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THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY – Our very own mindful trucker Dana Smith re visits a life-altering decision with no regrets.
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WOMEN WITH DRIVE! – As we slowly move into a post-pandemic reality, fleet managers struggle with how to manage a shrinking workforce. One solution? At tract non-traditional communities, including women, writes Kristen Lipscombe.
FEATURES
ELECTRIC AVENUE – EV clinics are just the latest reason to explore the power and possibility of electric vehicles writes contributor Jeremie Bernardin.
EDITOR Carter Hammett carter@autoatlantic.com
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PET WASH PROFIT STRESS AND MESS-FREE BATH TIME – Just like your car, pets sometimes need a good wash too. Meline Beach explains.
THE ATLANTIC ROAD REPORT – P.E.I. eases driver’s license process for newlyarrived Ukrainians.
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“A VERY REWARDING CAREER” – Haley Geldart is that rarity in the EV world: a female apprentice with a bright future.
NEWS OF THE WEIRD – Wannabe car thief must learn to grin and bear it in our latest roundup of strange and bizarre auto tales collected from around the globe.
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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT: WOMEN WITH DRIVE!
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RITE OF PASSAGE – A primer for New Canadians looking to hit the road.
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EDITOR’S LETTER – Carter Hammett shines a spotlight on this issue’s focus: wom en with drive!
MYTHBUSTING: – Despite the growing interest in electric vehicles, insurance ex pert Tanisha Kishan says most consumers hold a dated view of these monsters of the future and Other Flights of Fancy.
VOLUME TWENTY TWO • ISSUE 5 • SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER • 2022
FIX AUTO DRIVING CHANGE – Meet Andrea Ghaney and Katherine Gordillo, two Atlantic women making an impact in the automotive world.
TALK OF THE TOWN – For centuries the Shriners have devoted themselves to building communites. So don’t be surprised if you happen to see them at your lo cal race track, writes Sean Maddox
DEPARTMENTS
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The very design of trucks themselves can also be challenges for women who
By Carter Hammett
But it’s also important to note the perks as well. Women, even those new to the profession are enticed by salaries that are comparable to those of their male counterparts. There’s often good benefits packages not to mention the perceived “freedom of the road” that’s also a power ful lure. But the industry is also becoming more organized and events like Trucking HR Canada’s Women with Drive or the Trucking Human Resources Sector Coun cil Atlantic’s mentoring programs are help ing women find their place in an industry poised for change.
tend to be short in stature. Trucks are traditionally designed for wide-framed men, and while trucks often include vari ous steering wheel modifications and seat adjustments, women may still find it un comfortable maintain a comfortable and effective driving position.
Letter from the Editor
4 autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
That’s not to say this is the first time, we’ve covered women and driving issues between our covers, but this is the first time we’ve devoted this degree of space and coverage to the issue.
Indeed,sector.the time has come to recognize that women have a vital role to play within the multi-levelled transport in dustry and much to say about changes that need to occur, including raising the presence of women of colour.
Chief among these is probably safety. Women in over-the-road driving roles are still concerned about personal safety in places like strange parking lots or truck stops, especially when overnight stops are concerned. Many women thus opt for lo cal driving roles that keep them closer to home.And “home” is another concern. Like their male counterparts, women have work-life balance issues to be concerned about. The road can be a lonely place that takes workers away from home and family for days or weeks at a time. It’s no secret that many drivers put in longer hours to top up their earnings but at what cost?
We encourage you to take a few mo ments and let women like Tanisha Kis han introduce themselves. Kishan has a few interesting things to say about elec tric vehicles and their place in the Ca nadian landscape. Likewise, people like Andrea Ghaney from Fix Auto St. John’s Avalon (Newfoundland) and Katherine Gordillo of Fix Auto Charlottetown (PEI) are making inroads in the industry. Both are recognized as part of the “Women of Fix Network” se ries. The series is part of Fix Network’s efforts to promote women’s representation in the aftermarket industry.
THE OTHER HALF OF THE SKY
OR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS MAGAZINE’S HISTORY WE’VE DECIDED TO TURN THE SPOTLIGHT ON WOMEN.
F
luring females to the profession, growth is slow. COVID hasn’t helped but there’s other perceived barriers as well.
These are just some of the women you’ll meet this issue and the initiatives that you’ll read about that are currently happening in the automotive and trucking industries. Kris ten Lipscombe’s feature this issue will indeed raise a few eyebrows while shedding light on women’s status in an evershifting
It’s a well-known fact that there con tinues to be an ongoing driver shortage in our great industry but women represent only about three-to-three-and-a-half per cent of Canada’s 300,000 drivers. That’s barely a blip on anyone’s radar when you realize that women make up 47% of the CanadianAccordingworkforce.to freightwaves.com, women actually make up about 47% of the trucking business but the majority of those positions are women in manage ment, administrative or support positions like Anddispatchers.whilerecruiting and mentoring initiatives are having some success in
So, get a cuppa jo, get comfy and enjoy the people you’re about to meet.
Why now?
6 autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
“We need to attract more women, more minorities, and more younger driv ers,” Voie told Auto and Trucking Atlantic, adding that in order to do so, “we need to understand their work-life requirements and work hard to accommodate them.”
WOMEN WITH DRIVE!
security at truck stops, as well as through self-defence, self-esteem and anti-harass ment
ET’S FACE IT. WHEN MOST PEOPLE THINK OF THE TYPICAL TRUCK DRIVER, WE LIKELY THINK OF MIDDLE AGE TO OLDER WHITE MEN SITTING ATOP BIG RIGS THAT DRIVE PAST US ON HIGHWAYS AND FREEWAYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT.
And that’s despite the odds often be ing stacked against women. Traditionally, everything from uniforms to showers at truck stops to the vehicles themselves have been designed for men, although that is slowly changing, Voie said. Add to that the safety issues of women travelling alone, which are now being addressed with initiatives such as better lighting and
Additionally, “women are becoming more prevalent in the boardroom and Csuite,” Voie “Womensaidare more risk adverse,” she said. “For women in the boardroom, women make decisions differently than men and are less likely to make a quick decision because they explore all options.
In fact, women are actually proven to be safer on the road. According to the American Transportation Research Insti tute, “male commercial drivers are 20 per cent more likely to be involved in a crash in every statistically significant area,” Voie said.“I’m also told women are often bet ter with customers, and take better care of the equipment,” she added. “Now that we know women are capable and qualified, carriers are focusing on ways to attract more female drivers.”
. . . 7autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
“Currently, the average driver is a white male in his 50s,” said Ellen Voie, President and CEO of Women In Trucking (WIT), a non-profit organization based in Plover, Wis., that’s dedicated to improv ing diversity in the industry, which means employing – and celebrating – the women who choose to get behind the wheel of large scale trucks and haul much-needed freight across long distances to meet our everyday needs.
“Studies have shown that a more di verse leadership team results in higher net profits to the Meanwhile,corporation.”northofthe border, An gela Splinter, CEO of Trucking HR Can ada, agrees that recruiting and retaining more women will only benefit the indus try overall when it comes to its long-term success.“When we look at truck driving, it’s the same as other blue collar type work and trades,” Splinter said from Ottawa, Ont., home of the Trucking HR headquar ters. “Women continue to be under-repre sented and I think this will continue to be a challenge.”Infact,in total, only 3.7 per cent of truck drivers in Canada are female, ac cording to Trucking HR Canada’s labour market information, a different percentage provided by American-based Women In Trucking. “We need to do better,” Splinter said.
it, WIT makes sure to recognize the in dividual accomplishments of females who are excelling – or perhaps “accelerating” – through initiatives such as the Member of the Month and Driver Ambassador pro grams.“Many women don’t picture them selves in transportation careers,” Voie said. “For professional drivers, the chal lenge is that they have a misconception about what is involved in driving a tractortrailer. They often think they can’t learn to shift or back-up a 53-foot trailer, and they often assume they need to be big and burly to handle the freight and mechanical to fix“Butthings.these are all misconceptions,” Voie emphasized. “Automated transmis sions and no-touch freight and highly technical engines… are the norm today. And women can certainly back up a trail er… We have to address these stereotypes of our industry.”
