybe my next adventure will be to Maine or even Canada. Think I’ll stick to North America for now anyway, and wait until gas prices go down some.

My next adventure will have to be in a different vehicle because a little over two weeks after arriving back home I was in an accident. The van’s still drivable but needs some work. I kind of think I may look for something a little more sporty, like a Jeep. I’ll fix the van and keep it though. It’s been a good dependable vehicle and I can’t complain about it at all. Routine maintenance and tires and I wouldn’t be afraid to go up the eastern side of the country!

My adventure may or may not have turned out as expected but I saw some amazing scenery, met some wonderful people and proved you are never too old to follow your dreams. Even if your kids think you’re crazy!!

The Mindful Trucker

THE ART OF SHIFTING WHETHER A MANUAL TRANSMISSION OR A MAJOR LIFE EVENT, THE ART OF SHIFTING IS ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE.

By Dana Smith

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H E N YO U THINK OF THE ART OF SHIF TING, WHAT COMES TO MIND? IS IT SHIFTING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE? SHIFTING SOMETHING YOU’RE DOING TO IMPROVE PARTS OF YOUR LIFE, OR IS IT SHIFTING YOUR WHOLE LIFE? There are many things it could be.

In the trucking world, shifting a manual transmission is a skill in itself. It’s all about timing. Getting your clutch foot to move at the same time as your right hand, or left, depending on what country you drive in.

So when you do shift the truck, what happens? It depends on how you shift it. If you are grinding gears, ramming and jamming all the time, the truck doesn’t shift smoothly, and has a harder time going up the road. But if you find that groove with your timing, the truck shifts so much better and easier, gaining speed and performing the way it is supposed to. It changes to the next higher gear and goes faster, then again and again, and so on. This is how you make progress, and get to where you want to go, in an efficient manner.

As a truck trainer, I’m constantly trying to show students how to do this. A term we use in the industry is “clutch, clutch”.

It helps a student to get in sync with their hands and feet. Saying these two words out loud while shifting, is the exact timing one needs to shift the truck. So, when the student is having trouble with it, and grinding gears, I will reiterate those two words, “clutch, clutch”, and as silly as it sounds, it works!

We all have things that we want to shift in our lives. Maybe just shifting certain things, but not all. Here’s a few examples of things people may change in their life: • If you don’t like your job, you find a new one.

• If you aren’t happy with your relationship, you start a new one.

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• • • • •

If you aren’t feeling well, you take a pill.

If you don’t like where you live, you move.

If you spend all your money, you make more.

If you don’t like the car you drive, you get another one.

If you don’t like a certain food, you eat something else.

You can start to see a pattern emerging here. For every negative side, there is a positive. The point is that people are always shifting gears in some form or another. This is taking you down a pathway. So, how can shifting something like the things above take me down a different route? Imagine moving to a different town or city. The things you do, the people you meet, and the places you go will put you in different situations than you would have been in previously, thus shifting your life path in a different direction, altering the path you are taking now.

Having a life shift can be very much the same as shifting a truck. Getting everything in sync so you’re in flow, and running smoothly with minimal stress.

Many of us have had many obstacles to overcome in our lives at times. Career, financial, relationships, and health issues to name a few. They all seem so bad at the time, and we think we will never overcome them.

The things mentioned above are not life altering, but they could be for some people. But what about when someone close to you dies? Then what? This is typically when a major shift happens.

You really have two choices. You can feel terrible about it and reflect on how short life is, and please remember you do have to grieve, which is part of healing. You can choose to go inward, which can cause other issues to occur within yourself, or you can choose to celebrate the person by remembering who

they were, and what they accomplished in their life. An example might be if someone passes away from cancer, then you could take up the cause of learning about it, and teaching others how to deal with it.

Some may even make donations or raise money for the cause of their loved ones.

But fortunately, there is a silver lining in it all. When we think of all the negative things that happen during the course of daily life, we could see them as teaching moments instead. What are we supposed to learn from this? What path am I supposed to be on? There are always lessons to be learned.

When you look at life this way, you will have a very different perspective on things. This is called a shift. In many cases, there are life altering events that shift us and change our perspective, such as a relationship breakup, a job loss, financial ruin, a major health issue, or even death to someone close to you as mentioned previously.

When these kind of things happen, life shifts for us, whether we like it or not.

We really get to see a whole new perspective on life. Sometimes it’s a minor adjustment, and other times it’s very impactful.

