REGIONAL NEWS
Alberta
CARSTAR Edmonton North receives Honda ProFirst certification CARSTAR Edmonton North has received official Honda ProFirst certification. CARSTAR Edmonton North is just the fourth CARSTAR location to receive the ProFirst certification, according to a statement from CARSTAR Automotive Canada. The certification program—launched earlier this year—provides endorsement to collision repair centres that meet or exceed Honda’s standards of safety and high level of customer care. “All of us at CARSTAR Edmonton North are extremely proud to be aligned with one of the most respected automotive brands in Canada. The ProFirst certification will allow our facility to work closely with Honda, while giving Honda owners peace of mind in knowing their vehicle is being repaired by a ProFirst certified facility,” says Albert LeBlanc, owner of CARSTAR Edmonton North. CARSTAR Edmonton North was sponsored by Alberta Honda for the certification. This sponsorship creates consumer confidence and builds a strong business relationship focused on the customer. “Special thanks go out to Jarret Beauregard, David Elgie and Aaron Ratsoy from Alberta Honda along with Chris Hogg and Mark Wade from Honda Canada for helping to guide us through the ProFirst qualification process,” added LeBlanc. “CARSTAR, along with our franchise partners have established a strong and trusted relationship with Honda throughout the country,” says
From left: David Elgie, Service Manager, Alberta Honda; Aaron Ratsoy, General Manager, Alberta Honda; Jarret Beauregard, Parts Manager, Alberta Honda and Albert LeBlanc, CARSTAR Edmonton North.
CARSTAR President Michael Macaluso. “Achieving certification shows a commitment to providing quality repairs and service to customers.” Once sponsored by a local dealership, collision centres undergo a rigorous evaluation process that ensures that repairs are completed according to the ProFirst requirement that vehicles be returned to customers in pre-accident condition. For more information, please visit carstar.ca.
TOP STUDENTS COMPETE FOR GOLD AT PROVINCIAL EVENT Alberta’s Provincial Skills Competition has come to a close for 2015, with around 700 high school and post-secondary students from 80 communities participating in this year’s competition at the Edmonton EXPO Centre. Of those 700 students, 19 competed in Auto Body Repair or Car Painting. Auto Body Repair saw eight students go for gold at the high school level, while five students vied for the top spot in the post-secondary category. The Car Painting competition saw six post-secondary students go head to head. Over 1,000 high school students participated in nine Regional and Qualifying Skills Canada Competitions to earn a spot at the provincial level. Post-secondary students are selected by their technical institute to represent their college or polytechnic. The event is made a reality thanks to the donation of $3 million in tools, equipment and material from industry, labour and education supporters. The Gold Medalists from the Provincial Skills Canada Competition will become part of Team Alberta and compete at the national competition. The 2015 Skills Canada National Competition will take place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan from May 27 to 30, 2015. The Auto Body Repair competition saw competitors performing a mock B-pillar section, a dimensional assessment, a structural composite repair and a metal repair. The Car Painting competition tested competitors’ knowl-
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edge of cleaning, sanding, masking, undercoat application, and topcoat application. Last year’s gold medal winner in Auto Body Repair, Justin Dambitis, also took the top spot at the national compeition and will be travelling to Sao Paulo, Brazil in August to represent Alberta and Canada at the 2015 WorldSkills Competition. The results from this year’s competition are below: Autobody Repair, Secondary 1 Zachary Saranchuk, St. Joseph, Edmonton 2 Brett Thompson, Forest Lawn High School, Calgary 3 Michelle Peace, CT Centre, Calgary Autobody Repair, Post-Secondary 1 Garrett Walsh, Calgary, SAIT Polytechnic, Concours Collision 2 Sheldon Janiga, Blairmore, SAIT Polytechnic, FCC Collision 3 Caroline Mckervey, Calgary, SAIT Polytechnic, Artisan International Autobody Inc. Car Painting, Post-Secondary 1 Garrett Weiss, Onoway, NAIT, Jacks Auto Body 2 Samantha Janishewshi, Drayton Valley, NAIT, Gemini Auto Solutions 3 Jamie Terpsma, Neerlandia, NAIT, Grizzly Trail Motors