That’s why WIT, which now includes 7,000 members spread across 10 countries including Canada, and continues to ex pand, works to reach out to females of all ages to encourage them to picture them selves actually working in the industry, including through a scholarship founda tion which offers tuition grants for women interested in entering the industry. And when they do make a career of
L
TRUCKING HR, WOMEN IN TRUCKING AND WOMEN’S TRUCKING FEDERATION OF CANADA, ALL COMMITTED TO GENDER DIVERSITY ON & OFF HIGHWAYS
Fortunately,initiatives. though, more women are making professional driving a career choice. “More and more women are en tering the industry,” Voie said. Accord ing to the most recent WIT Index, “the official industry barometer to benchmark and measure each year the percentage of women who make up critical roles in transportation,” female commercial driv ers now make up almost 14 per cent of all drivers in the United States.
Truckers Corner
By Kristen Lipscombe
And that’s because that stereotype is, unfortunately, pretty darn accurate.
That’s why organizations such as Women In Trucking south of the border, and both Trucking HR Canada and the Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada, and others, are working hard to attract more females into the industry, through various proactive initiatives.
That being said, she said that average increases when it comes to positions with in the industry outside of actually being behind the wheel of a truck.
in Trucking also offers a Driv er Ambassador Program for “educating and amplifying how a career in transpor tation can be rewarding for women” and member benefits for business profession als and professional drivers.
Trucking HR Canada, meanwhile, of fers some incredible incentives through its Career ExpressWay Program for young women considering entering the industry, including the Youth Employment Skills Strategy and Student Work Placement Pro gram. These initiatives have seen females comprising 25 per cent and 49 per cent of participants, respectively, representing a promising jump over the percentage of women currently working in the industry.
Trucking HR also recently held its 8th annual Women With Drive Leadership Summit, with 250 people coming out to the event in Toronto this past June, the most ever to attend the event, with this year’s theme focused on Driving Diversity.
“These aren’t occupations that tradi tionally attract women,” Splinter said. “I think (we need to raise more) awareness amongst the general public of the range of occupations that are offered in the in dustry.“When people think of trucking and logistics, they think of driving or working in the warehouse,” she explained. “While 46 per cent of our workforce are drivers, that means 54 per cent of our workforce are not drivers, so as one of the largest employers in the country, there are a whole range of economic opportunities, and we want to do a better job of con necting women to those economic oppor tunities.” Trucking HR Canada’s Career ExpressWay program helps do just that.
Women In Trucking in the U.S. holds a similar annual event, the Accelerate! Con ference and Expo, as an effort to attract a more gender diverse workforce, in the US.
“Our industry, we’re not going any where,” Splinter said. “Even through the pandemic, we kept working.”
ELLEN VOIE
“What we’re seeing is that there are a lot of women in the industry looking to engage and looking to get involved,” Splinter said, “and we take that as a posi tive “Thesesign.” kinds of professional develop ment opportunities, opportunities to con nect, to network, to seek out mentors, and coaches,” Splinter said, “they can certainly help us in keeping those women within the industry,” and encouraging other women to consider becoming a part of the “Itworkforce.wasvery rewarding to see so many new faces at this year’s event,” Splinter said, but added “I do think we do need to do more work, in terms of women’s representation in the C-suite and making sure that we have women on the asso ciation boards… so there’s always room
“Don’t overlook us,” Splinter said, especially since as an essential service, you won’t only be securing a sustainable profession for yourself, but you’ll also be making a positive difference in the mil lions of people that rely on the trucking industry each and every day.
“Connect with different organizations and network,” Splinter added. “Talk to other women who are currently working in theTheindustry.”reality is, the trucking industry offers stable, sustainable employment, re gardless of gender.
for improvement.” While improvement is always positive, those traditional genderbased challenges still exist and persist.
“But still, when we look at the fact that women still represent half of our work force, it is under-represented and lower than (the number of men in the industry).”
The federation, a Canadian non-profit organization which was “established to encourage the employment of women in the transportation industry,” for instance, offers a mentorship program through so
cial media with more than 200 partici pating members, along with career fairs, speaking engagements, training seminars andWomenmore.
THE BOTTOM LINE?
“Ask a lot of questions,” Voie said. “Be sure you know what you are looking for before you commit to a company.”
Truckers Corner
“We do see a lot of females in other roles within the industry,” she pointed out. “It’s still below other industries, but it’s higher; closer to 15 per cent, depend ing on the role, such as administration, and this includes management positions.
Geldart met mentor Hart through her common-law partner, Cody McLennan, a metal fabricator, who has always had her back as she has followed her dreams. She also credits her mother, Michelle Gel dart, for encouraging her throughout high school to consider going into a trade and supporting her throughout her schooling. She’s grateful to have so many people cheering her on as she pursues what she loves most.
In The Garage 13autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
LIPSCOMBEHALEY GELDART WHENJUSTSTREAM,COLDOF-N.S.,WASATODDLERSHESTARTED
what inspired her to take mechanical mat ters into her own hands.
“There’s2021.
Before getting into the automotive business, and after graduating from Cobe quid Educational Centre in Truro, Geldart spent about a year working as a pre-board screening officer with Transportation Se curity Administration at Halifax Stanfield International Airport. But the global pan demic quickly changed her career plans as the airport substantially cut back on its staff in order to mitigate the COVID-19 impacts.“When I was younger, I had spent a lot of my time in my father’s hobby garage with him, and as I got older, I didn’t do it as much, until I got a couple of my own cars, and then I realized how much that I missed doing that stuff,” Geldart said of
As for being one of few women in a highly male-dominated industry – Geldart was the only female in the shop at Bench Automotive and the same is currently true at the All EV location in Halifax – the strong young apprentice isn’t discouraged herself and hopes to encourage other girls and women to consider getting into the business.“I’dsay that it’s something you really want to try, you can do it,” Geldart said. “If you really put your mind to it, it’s a very rewarding career.”
“I like working with my hands. I like being able to take things apart,” Geldart said. “You know the basics of how it works, but when you take it apart and you have it in your own hands, you’re able to really understand and see how it works.”
“It’s very mind-opening,” she added. “It’s a lot to take in but it’s an adventure that will open up my career even further.”
Her next goal is to “pursue and get my red seal,” she said, adding she and boy friend McLennan would love to buy their own property and perhaps start up their own little side shop for fun projects.
“My boyfriend and I have a Miata, and I’ve had a couple of other cars, and just being able to fix it and do different stuff and make it your own personal project; it’s pretty cool to see what you can do with different vehicles.”
to be able to do that,” Geldart said.
So what’s next for young All EV ap prentice Geldart?
‘A VERY REWARDING CAREER’:
pictures of us wearing dia pers, sitting on the hoods of cars. If there was anything (our father) had just lying around, sitting around, he’d give us ratch ets and wrenches and let us go to town taking it apart and doing what he wanted.”
BY KRISTEN
TINKERING WITH TOOLS ALONGSIDE HER TWO BROTHERS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THEIR FATHER, ELDON GELDART, INSIDE THE FAMILY’S HOBBY GARAGE.
Now 23 years old, Geldart’s passion for taking things apart and putting them back together again has translated into a successful apprenticeship at the All EV Canada location on Kempt Road in Hali fax, where she’s been working as an ap prentice and learning the ins and outs of electric vehicles for the past few months.
“Me and my siblings were in the ga rage as soon as we were able to walk,” Geldart recalled of what inspired her to enrol in the Automotive Service and Re pair program at Nova Scotia Community College, where she graduated from in June
“And I didn’t want to have to rely on my father to be able to repair my cars any more,” she added. “I wanted to be able to do it myself… and I’ve always had an interest in vehicles, so it was a match for me.”So Geldart recalibrated her career plans and decided to pursue her true pas sion by first joining the NSCC program and then the workforce, landing her first job in the automotive business at Bench Automotive on Waverley Road in Dart mouth, where she spent a year learning how to service high-end vehicles.
