Las Vegas, Nevada -- Canada’s collision repair and auto care community came together in Las Vegas on November 4 for AIA Canada’s annual Canada Night during AAPEX/SEMA.
The sold-out event drew hundreds of guests to HaSalon at The Venetian Resort from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, filling the room elbow-to-elbow with Canadian automotive professionals.
Canada Night has marked Industry Week for more than 30 years, serving as a showcase for Canada’s contributions to the global auto care and collision repair industry. The event has become a key gathering for networking, recognition, and celebrating the community that drives the sector forward.
This year’s event also marked a milestone for the association, as it was the final Canada Night under the leadership of president and chief executive officer Jean-François Champagne.
“Canada Night has always been more than just an event -- it is a celebration of Canada’s auto care industry on a global stage,” Champagne said. “This year’s gathering at AAPEX/SEMA was a resounding success, marked by meaningful connections and a powerful sense of community. As I prepare to step down as President and CEO, I could not have asked for a more fitting finale. I am proud of how far we’ve come as an industry and confident in the road ahead.”
As Collision Repair magazine reported last week, Champagne will be succeeded by Emily Chung. That transition hung over much of the evening’s dialogue, with attendees acknowledging both the milestone and the decade of progress under Champagne’s leadership.
“Canada Night felt vibrant and positive, bringing Canadians together with a spirit of community and pride. The evening was especially meaningful, as it also recognized Jean-François’ final year and celebrated our shared achievements as Canadians,” said Jay Hayward, senior vice-president of operations at CSN Collision.
The event’s setting offered a more intimate atmosphere than the typical ballroom celebrations, allowing for closer connections across the industry. “I really enjoyed the celebration,” said Daryll O’Keefe, vice-president of strategic business development for the Fix Network. “Having it in HaSalon made the event feel more personal and allowed for real conversations among attendees.” The gathering highlighted Canada’s visibility on the global stage while reinforcing the sense of community that drives the nation’s collision repair and auto care sectors.