But why does it take a life changing event to shift those gears, and change perspective? Why can’t we see the big picture now, instead of waiting for something to happen? Only you can answer that for yourself.

So think about the shift you want to make in your life. Because there is an Art to Shifting!

For more of Dana’s articles visit: TheMindfulTrucker.com

Carters Corner

ELECTRIC AVENUE ELECTRIFY CANADA AND LUCID MOTORS ANNOUNCE TWO YEARS OF COMPLIMENTARY ULTRA-FAST CHARGING

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UCID AIR EQUIPPED WITH PLUG&CHARGE TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE CHARGING WITH ELECTRIFY CANADA EVEN EASIER Electrify Canada announced March 24 an agreement with Lucid Motors to offer complimentary ultra-fast electric vehicle charging to Canadian drivers who reserve a Lucid Air by June 30, 2022. Owners of the luxurious all-electric sedan will receive two years of complimentary charging across the Electrify Canada public charging network.

With ultra-fast power levels of 350kW, Lucid Air drivers will benefit from the fastest charging speeds available today and allow the Lucid Air to add 350kmrange in about 15 minutes. The innovative Plug&Charge payment system avail-

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able across the Electrify Canada network, allows Lucid Air drivers to initiative and access complimentary charging by simply plugging in their vehicle.

“We are excited to work with Electrify Canada given the quality and reliability of its charging network and plans to expand across Canada,” said Zak Edson, vice president, sales and service at Lucid. “By combining our groundbreaking battery technology with Electrify Canada’s ultrafast charging speeds, we will provide our customers with a premium electric driving experience.”

Customers will be able to access complimentary charging through the Lucid app, utilizing Electrify Canada’s network of 30 stations comprised of 120 individual chargers. By 2026, Electrify Canada plans to expand to more than 100 charging stations with over 500 individual chargers.

Equipped with overhead canopies providing shelter and light, chargers are conveniently located along major highways with access to amenities like shopping and restaurants. Additionally, customers will be supported by Electrify Canada’s 24-hour Customer Contact Center.

“As Electrify Canada continues to expand its network across Canada, we are proud to collaborate with Lucid Motors to provide a seamless charging experience to Lucid Air drivers,” said Rob Barrosa, senior director of sales, business development & marketing at Electrify Canada.

“We are excited to deliver ultra-fast charging speeds and innovative technologies like Plug&Charge to enhance the charging experience for capable vehicles like Lucid Air.” To learn more about Electrify Canada, locate a charging station or view upcoming locations, visit Electrify-Canada.ca

WE’RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN OPEN DOORS

Auto & Trucking Atlantic is seeking a an energetic advertising sales professional. You will have a chance to grow with our expanding publishing company. The position involves working with current clients as well as sourcing and building new sales leads. We offer an independent, flexible work environment with lots of opportunity for growth and a competitive commission structure. Please forward your resume to rob@autoatlantic.com.

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atlantic 608- 56 JACOB LANE • HALIFAX, NS B3M 0H5: 902.452.0345

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East Coast Road Report

THE ATLANTIC ROAD REPORT NEWS AND VIEWS COLLECTED FROM AROUND THE ATLANTIC REGION SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO…YER WELCOME! NEWFOUNDLAND

Budget 2022 Helps with the Cost of Living; Addresses Government’s Financial Challenges On April 7, the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Deputy Premier, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, released Budget 2022: Change is in the air; with the target of a surplus position by 2026-27.

EXPECTED DEFICIT PROJECTION 2022-23 $351 million 2023-24 $309 million 2024-25 $270 million 2025-26 $74 million 2026-27 $82 million surplus FISCAL OVERVIEW The projected deficit for 2022-23 is $351 million.

Revenues projected for 2022-23 are

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$9.1 billion.

Expenses projected are $9.4 billion, of which $774 million is 100 per cent federally-funded initiatives.

The projected borrowing requirement for 2022-23 is $2.7 billion.

The net debt is now anticipated to reach $17.1 billion in 2022-23.

Current oil price projections have improved to $US86 per barrel, while the Canada-United States exchange rate is forecast at 79.3 cents.

Actions to Help with the Cost of Living Budget 2022 helps families in our province save money at a time when the cost of living is increasing globally. In addition to the five-point plan announced on March 15, actions include: $567 million for infrastructure projects, which will help create 3,200 jobs and $390 million in economic activity.

Approximately $35 million to support

economic development initiatives including research and development, commercialization, investment attraction, regional development and business growth activities.