Ultimately she ended up following her mentor, service manager Bill Hart, from Bench Automotive to All EV, where she’s enjoying learning about the intricacies of electric vehicles and how they differ from typical gas-fuelled vehicles.
“I just helped and did a battery swap in a Tesla this week and it was really cool
“It’s very interesting,” she added. “I didn’t think that there would be that much more to it, but it’s cool to see the differ ence.”For instance, she said, “the fact that with electric, there’s no hesitation to the power you have; once you put your foot on the pedal, you’re gone.”
YOUNG HALIFAX APPRENTICE ENCOURAGES OTHER WOMEN TO GIVE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR BUSINESS A TRY
WAS QUICK TO ESTABLISH THE FRATERNAL FOUNDATION OF THE SHRINERS.
SHRINERS ARE NEVER FAR FROM A GOOD CAUSE, EVEN AT NOVA SCOTIAS’ SCOTIA SPEEDWORLD OUTSIDE HALIFAX
Recognized by their red fez and long tassels. For many, the sight evokes memo ries of parades when the cars and bikes arrived. Always circling down the route and with a few characters in tow. Usually a clown or two.
By Sean Maddox
SHRINERS KEEP ON KEEPING ON
You must be a Freemason, often just called the Masons. In its present form, the Masons have been around for 305 years; much older in many other capacities dat ing back to the 13th century.
in Halifax without becoming aware of the Shriners generous contributions and ef forts to help children smile.
The Shriners do age. I know, many say they are as young as ever. To reinforce the ranks the model continues to be sustain able; the Freemasons attract new mem bers every year. A great organization to recruit new Shriners. Some after years of service and training can even be clowns in parades.Thepartnership is based on many relationships built on trust and account ability. A web of relationships as found in many successful organizations and part nerships in Atlantic Canada and around the world. As Ken noted: “The relation ships with the Shriners make the partner ship work.” Not to mention history, laws, money, fun, and above all else, the cause. The Speedworld’s share of the 50/50 is donated to the IWK’s Remedial Seating Program.Next time you buy a 50/50 from a Shriner volunteer, take a moment to thank them for all they do to make our commu nities a better place to call home.
do was listen to his story and hear his passion. The same passion I felt the first night at the Speedworld this year when my 50/50 selling Shriner approached and asked, “What type of truck?” I am not sure he was happy with my choice. What could I say? My old 1990 Toyota Hilux twin cab took me to many corners of Africa those years I lived and worked there.
Talk of the town
As the public face of the Masons, the Shriners are well know for their ability to raise awareness, resources and money for children. Shriner hospitals and health clin ics can be found in almost every corner of the world. It is said judge an organization on their results, the Shriner’s have a lot to show, the Shriners achieve results. No family can visit the Isaac Walton Killam (IWK) Hospital for women and children
For over 27 years there has been a Shriner presence at the Scotia Speedworld in Halifax, N.S.. The speedway stands at the entry to Halifax for most visitors to the province coming by car or plane. You can’t miss it. It stands as it did when it opened the gates to racers and fans in 1987. In 1997 Mike, some friends and other Shriners started the Shriner Street Stock Classic; now known as the Shrin ers Classic Sportsman 50. It was a natural evolution from years on the track and rac ing for these Shriners. The name is not the only thing that has changed over the years. New name, rules and feel. Howev er, ask anyone around the track about the big races and it will include the Shriner Classic. Names on the prestigious trophy including Gordie Ryan, James Graves, Russell Smith Jr, and the late Terry Roma to name a few, have all won the race at leastThereonce. is even a dash of intrigue at the track and among Shriners. What hap pened to the original trophy, the one hold ing the glass ball? The original trophy long gone, and yes, new rules to protect the new trophy but the legends live on. Mike started listing off the Shriner race winners from decades ago up to now. All I could
O N THE PHONE WITH SCHMID,MIKEHE
14 autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
This relationship, no, this partner ship, has grown over the decades. For the last 25 years, the Shriners have shown up night after night to run the 50/50. That is correct, race after race for 25 years. Their efforts last season raised over $13,000.
Scotia Speedworld General Manager Ken Cunning spoke so passionately about the Shriners. He said on race weeks there is a huge list of stuff to take care of, but the 50/50 is not on the list. “The Shriners run it all… I don’t have to think about it.”
16 autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
As you can see from the video above, the pool actually does exist at Tesla’s Su percharger station in Hilden, Germany, which is the largest in the country, with 40 stalls, solar panels, and restaurants. As Te sla comes up with new ideas for features and amenities for future Superchargers, it seems it may be testing out the swimming pool concept during this hot summer. Or, perhaps the company and its employees simply set out to have a little fun.
“breathing.” After discover ing the car thief, they ar rested him.
“A wanted car thief who tried using a teddy bear to hide from our neighbor hood cops out looking for him last month has been put behind bars for nine months.”“Joshua Dobson (18), from the Spot land area of the town, was sought by us after stealing a car in May and not paying for fuel that same day.”
On the same day that he stole the Mit subishi ASX, Dobson didn’t pay for gas after fueling up the crossover SUV. After being alerted to this, the police searched for Dobson in an attempt to question him about failing to pay for fuel.
D
so sure we should believe it.
GRIN AND BEAR IT?
However, his teddy bear escape didn’t work out as he hoped, as reported by Mir ror. While the police searched through the address, they heard the teddy bear
East Coast Road Report
In 2020, over 800,000 vehicles were stolen in the United States — and millions more around the world. Earlier this year, in England, there was a bizarre auto theft incident. The police arrested a car thief af ter they found him hiding in a giant teddy bear.Car thief and teddy bear | Bastian Pu dill and Nathan Dumlao via Unsplash
On May 21, Joshua Dobson, an 18-year-old man from Rochdale, a town in Greater Manchester, England, did his own version of Grand Theft Auto. He stole a Mitsubishi ASX crossover SUV. However, it wasn’t the car theft that put Dobson on the radar of police.
he has a bearable time in side…”Car
TESLA OPENS REAL SWIMMING POOL AT SUPERCHARGER STATION
Tesla has certainly made for some weird news over the years, and CEO Elon Musk has been known to have some crazy ideas. However, when we first saw posts on social media suggesting that the au tomaker actually opened a makeshift pool at a Tesla Supercharger station, we weren’t
You’ve probably seen posts about Te sla making a smartphone or joining forces with Apple, along with other fabricated stories that aren’t true. When it comes to Tesla news, you have to look very care fully at the source, their potential inten tions, and the message itself. It’s important to do some digging and make sure the Te sla “news” you’re reading about is actually true. With that said, Tesla really did put up a swimming pool at a Supercharger sta tion in Germany. CEO Elon Musk has talked about adding an amusement park at Tesla’s factories, turning Supercharger stations into old-fashioned drive-in theat ers, and However,more.a makeshift pool at a Su percharger station is a bit wild, since very few people are going to come prepared with a bathing suit and be willing to get drenched before getting back on the road.
Teddy bear hiding spot for car thief | Greater Manchester Police As the Greater Manchester Police searched for him, Dob son headed inside an unknown address. Upon seeing a giant teddy bear, he cut open a hole and managed to squeeze himself into the plush doll.
Tesla Opens Real Swimming Pool At Supercharger Station (insideevs.com)
NANANANANANA BATMAN!
Riddle me this, Batman: When a cus tom car shop in Indiana does not deliver a Batmobile replica to a customer, why would a California sheriff send four depu ties cross-country to arrest the shop’s owner, jail him and freeze his assets?
Thief Arrested After Found Hiding in Giant Teddy Bear (motorbiscuit.com)
BITS AND BYTES OF THE BIZARRE, STRANGE AND DOWNRIGHT WEIRD GATHERED FROM AROUND THE WEB . . . SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO. YER WELCOME.
In a recent Facebook post, the Greater Manches ter Police detailed the inci dent — with a dose of some “teddy bear” humor:
NEWS OF THE WEIRD
ESPITE ALL THE ADVANCES IN SECURITY TECHNOLOGY FOR CARS, CAR THEFT IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM.
