SKILLS ON THE GO
Skills Ontario, alongside Fix Network at its Milton, Ont. training centre, officially cut the ribbon on the Trades and Tech Truck before it sets off to schools across the province.
The main focus of the event was on a group of seven students from Milton District High School who were given the first run-through of Skills Ontario’s new mobile hand-on learning centre.
“It was a real eye-opener for what we will learn on our placements,” said one Grade 12 co-op student. The converted box truck has a number of interactive stations for students and parents to engage with, including various virtual reality welding and painting simulators, a pneumatic pump setup, as well as a locker full of tools and safety equipment to interact with.
Fix Network CEO, Steve Leal voiced his enthusiasm for the event and how it connects various aspects of the auto industry. “I think this is a great initiative to involve the community, the government and everyone to make sure we can bring this message to the front line as much as we can,” said Leal.
“Fix Network has long partnered with Skills Ontario on many levels, but this new truck is meant to go out into the public and go to schools and events and introduce the young people of Ontario to the trades,” said Fix Network’s regional v-p of Ontario, Daryll O’Keefe. “They will actually get the opportunity to touch and try new skills. For young kids, they can even try on some of the safety equipment without actually touching tools, but the older kids can do virtual welding, virtual painting, even change the tire of a truck, all inside this mobile classroom.”
Skills Ontario’s CEO, Ian Howcroft spoke about the importance of having a hands-on experience with the tools of the trades. “We feel that the best way to introduce people to a skilled trade is to let them have that experience; pick up a tool, try one of the simulators, whether it’s crane operating, truck driving or welding,” said Howcroft.
“We encourage them to get the information to make the best decisions for themselves.”
PORSCHE PARTY AT CSN 427
Toronto-area Porsche owners were out to play in late April as CSN 427 Auto Collision welcomed the Porsche Club of America’s Upper Canada Region to the “Shift into Spring” open house event in Etobicoke.
The event kicked off at 10 a.m. in the shop’s parking lot on Evans Avenue and brought together more than 250 Porsche enthusiasts for a day of pizza and new product opportunities.
The staff at CSN 427 Auto Collision had the Bestia pizza truck on-hand for the day, serving out gourmet mini-pizzas to the mass of sportscar fans, with proceeds donated to Make-a-Wish Canada.
The shop’s resident Porsche expert, John Forte, was also onsite mingling with drivers, giving them insider info on how the luxury German brand does its repairs and conducting some more in-depth technical sessions with industry members.
As the marketing and PR coordinator for CSN 427 and its other repair centres, Jessica D’Alessandro spoke to Collision Repair about what an event like this does for the business’ name in the community.
“This event aims to advertise our Porsche certifications. We have two Porsche-certified body shops; CSN Avenue and CSN 427 Auto Collision. One is downtown and one is in Etobicoke,” said D’Alessandro.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for people to drop off and pick up from both of our locations.”