A new 20 per cent green technology tax credit for companies that invest in equipment for energy conservation and clean energy generation, use fuels from waste, or make efficient use of fossil fuels.

The maximum credit is $1 million annually, of which 40 per cent is refundable.

“Budget 2022 – Change is in the air, is our plan for this fiscal year and is built on helping families with the cost of living; ensuring a healthy, educated, growing population; building stronger communities and investing in infrastructure and roads which contributes to our pride of place; addressing climate change and encouraging economic growth and job creation. Budget 2022 is about us. About all

East Coast Road Report

we want to achieve – a strong, smart, selfsufficient, sustainable Newfoundland and Labrador. Change is in the air,” said the Honourable Siobhan Coady, Deputy Premier, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board

“With the third highest amount of surfaced roads per capita in Canada, this plan is the only sustainable path forward,” said Green.

NEW BRUNSWICK

Three-year plan maps out $1.13 billion investment in roads, bridges and culverts A new plan maps out $1.13 billion in investments in the province’s roads, bridges and culverts over the next three years.

The Road Ahead is a three-year capital investment plan that outlines how the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure will build, repair and maintain the province’s transportation network. It identifies which projects are planned and for when as well as the overall expected investments.

“This plan demonstrates how the department is enhancing the management of our current infrastructure and how we interact with the public,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Jill Green.

New Brunswickers will be able to use a new online interactive viewer tool to see what projects are planned in their area.

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NOVA SCOTIA

Amendments to Motor Vehicle Act Amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act will permit the safe operation of electric kick scooters (e-scooters) on municipal roadways.

Changes introduced April 5, set the minimum age, maximum speed and other requirements in legislation and will allow

municipalities to create bylaws related to where people can operate e-scooters and other rules for their use.

“We support and encourage the safe use of alternative transportation options that are low cost, energy efficient and convenient,” said Public Works Minister Kim Masland. “When it comes to e-scooters, it makes sense for municipalities to set the rules for their use in their communities.

There is growing interest in e-scooters, and we are putting general rules in place to keep everyone safe.”

The proposed amendments include a minimum age of 14 to use e-scooters, a maximum permitted speed of 32 km/h, helmet requirements and other operation restrictions. Municipalities will have the discretion to set a lower speed limit, as well as decide if e-scooters will be permitted on roads, sidewalks or shared sidewalks.

QUICK FACTS: Nova Scotia’s Motor Vehicle Act is being replaced with a new, modern Traffic Safety Act that will help make the province’s roads and highways safer the Traffic Safety Act is undergoing extensive consultation and is expected to

take about three years to be proclaimed before the Traffic Safety Act is proclaimed, time-sensitive amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act will allow important projects and initiatives to move forward

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Canada and Prince Edward Island invest in new water, clean energy and active transportation infrastructure for Stratford From roads and buildings – to water treatment systems and clean energy projects – reliable infrastructure is key to building stronger communities.

On April 1, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, and Member of Parliament for Cardigan, on behalf of the Honourable D ominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable James Aylward, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure; and Gary Clow, Deputy Mayor of the Town of Stratford, announced joint funding for five community infrastructure projects, improving water, clean energy and active transportation infrastructure in Stratford.

Funding will support the construction of a new 300,000 gallon water reservoir to serve Stratford’s growing community.

Work will include the construction of the reservoir and the associated piping, valves, and appurtenances alongside the existing water reservoir. Once complete, this project will ensure residents have improved and reliable access to potable water and keep pace with the commercial and residential development of the community.

Additionally, funding will provide clean renewable energy and reliable water infrastructure to the future Stratford Community Campus, a community hub which will boast recreational and cultural facilities along with other amenities. The work includes the construction of approximately 1,900 meters of sanitary sewer, a sewage pumping station, 2,200 meters of water distribution pipe, two stormwater detention ponds, as well as a 100 kilowatt solar array.

Residents will also benefit from an over 4,800 metre trail system that stretches through the community campus, creating connections to other active transportation links in the area, including connection points between Bunbury Road and Hollis Avenue. This addition to Stratford’s active transportation system will help residents stay active while reducing carbon emissions..

The Government of Canada is invest-

ing more than $6 million in these projects through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of Prince Edward Island is providing over $5 million, while the Town of Stratford is contributing more than $4 million.