“When we went to arrest him, our of ficers noticed a large bear breathing in the address before finding Dobson hidden inside!”“He’s now stuffed behind bars after being sentenced last week for theft of a motor vehicle, driving while disqualified, and making off from a petrol station with out “Hopefully,payment.”
And where does that leave Sheriff Bolanos? Out of a job. Even before all this, he had lost a June primary election to a captain in his department. He was a lame duck when the Batmobile quest hap pened in SheriffJuly.sends
ABOUT YOUR AVERAGE SIZED TORONTO CONDO….
Cars are complicated. A seemingly simple problem can stump even experi enced mechanics, and the costs can add up quickly for the vehicle owner. Me
East Coast Road Report
Mark Racop, who owns Fiberglass Freaks, said he has nine Batmobiles in production. He said Anagnostou was ac tually first in line, but he missed a $20,000 payment. “And he disappeared on me for over eight months, almost nine months,” Racop said. When Anagnostou didn’t
Did Anagnostou flake? Did Racop fail to deliver? Who knows, who cares. The real question is why would the sheriff get involved, and that’s the riddle that ABC7 solved.The station says Anagnostou first filed a lawsuit, which was dismissed, then tried to interest police in Indiana to no avail, which is no surprise as it sounds like a civil matter. That’s when Anagnostou turned his Bat-Signal in the direction of Bolanos, whom the station says was his friend. Or as the lede on the ABC7 story says, “Holy political favors, Batman!”
The sheriff obtained search warrants in San Mateo, yet the district attorney says he didn’t realize the raid would happen in Indiana and said he didn’t approve it. Now it sounds like the D.A. is going to
deputies on Batmobile arrest errand for a friend | Autoblog
get his Batmobile on time, the account goes, Bolanos sent four deputies to In diana, more than 2,000 miles beyond his Gotham City on the Bay. They were traveling on the taxpayers’ dime — “four round-trip plane tickets, three nights of hotels, meals, rental cars, and a lot of overtime,” ABC7 said. There, they arrest ed Racop on California felony charges and briefly threw him in an Indiana jail.
dismiss the charges. So Anagnostou is without wheels. And Racop could be off the hook, just as Batman and Robin wrig gled off so many hooks over so many pots of boiling oil.
The answer: The guy who ordered the Batmobile is apparently a friend of the sheriff.The district attorney and board of supervisors in San Mateo County had to solve this riddle recently when it was revealed that Sheriff Carlos Bolanos had sent deputies to a shop called Fiberglass Freaks in Logansport, Indiana, which is licensed by DC Comics to build replicas of the George Barris Batmobile from the 1960s Adam West TV show. As reported by San Francisco’s KGO ABC7 and spot ted by The Drive, San Mateo real-estate agent Sam Anagnostou ordered himself up one of these $210,000 crime-fighting machines. (Considering the sweet 23-win dow VW bus Anagnostou is using in a real estate promotional video, he has an eye for the finer things.) But he managed to forfeit his place in the line for Batmobiles. And yes, there’s a line for Batmobiles.
The number of reported rat sight ings skyrocketed between 2020 and 2021. Michael H. Parsons, a Fordham Univer sity research scholar, told the New York Times that restaurants shutting down and the subsequent proliferation of outdoor dining during the COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role in the shift. With out dumpsters full of fresh restaurant food, rats have been forced to move to other food sources, and outdoor dining has provided streetside meals to the hun gry Couplescavengers.that seismic shift in rats’ every day lives with the fact that many cars have
The New York Times reported that a surprising number of people in the city are experiencing major car problems from rats and other rodents. The animals nest under their hoods and chew wires, leave debris and other items, and make a mess.
You could also try an under-hood ro dent repeller, like this device that uses LED lights and ultrasound to deter pests.
organic wiring insulation that smells like food, and you start to see why there’s a problem. There is debate over whether or ganic materials like soy-based wiring in sulation attract rodents. Still, the reality is that many people find their wires chewed in addition to evidence of rodents living in the engine Parsonsbay.believes improvements in “ur ban hygiene,” as he calls it, will help curb the rodent problem. Food scraps, trash, and other waste present a smorgasbord of aromas and tastes for animals of all types, so for a city the size of New York, the solution will require significant effort and investment.Whilethere are certainly more rats liv ing in New York City than in smaller towns, like, say, Chillicothe, Ohio, people in oth er areas are just as susceptible to chewing and damage from rodents. Many vehicles from Toyota, Kia, Hyundai, and even lux ury brands like Audi and BMW have soybasedThosewiring.that don’t are still at risk be cause wild animals of all types are attract ed to warm, safe spaces, which is precise ly what an engine compartment feels like after living on the street.
chanical issues, damage from collisions and accidents, and replacing worn items like tires are all common and expected parts of owning cars. What isn’t expected, however, are rodents, which can cause big-dollar problems under the hood of your vehicle (as they once did with Auto blog’s long-term Hyundai Palisade)
If you’re experiencing an infestation, you don’t have to burn down your car, de spite the temptation. One of the best ways to prevent chewing is to spray the wires with a bitter apple or another deterrent. The smell and awful taste should keep teeth off your wires, but you’ll need to re apply periodically to retain effectiveness.
You can also place traps or park your car in a garage away from areas where ro dents roam. Rats are making homes under car hoods in increasing numbers | Auto blog.
‘ALL ABOUT ANDHIGH-QUALITYNEWSATISFACTION’CUSTOMERNAPAAUTOPROLOCATIONOFFERSSERVICETOCLARENVILLE,NLSURROUNDINGAREAS
“We decided to make it a NAPA lo cation because of brand recognition,” he said. “NAPA has been in the game for so long. They’ve got a huge market pres ence.” Kinsella added that NAPA also has “phenomenal warranties on their parts, nationwide parts, and labour warranty, so we signed up basically because of all the different programs they have to offer.”
Currently, there are three service technicians working at NAPA AUTOPRO Clarenville, and so far, business is great, Kinsella said.
Both Kinsella and Butt, both New foundland natives themselves, have been in the automotive business for about 20 years each, for four decades of combined experience.“Withhis customer service skills and my knowledge of the business, we make a great team,” Kinsella said.
And both are proud to serve the Clar enville community and surrounding areas.
Just as the Clarenville AUTOPRO website says, “our passionate approach to building lasting relationships with our customers and our drive to continually upgrade our technical knowledge show that we are with you for the long haul.”
Around the Atlantic 20 autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
“Taking care of our customers and whatever automotive repairs they may need, that’s what’s most important to us,” operations manager Brian Kinsella told Auto and Trucking Atlantic. “We’re all about customer satisfaction.”
maintenance.” Joining the NAPA family of garages was an easy decision, Kinsella said. The strong and reliable NAPA repu tation speaks for itself.
OR THE BRAND NEW NAPA AUTOPRO SHOP IN CLARENVILLE, NFLD., “CUSTOMERS ARE THE NO. 1 PRIORITY.”
“Our auto repair shop in Clarenville provides you with a complete offering of maintenance and repair services, such as oil change, wheel alignment and brake
By Kristen Lipscombe
The new NAPA franchise located at 7 Coish Place, in the heart of the closeknit Newfoundland community, opened its doors to the public just this past May. Kinsella, service manager Greg Butt and the rest of the new NAPA team are in the midst of renovating and upgrading a former garage into a state-of-the-art AUTOPRO shop in order to provide “the best auto repair service in Newfoundland and Labrador,” according to NAPA’s website.
F
HE QUEBEC GOVERNMENT RECENTLY CLOSED ITS CONSULTATION ON CHANGES TO QUEBEC’S ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLE SALES STANDARD (ZEV STANDARD): “THE ESSENCE OF THESE PROPOSED CHANGES TO QUEBEC’S MANDATED ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLE TARGETS IS TO DRASTICALLY INCREASE THE STRINGENCY OF THE REGULATION LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AFTER THEIR PREVIOUS CONSULTATION,” SAID DAVID ADAMS, PRESIDENT & CEO OF THE GAC.
