Calgary, Alberta -- The next generation of auto body technicians' talents were on full display at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology auto body program’s third annual Show & Shine event.
Held on Saturday, June 21, at the NAIT Patricia Campus in Edmonton, the event featured a wide range of student-restored vehicles, including a pristine 1957 Mack B truck.
Among the most eye-catching vehicles on display was a 1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan convertible originally built for then-Princess Elizabeth during a Royal progress through Canada.
The vehicle has been worked on by students since Autumn 2024. According to a social media post, the project gave students the chance to apply their training. "Every detail was considered in this stunning restoration that’s as much a tribute to the past as it is a showcase of the future of skilled trades."
According to a press release issued in the run-up to the event, second-year apprentice Andrew Balaneski, who was part of the restoration team, called the project a source of pride.
“If I see it in a museum in the near future, I’ll say, ‘I worked on that,'" he said, according to a press release. "And that's that’s pretty cool.”
A Show & Shine is a type of car show popular in Western Canada, where owners and restorers display vehicles in polished, finished condition. They provide a venue to showcase technical skill, paintwork, fabrication and custom designs. In order to help connect students with business leaders, NAIT invites members of Canada's collision community to attend.
Founded in 1962, NAIT is one of Canada’s largest and most respected polytechnic institutions, providing hands-on technical training for skilled trades across Alberta and beyond. Its auto body technician program is recognized for producing job-ready graduates with experience in collision repair, refinishing, custom restoration and advanced fabrication.