“The projects announced today are ones important to our growing community. Stratford is experiencing ongoing growth, which is only predicted to in-

crease in the coming years, and the work which will be undertaken beginning this year with these projects will continue to help move us forward. We thank our government partners for this funding which is shared between all three levels of government, and which will greatly benefit our residents upon completion of these projects,” said The Honourable James Aylward, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

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From the Showroom Floor

JEEP® WRANGLER 4XE NAMED BEST 4X4 IN 2022 WOMEN’S WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR AWARDS

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HE INNOVATIVE JEEP WRANGLER 4XE PLUG-IN HYBRID IS THE BEST 4X4, ACCORDING TO THE 2022 WOMEN’S WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR (WWCOTY) JURY, A PANEL OF 56 MOTORING JOURNALISTS FROM 40 COUNTRIES SPANNING FIVE CONTINENTS. Vehicles in the WWCOTY awards are judged for excellence in their segments, based on safety, driving, comfort, technology, design, efficiency, impact on the

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environment and value for money. Jurors from WWCOTY, now in its twelfth year, praised the new Wrangler 4xe for its commitment to sustainability.

“With the Wrangler 4xe, the Jeep brand has taken a giant step forward in many ways, but the most important is its commitment to a more sustainable environment,” said Marta García, executive president of WWCOTY. “It is very much appreciated that one of the true SUVs left on the market has opted for hybridisation.

The Jeep Wrangler 4xe’s commitment to the environment is of decisive value for the Women’s World Car of the Year.”

The Jeep Wrangler 4xe delivers 35

kilometres of zero-emission, electric-only propulsion, making it commuter friendly as an all-electric daily driver without range anxiety. It is also the most capable and eco-friendly off-road Jeep vehicle, delivering nearly silent off-roading combined with the open-air freedom that only Jeep Wrangler offers.

“We are delighted that the WWCOTY jurors recognized the great strides that the Jeep brand is making toward electrification of its vehicles around the world, in pursuit of its vision of Zero Emission Freedom,” said Christian Meunier, Jeep brand CEO. “This Women’s World Car award is further confirmation that electrification

enhances the core capabilities of our Jeep vehicles.

The Jeep Wrangler 4xe is a clear example that you can have the best of both worlds: legendary Jeep capability and open-air fun combined with an electrified, eco-friendly package that allows you to enjoy nature in almost absolute silence.”

The Wrangler 4xe’s hybrid powertrain combines a high-tech, 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine with two electric motors, a high-voltage battery pack and TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission. Torque from the electric motors in the Wrangler 4xe arrives instantly on demand from the driver. The powertrain also delivers fuel-saving, seamless, startstop operation of the engine.

The most advanced powertrain ever developed for a Jeep Wrangler maximizes efficiency and is Natural Resources Canada rated at 4.8 Le/100 km (59 MPGe). With 375 horsepower, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe delivers performance, benchmark off-road capability and an electric vehicle lifestyle.

exclusively of women motoring journalists. It was created by New Zealand motoring journalist, Sandy Myhre, in 2009.

She is currently Honourary President while Marta García performs as Executive President.

The objective of the awards is to highlight the role of woman in the car world and also to choose the best cars of the year.

About voting, the criteria are based on the same principles that guide any driver when choosing a car.

The selections are not ‘woman’s car’ because such categories do not exist.

Aspects such as safety, quality, price, design, ease of driving, benefits and environmental footprint, among others, are taken into account when casting the votes.

Women’s World Car of the Year Women’s World Car of the Year is the only car awards group in the world comprised

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Carter’s Corner

NEWS OF THE WEIRD: LOVE AND THEFT EDITION

BITS AND BYTES OF THE BIZARRE AND STRANGE GATHERED FROM AROUND THE WEB SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO….YER WELCOME! WOMAN’S STOLEN 1964 CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY WAS RETURNED 40 YEARS LATER According to Yahoo, Modesto Fleming had her C2 Corvette stolen back in 1976 while living in Anaheim, California. She thought her car was gone for good but was shocked when it was returned in Oct. 2016, 40 years later.

At a car show, someone pointed out that the VIN of the 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray didn’t belong to a Stingray.

That VIN was assigned to a 1964 Impala. The discrepancy in the number was enough for a police officer to verify with the National Insurance Crime Bureau that the Stingray had been stolen years before.

The officer who made the discovery said, “The number returned to a 1964 Chevy Corvette that was an unrecovered stolen vehicle out of Anaheim Police Department in Sept. 1976. I contacted Anaheim and advised them of the situation.