“All of our members are fully support ive of the drive to decarbonize their fleets, however governments in Quebec and across Canada need to be aware of the unintended consequences for consumers of setting targets that are both too aggres sive and too costly for manufacturers to comply
Our Environment 21autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
can include in creased vehicle prices and decreased model selection, both of which can result in older vehicles staying on the road long er – which does nothing to reduce green house gas
“Moreover,emissions.”theQuebec government cannot simply pretend that record high in flation and Bank of Canada interest rates that will likely be at 3.25% by the end of the year have no impact on consumers’ ability to afford to transition to electric vehicles – which remain more expensive.
T
Meanwhile, the government is cut ting its incentive amount available to as sist consumers. This is not a recipe for success,” noted Adams. The GAC and its member companies remain committed to working with the Québec government to decarbonize road-transportation and con tinue to provide our input into the regula tory development process.
GLOBAL AUTOMAKERS RESPONSE TO ANNOUNCED CHANGES TO QUEBEC’S ZERO EMISSION VEHICLE SALES MANDATE
Thesewith.consequences
QC ZERO EMISSION SALES MANDATE
“Our industry requires some consist ency regarding the targets regulators re quire manufacturers to meet that are first, grounded in science and secondly, sup ported by ongoing commitments to both consumer incentives and charging infra structure build-out,” added Adams
By Jérémie Bernardin
WithCanada.multiple Teslas up on hoists with their protective cov ers taken off, participants had the chance to see firsthand how unique these vehicles are. A cutaway motor was on display along with individual battery cells (of which 4416 cells arranged in 96 groups of 46 make up one battery pack), battery cooling com ponents, autonomous driving components, heat pump, and the charging equipment “brains” that control the battery.
Participants had the chance to ask master technician and EV expert David Giles any questions they had. With no shortage of those, Giles covered a tremendous amount of ground including Vehicle 2 Grid, their in-house EV-specific rustproofing, certified battery health reports, charging systems, battery innovations, ser
Jérémie Bernardin is the Business Development Manager with All EV by Steele
V CLINICS ARE JUST THE LATEST INNOVATION FROM ATLANTIC EV PIONEERS. CREATING A BUZZ WITH THE LOCAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE ENTHUSIASTS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
Peeking under the hood and under the battery case of an electric vehicle is quite a unique opportunity that many electric vehicle (EV) enthusiasts in Halifax jumped at this past June. All EV Halifax held an in-depth Tesla Model 3 clinic open to the public with half of the money raised going to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and half to the Electric Vehicle Association of Atlantic
vice regimen on components, and more. This clinic would be considered one of the most in-depth and advanced Tesla clinics open to the public in North America.
ELECTRIC AVENUE
E
24 autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
This is but one example of how Steele Auto Group and All EV are leaning in to accelerate electric vehicle awareness, interest, and adoption in Atlantic Canada. To join upcoming EV educa tional sessions visit www.allev.ca/ev-education.
Best of all, Dave announced his newest project, a completely new and unique cut-away Tesla IDEV (Interactive Demonstration Electric Vehicle) that will be on display at their soon-to-open All EV location in Moncton.
26 autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
27autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
Mira Gut Bridge Officially Opens
Forest Access Roads in the Paradise Lake and Bay d’Espoir Highway Areas Being Opened
East Coast Road Report 28 autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
The Bay d’Espoir Highway (Route 360) continues to remain open to traffic. How ever, not all forest access roads or cabins are Ifaccessible.youare planning to use forest ac cess roads in the vicinity of these fires, please examine the below map to de termine whether your cabin or camper is accessible. The map shows closed for est access roads in yellow. The two fires shown in white crosshatch are active for est fire areas and are not accessible. The ‘STOP’ symbols represent the points at
Themillion.reopening of the Mira Gut Bridge represents the reconnection of our com munity and the Marconi Trail. The bridge, while remarkable in its design, is truly beautiful because it also represents the efforts of a community advocating and working together to get to this day. There is a groundswell of joy and gratitude that goes along with every ride over this bridge many of us feel today and will for many to come.Amanda McDougall, Mayor, Cape Breton Regional Municipality
NEWFOUNDLAND
THE ATLANTIC ROAD REPORT
Residents and visitors in the Mira River area no longer have to take a 20-kilome tre detour thanks to the completion of the Mira Gut Bridge, a major link in Cape Breton’s road network, which officially opened today, August 5.
If residents decide to use the newly opened forest access roads, they are asked to proceed cautiously and safely and to be aware that crews continue to address the forest fires in the broader region.
of Kim Masland, Minister of Public Works. “The addition of the sidewalk along the bridge will encourage active transporta tion, allowing cyclists, walkers, runners and others to safely cross the Mira River.”
Quick Facts: the original Mira Gut Bridge was a
“The Mira River area, home to one of Cape Breton Island’s busiest beaches and a scenic ocean drive, now has a safer, uninterrupted transportation link,” said Brian Comer, Minister responsible for the Office of Addictions and Mental Health and MLA for Cape Breton East, on behalf
The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture has made arrangements to open a number of forest access roads in the area of Paradise Lake and Bay d’Espoir Highway (Route 360), so that residents may access their cabins and campers.
NOVA SCOTIA
BITS AND PIECES OF NEWS COLLECTED FROM AROUND THE ATLANTIC
which the public may not go any further as they are considered unsafe.
The new Mira Gut Bridge is an 80-me tre truss bridge with a 6.5-metre vertical clearance to accommodate boats. It cost $6.525
30 autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
Auto & Trucking Atlantic is seek ing a an energetic ad sales profes sional with prior sales, or print or digital experience. You will have a chance to grow with our expand ing publishing company.
We offer an independent, flexible work environment with lots of op portunity for growth and a com petitive commission structure. We’ll even provide the business
swing bridge which opened to accommo date large boats, disrupting road traffic in November 2017, the Mira Gut Bridge was closed because the swing bridge no long er worked properly about 1,000 vehicles crossed the bridge daily
The position involves working with current clients as well as sourcing and building new sales leads.
Driver’s license process made eas ier for Ukrainians
Applicants must provide a valid driv er’s license from the reciprocal country and/or a translated copy in French or Eng lish of their driver’s license, as well as two documents that show their current ad dress in Prince Edward Island.
The Province of Prince Edward Is land is simplifying the driver’s license exchange process for eligible individuals fromBeginningUkraine.
East Coast Road Report
Monday, August 15, in dividuals who are exchanging full stage Ukrainian Category B (including BE) pas senger vehicle licenses for PEI’s Class 5 license will be able to do so without a written exam or road testing. Commercial class licenses or motorcycle licenses are not eligible for exchange.
All new residents and visitors to PEI can drive on their existing license for up to four months before they require a PEI license. Once the exchange process has started the four-month time limit is ex tended until the process is completed.
Visitcards.our
608 - 56 Jacob Lane Bedford, NS B3M 0H5
Depending on which country they are from, new Island residents may be able to simply exchange their foreign license for a driving license in Canada without the need to take road tests or knowledge tests.
- Minister of Transportation and Infra structure Cory Deagle.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
This initiative was made possible by the due diligence processes completed by member jurisdictions of the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administra tors, consisting of in-depth analysis of Ukraine’s driver education requirements, testing standards, verification of driver li cense documents which included review ing work recently completed between Ukraine and the United Kingdom for this purpose.Individuals from the Ukraine who have recently started the drivers licens ing and testing process can contact the Department of Transportation and In frastructure’s Highway Safety Division at 902-368-5223 to discuss the new ex change options.
website at: autoatlantic. com and forward your resume to rob@autoatlantic.com.
as possible as they settle into their new home.”
It is important that we make the tran sition for Ukrainian newcomers as smooth
Tel: autoatlantic.comEmail:1.902.452.0345rob@autoatlantic.com
“As a province, we are doing what we can to create a welcoming environment for Ukrainians who are fleeing the Rus sian invasion of their country.
Come join our team!
insurance in different provinces and postal codes using our online premiumauto?cta=RgkVWMquoter: https://rates.ca/insurance-quotes/insuranceYoucancheckoutsomeEVinsurancepricesandestimatedannualfuel
Rebates are available for all EV pur chases: The federal government does of fer rebates for EV purchases, but there are limitations. The vehicles must be new (not previously owned) and must have a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $55,000 or less for passenger vehicles and $60,000 or less for station wagons, pickup trucks, SUVs, minivans, vans or special purpose vehicles.
