From June 6-9, SATA Canada, in partnership with Scarborough, Ont., based Tropicana Community Services, conducted a four-day intensive automotive refinish introductory program for Tropicana’s graduating auto body pre-apprenticeship students.

SATA Canada has official status as a training delivery agent from the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. SATA offers an eight-week course in Automotive Refinishing, designed for anyone and everyone interested in a future in automotive painting. Graduates receive their Ontario 410N certification⁠—which is the equivalent of the Automotive Refinishing Technician Red Seal certification.

Tropicana Community Services has been working to help disadvantaged youth in the Toronto area with career and employment opportunities since 1980. 

One of Tropicana’s’ most popular offerings is the Auto Body Pre-Apprenticeship L-1 program— designed to deliver students with a basic understanding of autobody repair-—arming them for apprenticeships on the shop floor.

In-class and hands-on learning

The class consisted of both in-classroom learning and hands-on training. Well-known industry trainer, Rob Hill, took students through the foundations of paint, primer, painting techniques, tinting and colour matching. The goal of this program is to ensure students have a good basic understanding of automotive painting, colour and application by the time of completion.

The course provides each student with insight as to whether they would like to take the next steps to become a full-time professional painter.

The course, held at the SATA Canada training centre, enabled students to have access to a state-of-the-art, 2,500 sq. ft. facility containing a commercial dual-bay spray booth, prep areas and classroom that can accommodate up to 40 people. SATA Canada also provided all students with the needed equipment, paint suits and breathing protection. 

As an added incentive, students painted their own mini aluminum car hood and received a certificate of successful course completion.