They then located the victim from 1976, who is currently living in Arizona, and told her we had her car.”

The man who had the car when it was discovered to be stolen received it from his wife in 1987 as a present. His wife bought it from a dealership that later went out of business.

Getting a stolen car like the 1964 Chevy Corvette back after 40 years is weird car news because most stolen 40

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vehicles are never recovered. Value Penguin reports that about 1 in 5 cars are eventually recovered. Unfortunately, a third of the lucky car owners who get their vehicles back have to deal with an average of $1,490 worth of damage. In 2018, it took about 11 days on average to recover 20% of stolen vehicles, and 12% of auto thefts resulted in an arrest.

Source: 1 Woman’s Stolen 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Was Returned 40 Years Later (motorbiscuit.com)

rested during the operation, according to officials.

There is no word yet on what will happen to the cars. However, the California Highway Patrol urges anyone with information about this case (or anyone who believes that they have been a victim of a similar theft) to get in touch with an officer as soon as possible.

Source: California police recover stash of stolen luxury cars worth $2.3M (autoblog.com)

LUXURY VEHICLES WORTH MILLIONS RECOVERED IN CALIFORNIA

WOMAN’S STOLEN CAR RETURNED WITH OVER 100 LOVE LETTERS FROM STRANGERS INSIDE

Autoblog recently reported on a successful raid on a car theft ring in California. Models included Mercedes-Benz models, including some that appear to be damaged, an older Bentley Continental GT, a current-generation BMW X6, an Aston Martin Vantage, and an eighth-generation Chevrolet Corvette finished in a head-turning color called Rapid Blue. The combined value of the cars is an estimated $2.3 million.

The high-end, high-horsepower cars weren’t the only items seized during the raid. Police officers also found well over 400 marijuana plants and a Glock 26 subcompact handgun. One suspect was ar-

Hattie Gelhausen discovered that her car had been stolen from her home one day. Luckily for her, the police found it and returned it to her a week later.

According to local media, the car wasn’t in the same shape it had been when Gelhausen lost it. Instead, it was full of random items. “All kinds of random stuff, dog bowls, vases, nude drawings. It looks like our car was used in a string of smash and grabs and a joyride until it ran out of gas,” Gelhausen said.

Among the items discovered: a large collection of love letters, many of them decades old.

Carter’s Corner

It’s not clear who the owner of the letters might be. There are only a few clues, including the fact that they’re addressed to “Barbro” and something resembling “Pony.” The majority of the letters originated in London or Chelsea and are signed by someone named Keith.

Among the documents was a photo of an unidentified man the Atlanta resident speculates might be Keith himself.

She finds the mysterious man intriguing and endearing, especially after reading so many of the love letters he might have written.

Gelhausen hopes that by getting the word out about her find, their original owner might eventually get them back.

She figures that the person must care a great deal about them, given how many of them were saved for so many years.

GAS STATION IN WISCONSIN SUED

BY COMPETITORS FOR SELLING GAS TOO CHEAP Motor 1 covered an interesting item from Waukesha, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee and home to Woodman’s Food Market. The store is part of a chain in the region that also has fuel stations, and it

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appears that some competitors aren’t happy about getting beat on price. According to a report from local media, BP and Shell stations nearby are allegedly suing Woodman’s for $80,000 each, citing a state law that says companies cannot sell goods below cost.

What is the cost exactly? A quick check on Gasbuddy.com shows Woodman’s selling regular gasoline for $3.59 as of the late afternoon on March 21. Other stations in the area are in the $3.75 to $3.99 range.

The BP station is reportedly at $3.89 per gallon, while the Shell station across the road from Woodman’s is shown at $3.79 per gallon. It must be noted that Gasbuddy.com relies on reports from registered website users who post fuel prices with approximate times.

The media outlet claims to have over 200 pages of court documents relating to this case. The news outlet also mentions new filings from Woodman’s alleging the company is in compliance with the law, citing a Costco store just over six miles away as its competition. Another quick check at Gasbuddy shows a Costco in Pewaukee with a reported price of $3.49 per gallon.

Apparently, the court case isn’t merely based on recent events. According to Newsweek, the lawsuit allegedly covers 40 days in which the plaintiffs say the price at Woodman’s has been too low.

Newsweek also states that Woodman’s has filed against the suit, seeking a dismissal.

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Worldpac Inc.