EVs account for 8.2 per cent of all new Canadian vehicle registrations according to S&P Global. And yet, and yet. While EV interest continues to trend upwards, many consumers still have an outdated understanding of the current EV market says Tanisha Kishan, RATESDOTCA ex pert and chartered insurance professional. “The EV industry is moving faster than consumer education is.”
As rising gas prices squeeze drivers’ budgets, it’s natural that people would become interested in vehicles that pro vide more affordable fuel options like BEVs and PHEVs says Kishan. And, con trary to popular belief, not all EVs are Te slas.
EV auto insurance is more expensive than for gas-powered vehicles: A major factor in calculating auto insurance premi ums is the price of replacing the vehicle and vehicle Historically,parts.EVs have had more ex pensive parts and sometimes only spe cialized mechanics can work on them, which drives up the cost of insurance.
As the price of EV parts go down and the number of mechanics trained to work on EVs increases, insurance premiums could decline. Insurance for some EVs are already comparable to gas-powered cars of equivalent value. According to data from RATESDOTCA’s online quoter, in Toronto the average insurance premi um for a Nissan Leaf is $2,561, compared to the Chevrolet Cruz at $2,598 and the Honda Civic at $2,722.*
“As EVs and EV infrastructure become more available, we will likely see an in crease in EV use across the country. Con trary to popular belief, EV insurance rates are comparable to those of gas-powered vehicles. It’s in a driver’s best interests to shop around for EV insurance if they pur chase a ZEV.”
AN INSURANCE PROFESSIONAL ASKS US TO STAND UP AND RECONSIDER THE MANY REASONS WHY WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING AN EV FOR OUR NEXT AUTOMOBILE PURCHASE.
ITH THE RAPID RISE OF GASOLINE COSTS DURING THE PAST YEAR, A PARALLEL INCREASED INTEREST IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES (EVS) HAS ALSO GOT PEOPLE LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVES TO TRADITIONAL GAS GUZZLERS.
MYTHBUSTING: ON EVS AS LUXURY VEHICLES AND OTHER FLIGHTS OF FANCY
*Prices based on a 30-year-old female driver with 10 years of driving experience and a claims-free and conviction-free insur ance history.
and the Mitsubishi Outlander (PHEV) for approximately $32K are all examples of BEVs and PHEVs that are available for sig nificantly less than a Tesla Model 3 that comes in at approximately $61K.“
costs io-and-albertamuch-car-insurance-electric-vehicle-ontarhere: https://rates.ca/resources/how-
“Tesla may have carved the initial path for EVs in Canada, but many other car makers are getting into the game. Ford, Kia, Hyundai, Chevrolet, Audi and Nissan are just a few of the carmakers now put ting out
“EV rebates will vary by province, ve hicle and for insurance, by insurer. There isn’t a unified EV rebate policy that will apply to all BEVs and PHEVs,” Kishan says.You can find more information on fed eral ZEV eligibility by make and otaniq (BEV) forforablefacturersexpensiveaccordingly,ket were luxurylyment-incentives/ca/sustainability/electric-vehicles/governvincialsion-vehicles/eligible-vehiclesemission-vehicles/light-duty-zero-emisportation/innovative-technologies/zero-here: https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transmodelAndyoucanfindspecificinfoonproincentiveshere: https://www.caa.EVsareluxuryvehicles: Untilrelativerecently,theEVsavailableonthemarvehiclesandwerepricedmakingthemprohibitivelytomany.HoweverautomanuarenowreleasingmoreaffordEVmodels.. “TheChevroletBolt(BEV)isavailableapproximately$38K,theHyundai Ioapproximately$44K,ToyPrius(PHEV)forapproximately$29K
Drivers EV
By Carter Hammett
Kishan.That’s
EVs can only travel short distanc es: When EVs were initially introduced, the short drive times between charges were a major deterrent for consumers worried about travelling long distances. Now many EVs can drive up to 640km on a single charge.
just one of several myths con cerning EV, she says. There’s many more, including:
can compare quotes for
Future Technologies 32 autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
W
“TheEVs. Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Bolt, Hyundai Ioniq, Toyota Prius Prime, Hon da Clarity and Mistubishi Outlander are just a few examples of BEVs and PHEVs that are available on the market now,” says
I came from a family who were not involved in trucking at all. As I grew up, I became more and more fascinated with those big rigs, and wondered how I would ever come to drive them.
Why is it that we know what the issue is, but we wait until we are knee deep in it before we react? Wouldn’t it be more productive to be proactive, and collabo rate instead, from the beginning? It takes
a lot less energy to be proactive than to be reactive. It just creates more time and space for everyone.
I often wonder what I would have done differently, if I had the chance to live my life over again, as I’m sure a lot of you do. To be honest, I would not change a thing. The trucking industry is a world of its own, and there are thousands of op portunities within it. The places you go, the things you see, and the people you meet, are all part of that journey.
your passions and using your gifts and strengths will lead you to a far better and bigger outcome, one of ful fillment and happiness, one of excitement and desire, to go out there and achieve whatever you choose. The money will fol low: it always does.
To read more of Dana’s articles, please visit: themindfultrucker.com
that was how you got their attention.
A SEASONED VET LOOKS BACK ON A CAREER DECISION WITH NO REGRETS
By the time I was in my late teens, I knew that when I became legal age I was going to drive a big rig. It’s one of those things you can feel inside yourself. That drive, and passion that consumes you for whatever it is that you love doing.
I learned very quickly that trucking was the way to go for me. Trades were highly underrated back then (and still are) and were basically frowned upon. It was all about the university education. The world we live in now requires many tradespeople, as there is now a shortage of them, or the ones that are working are so busy, they can’t keep up with demand. Trucking is no different.
Every time my family would go on a road trip, I would stare out the car win dow looking at all the big trucks passing by. Of course in school I used to stare out the window a lot as well, not really inter ested in whatever was going on in class. My teacher would say,
“You will never make a living staring out the window, so pay attention”. Made me Somelaugh! of those trucks were really nice. Of course back then, I wasn’t sure what kind they were. I always wondered where they were going, and who was driving them. What was in the trailer? They were larger than life to me, and I had so many questions. As a kid, I didn’t know where to go to find those answers.
AROUND EIGHT YEARS OLD.
We all have that in us somewhere. It may not be in the trucking industry, but the passion is there for something. What ever industry or career you choose, follow your passions. Don’t make money the pri mary reason for doing it, or do it because someone expects you too. Do it for the rightFollowingreasons.
B
After training, I jumped into trucking with both feet, and away I went. Doing local work at first, then team driving all over North America. Hauling everything that would fit in, or on a truck. I loved it, and the lifestyle. Would I say it was easy? Never! There were lots of struggles throughout those years. Being away from home for extended periods, living out of the truck, not getting much exercise, and the feeling of loneliness and isolation at times. But at the end of the day, it was all a learning experience that brought me to where I am now.
Every time they would pass by, I would give them the fist pump, hoping for a second they would blow the air horn. They usually did, if they saw us. Not sure how I figured out how to do that. I may have seen another kid do it, and thought,
By Dana Smith
At the age of 20 I made the deci sion, with the help of my parents to at tend a truck training school, and pursue my dream. Although back then I was told (not by my parents), that if I didn’t go to university, I wouldn’t be successful in life. What a thing to say to a young person,
THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
ACK IN THE DAY, I RE BIGSTARTEDWHENMEMBER-IFIRSTTOLIKETRUCKS.IWAS
Fast forward 35 years later, after driv ing for years, owning my own trucks, and currently training people to drive, I still have that passion for the industry. The trucking industry has given me a purpose, value, a good living, and a lot of teachable moments along the way. A mentor once told me, and I quote, “If you’re not earn ing, you’re learning”.
The Mindful Trucker 34 autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
especially when that is the furthest thing from the truth.
