Winnipeg, Manitoba — The Automotive Trades Association of Manitoba (ATA of Manitoba) held a trade show and “collision olympics” last Friday, with record attendance from students, vendors and industry partners alike.
Held at the CanadInns Polo Park Hotel in Winnipeg, the ATA of Manitoba’s event was split into two parts. The morning portion focused on students, while the evening brought the Manitoba industry out for some camaraderie and friendly competition.
The morning brought students from three local schools—secondary and post-secondary—who spent a few hours meandering the show floor, networking with vendors, and eventually partaking in the event’s collision Olympics.
Some pretty exciting prizes were up for grabs; the first-place student winner in the paint and welding categories each walked away with a brand-new PlayStation 5.
All attendees were impressed with how engaged the auto body students were, asking vendors all sorts of questions with earnest interest in our industry.
After a brief afternoon break, the professional collision industry arrived on site, with record-breaking attendance where ATA’s recent events are considered. Collision centres formed teams with their staff to compete for a $10,000 cash prize. Each team was required to have a competitor in each category: VR paint, VR welding and estimating.
Other highlights from the event included the presence of the Women’s Industry Network (WIN) Canadian chapter, which is gaining traction across the country thanks to the dedicated women behind WIN’s expansion to Canada. Stay tuned for more information on how to join WIN’s Canadian chapter in the coming months.
Check out Collision Repair magazine’s photos from the event, and stay tuned to socials to see where we’re headed next.