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COMMUNITY MATTERS

S

By Sean Maddox

INCE 1992 WHEN WE STARTED CAPTURING AND SHARING STORIES AND DREAMS FROM ACROSS ATLANTIC CANADA, OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN ON BUILDING A STRONGER, MORE VIBRANT AND CONNECTED COMMUNITY OF CAR AND TRUCK ENTHUSIASTS. We are proud of our work and love all the readers, advertisers, and partners we have met over the last three decades. Each issue reaches thousands of people and companies. Our social media continues to grow. Are you following us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter?

Last issue our feature article looked at cyber security, something we certainly were not concerned with in those early years. Imagine how your work and personal life would look today if we did not have the internet? If you do not already follow us on social media, we encourage you to follow and like us today (see links at end of story): there is lots of material shared online that’s not in the publication.

Over the years we have grown our reach with your support.

Your stories, events, tips, and hard work have connected us around what we have in common, what we love. Our cars and trucks have also benefitted more than words can say. The roads of Atlantic Canada look different than they did in the 1990s and we are all safer; you played a role in increasing that safety.

Going forward we want to capture how our community is getting involved around Atlantic Canada. Send us a note about your auto show, races, fundraiser support or events. If it is an event let us know several months in advance so we can try to come cover it live. Pictures! We love pictures too. We want to capture the way you are helping make our communities a better place to live and work. We want to tell your stories here and on social media. Can’t wait to hear from you!

Join us today. First, follow us on social media. Second, share your stories, your announcements and your favourite photos.

Finally, have a fantastic summer.

CHECK OUT OUR LINKS! Facebook: ATAmagazine LinkedIn: Robert Alfers Twitter: @Auto_Atlantic

Sean Maddox, has worked to help make communities more vibrant and stronger for over 30 years by capturing and sharing their knowledge & stories.

Crossword Contest

CROSSWORD (ANSWERS IN THE NEXT AUTO & TRUCKING ATLANTIC)

Leon Pollett of Marystown, NL, is our latest Crossword Puzzle winner!

Congratulations on winning your new Rust Check treatment. Deadline for entry is June 29th, 2022

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NAME:

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IT’S SO EASY TO WIN! Fill out info below and send your Crossword to us at 608 - 56 Jacob Lane, Bedford, NS B3M 0H5, or Email us at: rob@autoatlantic.com

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YOU TOO CAN WIN ONE FREE RUST CHECK ANNUAL SPRAY AT ANY RUST CHECK DEALER! ENTER FOR YOU CHANCE!

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CROSSWORD BY MURRAY JACKSON - THECROSSWORDGUY.COM

MARCH 2022 WINNER!

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This magazine’s publisher (6,6)

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Tachometer letters (1,1,1)

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Blue Oval pony car

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Entertains folks in public

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BC-AK highway, briefly

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Big NS tourist month

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Hot rod paint motif

12. Used car ad words (2,4)

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Falls back like tide

14. Car lease signatory

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Swimmers’ devices, maybe

17. Secondary road type (3,4)

10. Air freshener design, often (4,4)

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13. Australian grille guards (3,4)

21. Jaguar compact SUV (1,4)

15. North of Speedworld place

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16. NHL goalie trophy

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18. Full speed ____!

20. Zamboni workplace 23. Route guidance gizmo (1,1,1)

IT’S FUN! IT’S EASY! LAST ISSUE’S CROSSWORD 1

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NAPA Guess & Win contest

NAPA GUESS & WIN! BROUGHT TO YOU BY

D

rag race fans, we need to know the name of this well known Drag race car, and please, can you tell us more about the car too. Details please and a FREE Stanley 1/4” and 3/8” Drive SAE 123pc Socket Set from NAPA is all yours! The more detail the better!

Send in your answer at autoatlantic.com/Contest.htm or Email us at rob@autoatlantic.com, and make sure to include your name, town, province and telephone number. Maybe this time it’ll be you! Deadline for entry is June 29th, 2022.

Best wishes go to Lincoln Haynes of Charlottetown, PEI, who correctly answered (with help from his grandpa Jeff ): “The car is a Tesla Model 3 with a top speed of 261 km/hr and a range of 353 miles, and costs approximatly $52,000 USD” Thank you to all who entered our contest, keep trying, you could be next!

YOUR NAME: PHONE: ADDRESS: CITY / TOWN / VILLAGE: PROVINCE: POSTAL CODE: EMAIL: YOUR ANSWER:

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