So when I refer back to my teacher years ago, I guess she was wrong, because you really can make a living staring out the It’swindow.called Trucking!
Around the Atlantic
OMEN ARE TIONCHANGINGINCREASINGLYTHEPERCEP-OFTHEAFTERMAR-
36 autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
achievers in its global network for some time now, as part of its “Women at Fix Network” se ries. Two women from the Atlantic region were also profiled – Andrea Ghaney from Fix Auto St. John’s Avalon (New foundland) and Katherine Gordillo of Fix Auto Char lottetown (Prince Edward Island) theketthrivingNewfoundland’saGhaneyAndrea.hasbeenfamiliarfaceinaftermarindustryforpast25years,
KET INDUSTRY AS A MALE-DOMINATED SECTOR. WE SHARE STORIES OF TWO INSPIRING WOMEN IN THE ATLANTIC REGION WHO ARE DEFYING CONVENTION.
For some time now, the conventional image of the automotive aftermarket in dustry has always been that of a menonly club. Not anymore, as an increasing number of women are leading, influenc ing, and thriving in this niche industry –working in important functions from the executive level to the counter pro to the shopFixowner.Network, a leading internation al provider of aftermarket services, has been putting the spotlight on two female
W
KATHERINE GORDILLO
FIX AUTO DRIVING CHANGE . . .
Another achiever, Katherine Gordillo of Fix Auto Charlottetown, wears many hats – she lives and breathes collision re pair, and when time permits, teaches Latin American dance styles to different genera tions of people. Born in Ecuador, she has been in the automotive aftermarket indus try for a little over two years but is already making a tremendous impact.
Katherine believes one can achieve so much more if they can challenge them selves. “Each day, I ask myself – what can I do better today than I did yesterday –and then go about achieving that,” she says.
37autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
industry every day. Their diversity and their different perspectives changed my perception and inspired me to learn every aspect of the business as possible.”
inspiring many women keen to pursue a career in the collision repair business. At the wheel of Fix Auto St. John’s Avalon as its Collision Centre Manager, she interacts daily with the shop’s large customer base, while ensuring that her team of techni cians and office staff are at the top of their game through regular training and certi fications.Andrea is known to be a trailblazer, shattering perceptions about women in what historically has been a male-dom inated field. “I believe the perception about women in the industry is chang ing and that there is a large number of women across the globe who actually do work on vehicles every day and enjoy it,” says“WomenAndrea. are continuously making a difference at all levels of the business – whether in the workshop or adjusting claims or excelling in customer service.”
As Employee Processes Analyst at Fix Auto Charlottetown, Katherine looks at enhancing the customer experience, creating high standards in customer ser vice, and differentiating her shop from the
competition. An important element of her daily routine is to develop strategies that maximise efficiencies of all departments and improve workflow at the shop.
“My first impression of the automotive aftermarket business was that it would be a boy’s club,” laughs Katherine. “Howev er, during my short journey here, I have met so many incredible women who are continuously setting the standards in the
ANDREA GHANEY
At The Car Wash 38 autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
By Meline Beach
COM, THERE WERE 8.1 MILLION PET CATS AND 7.7 MILLION PET DOGS IN 2020.
operator, do you anticipate the needs of your customers as pet owners? Do you sell kibble, collars, leashes, and groom ing products? Do you offer an on-site pet washingPerrystation?Flann of Campbellton, New Brunswick, is an accountant turned busi ness owner with several companies in his portfolio, including convenience stores, Subway restaurants, gas stations, and carwashes – one of which includes a pet washing station called Puddles Pet Wash. He picked up a self-contained pet wash ing unit from a friend a few years ago and recently finished installing it in a built-in structure on the side of his carwash in the rural community of Northumberland County. The 15’x18’ structure shares a wall with the carwash and features a con
crete pad, plumbing, three windows, ven tilation, in-floor heating, and a door. Pet washing is not a seasonal activity and an indoor unit enables the station to operate throughout the year, regardless of weather and seasonal temperatures.
PET WASH PROFIT STRESS AND MESS-FREE BATH TIME
In operation since June 2021, Flann says the value-added service is profitable, “though not in the millions, it has a 75 per cent profit margin.”
ETS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF CANADIAN HOUSEHOLDS. ACCORDING TO STATISTA.
P
While cats tend to groom themselves nat urally, dogs typically benefit from a monthly wash. With numbers like that, many of your customers are likely to be pet owners. As a convenience store or carwash owner and
The pet wash station shares the same drainage as the carwash and requires a weekly disinfectant. Besides paper towels, sanitizers, shampoo, conditioner and rinse aids, Flann says his pet wash is clean and low maintenance. In terms of marketing, he distributes flyers to local veterinarian clinics and does radio advertising, Face book posts, and has a spinning sign at the
Payment is available in many forms, including coins, cards, and tokens, as well as configured to offer free washes or combination payments, such as MEI Bank
Flann’s unit is not as sophisticated as other units in the market. His pet wash station is coin based and uses a manual dial to select the stage – shampoo, condi tioner, flea and tick rinse, and dryer. The cost is strictly dependent on timing and how quickly you go through the stages.
Built in Australia, the K9000 unit made its Canadian debut in 2017, with over 66 machines installed at a variety of conveni ence stores, gas stations, carwashes, laun dromats, shopping malls, multi-residential condominiums, and pet businesses coast to coast. There are also thousands of K9000 machines sold internationally. Ac cording to Evelyn Rutherford, director of Furever Clean Dog Wash and Canadian distributor of the K9000, the pet wash is a valuable and complementary self-serve, standalone business that requires very lit tle effort.“No staff are required on-site and customers simply make a payment at the machine and help themselves,” says Ru therford. “The door of the dog wash area can be fitted with an automatic lock so it opens and closes on a timer. As the dog wash machine has a three-part filtration system and a free disinfect cycle, the tub doesn’t require manual cleaning after eve ry petTherewash.”are 4 K9000 models to choose from, each featuring a stainless-steel basin, built-in hypoallergenic shampoo products and disinfectant, three-part filtration sys tem, programmable functions, payment devices, and dryers. Additional accesso ries include non-slip mats, pet towel/leash holders, and aprons – to name a few.
end of the road.
“You pick and choose the service based on the dial setting,” says Flann. “Five dollars gets you five minutes and it’s up to you if you want to spend that entire five minutes on shampoo. For most cus tomers, it takes 10 minutes and $10 to get a great wash. Considering most groomers charge between $50 to $100, and have limited availability, our self-serve pet wash is a K9000bargain.”andiClean Dog Wash are two internationally-recognized manufacturers of pet washing stations that are gaining market share in Canada. Both have similar and unique features that cater to custom ers’ needs when it comes to keeping their pets clean in a safe, fast, convenient, and cost-effective way.
chase in full or lease to own, over five years with low monthly payments. De livery from Vancouver, British Columbia, where the company is based, and instal lation costs are at the owner’s expense. Furever Clean Dog Wash provides phone support seven days a week and one-onone commissioning services to ensure proper installation and functionality as well as training on how to clean and
FUREVER CLEAN DOG WASH
note and Nayax Card options. The Nayax readers accept credit/debit/apple pay and the Monyx Wallet app, viewable online using the Nayax online system. Pre-paid loyalty cards are also available and allow business owners to sell as gift cards or bulk dog washes.
In terms of ownership, K9000 units are sold, not franchised, however, Furever Clean Dog Wash offers the option to pur
39autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
to install it,” says Rutherford. “Many of our business owners start with one machine and after a year or so purchase another.”
A pet wash station is a stress and messfree way to generate additional revenue.
“Many of our customers pay off a unit in approximately one and a half years and have an equal amount of revenue,” says Cooper, who maintains that iClean units are trouble-free and last up to 30 years. “The average customer with an average location sees approximately eight to 10 washes a day. This, of course, is based on location and promotion.”
maintain the machine.
In terms of additional revenue streams, Rutherford suggests renting out an area of the pet wash room once or twice a week to a groomer who can provide additional services such as nail clipping to enhance the dog washing service, as well as pro vide Furever Clean’s pet-themed vending machines with pre-paid dog wash cards and dog treats.
install, all you need is a cold-water line, a 110-volt outlet, and a floor or wall drain.
ICLEAN DOG WASH
With offices in Europe and the Unit ed States, iClean Dog Wash is growing stead ily in Canada at a 60 per cent growth rate. Their customer base has ex panded from pet stores, veterinary clinics, and laundromats to carwash es, gas stations, and con venienceiCleanstores.dog wash units are available in 14 models, each made from aircraft-grade stainless steel. Suitable for indoor and outdoor environ ments, each unit has a built-in water heater, tri ple filtration hair trap and features seven settings: shampoo, rinse water, conditioner, flea wash, low/high blow-dry low, and disinfectant. Each purchase of a unit comes with a five-litre container of biodegradable, low suds, tearless shampoo safe for all dogs, cats, and sewer systems, as well as crème rinse, flea and tick wash, and disinfect ant, which lasts approxi mately three months (and over 100 pet washes). At the end of each use, a free 30-second spray of disinfectant eliminates any con cerns of potential cross-contamination. To
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Meline Beach is a Toronto-based com munications practitioner and frequent contributor to Convenience & Carwash Canada, where this article was originally published. In addition to freelance writ ing, Meline provides communications and public relations support to businesses across Canada. She can be reached at www.mlbcomms.ca. CHANCES.
The Futura and new Cyber Wash are the most popular models in Canada.
At The Car Wash WE’RE BIG SECONDON
To accommodate year-round use, Furever Clean Dog Wash also offers an in sulated dog wash building in both single and twin sizes – ideal for carwash/conven ience/gas stations that do not have space in their current business and are looking for a self-contained option to place on the property. “We often consult with business owners and advise on the best location for their pet washing unit as well as with electricians and plumbers on the best way
The most successful locations are in high-traffic areas and use social media to help drive traffic. A simple, inexpensive Facebook ad, targeted by area, can in crease your customer count, not only for the pet wash but for your primary busi ness as well as many retailers benefit from additional sales per visit.
“Each customer has a choice of model that suits their business best,” says Phillip Cooper, chief executive officer for iClean Dog Wash, North and South America. “Some retailers want all the bells and whistles, like the Futura Touch Pad Plus, which offers 30 different languages and 40 celebrity voices that well each step of the wash, while others choose solely on price.” Given the cost of a pet wash, re turn on investment is always important. Consider location and competition before committing – are you located within a neighbourhood that attracts foot traffic or is your customer base mostly commuters and commercial drivers? Are there neigh bouring pet washes in the area that would detract from your business?
of driving,” he says. “You cannot drive without learning or at least being aware of the rules first.”
Adjijil, 29, a civil engineer by training, envisioned a bumper-to-bumper experi ence similar to the driving experience in his home town of Cabanatuan.
He quickly realized however, that driving followed a set of rules that laid out a template for his development of these newfound
Customer Success Manager Syed Ali says that drivers new to Canada should go for certified courses.
“When I started my first job here I was doing field work so I went to differ ent sites everyday using public transit,” he says. It was a challenge for me. That’s when I saw the need to learn to drive and own a car eventually.”
is absent from this list, you will need to go through the entire process of acquiring an Ontario drivers license.
RITE OF PASSAGE
And it’s those rules that have chal lenged many a new Canadian who arrive from their home countries with a firm sense of how things should be only to quickly realize that often the rules are not what they Fortunately,envisioned.Toronto is blessed with a number of driving schools that offer courses specifically for new Canadians. One of these is AMB Driving School (www.ambdriving.com).
“ We consider them beginning drivers because of cultural differences,” he says. “If you didn’t get your driving abstract back home, we consider you a begin ning driver and that’s what our course is called.”But Canada also has reciprocal driv ing agreements with several countries, in cluding Australia, France, Japan, Korea, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Britain, Swit zerland and the United States. This means that if you’re from one of these countries, you’ll be able to swiftly obtain an Ontario license without having to take either a road or written test. If your home country
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STEPS NEW IMMIGRANTS CAN TAKE AFTER SETTLING IN CANADA IS LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE. HEREWITH, A PRIMER ON THE FIRST STEPS…
Carter’s Corner 42 autoatlantic.com n september / october 2022
You will also find that Canadian driv ing requirements and protocols tend to vary somewhat from province-to-prov ince. For example, while most provinces state that the legal age for obtaining a learner’s permit is 16, in Alberta that age drops to 14. Transport Canada maintains links to provincial transport ministries, which can be found here: (Information Links (canada.ca)
By Carter Hammett
W HEN CALVIN ADJIJIL FIRST LANDED IN CANADA FROM HIS NATIVE PHILIPPINES, HE REALIZED, QUICKLY AND NERVOUSLY, HE’D HAVE TO LEARN SOMETHING MANY OF US TAKE FOR GRANTED: DRIVING.
A requirement that all provinces share is the need for both a knowledge and a vi sion test. The latter will confirm that your ability to see clearly will enable you to be a safe driver, while the knowledge test as sesses your comprehension of the driving regulations.Another commonality shared by all provinces is the use of a graduated licens ing system. In Ontario for example, there’s two licenses, class G1 and G2, which are acquired by successfully passing tests pri or to applying for class G, which is the full Driverslicense.
“Drivingskills.itself is a day-by-day learning process while the rules are the principles
with less than 24 months ex perience or who cannot prove driving ex perience over 12 months will have to be gin with the G1 license before taking the test for G2. Drivers unable to provide any
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proof of driving experience will have to start at the beginning. Similar rules apply in British Columbia with variations. Un der this system, there’s two levels to complete: L (learner) and N (novice) An L stage driver requires a sign with the letter ‘L’ prominently displayed on the inside car’s back windshield that lets other drivers know the level of experience of that particular driver. This stage lasts a minimum of 12 months and also states that drivers:
After arriving in Canada, you can apply for either a G1 or G2 Ontario license depending on your level of experience. Be sure to the following: Proof of previous driving experience, proof of identity (for example resident card or passport) and your current driver’s license issued from your home country.
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“You will never get lost in Canada,” says Calvin Adjijil. “At first, I was overwhelmed by the number of various directions, arrows, signals and street names everywhere but learning how to drive has made me realize their existence. They provide a wide range of information, serve as travel guidance and most importantly keep, not just me, but everyone safe.”
• Limit the number of passengers to two, including a licensed driver who is over the age of 25.
At the driver licensing office, you’ll need to take and pass both a vision and a written test, have your photo taken and pay all the applicable fees.
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Once the class 7 road test has been successfully complete, drivers receive their N stage license. This phase lasts two years and requires drivers at this stage to post the letter ‘N’ in their car’s rear windshield. At the N stage, drivers need to limited the number of passengers to one, unless there’s also a licensed driver 25 or over also in the car and maintaining a blood alcohol level of zero at all times.
BE PROACTIVE
For immigrants considering a move to Ontario, you can start the process of obtaining a license in that province prior to arrival in Canada.Thiscan be achieved by bringing from your home country a translated copy of your driver’s license in one of Canada’s two of ficial languages, a letter from the transportation authority in your home country confirming your license in either English or French and providing an international driver’s license or permit that al lows you to drive for two months in Ontario, during which time you must apply for a license in that province.
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These are just some of the things to consider when thinking about driving in Canada. Be sure to research some of the perks of fered by driving schools as well. ABT Canada’s Syed Ali notes that his school’s course is certified by Service Ontario, which means a reduction in waiting time for your G2 to eight months, down from one year. Other benefits include peace of mind and improved safety on the road. Some new Canadians in their relative infancy as drivers in their adopted country note other benefits.
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• Maintain a blood alcohol level of zero at all times while driving
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• Don’t drive between midnight and 5 a.m.
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It’s worth noting that all Ontario drivers are required to have car insurance. Once again, if you have a positive history with car insurance from your home country, this might be able to help you obtain better rates on your insurance policy in Canada.
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Ask your insurance company for a Letter of Experience, in cluding the length of in-force policy history and your claims-free status. Produce these documents when asking about insurance quotes in Ontario.
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