More Events, More Support

ARC continues to advocate for more consistency across the country as well as bolstering visibility and provincial support.

In September, the very first Western Canada Auto Recycling Show was held in Calgary, taking place on September 25-26. Organized by ARC in conjunction with B.C. Auto Recyclers, Saskatchewan Auto Recyclers Association; Automotive Recyclers of Manitoba and the Alberta Automotive Recyclers & Dismantlers Association, it was a great event.

Well received

Based on the feedback we received, vendors were very happy, and the event itself was well-received by those who attended. What is also encouraging, is that we’re starting to see membership at the association level grow in the west and ARC, at the federal level, is stepping up it’s role in terms of support for provincial association activities.

A key factor for us, is assisting the provincial associations to ensure they have the resources they need to effectively represent their members, as well as enabling them to grow and thrive, amid an ever-changing auto recycling landscape.

Next year’s Western conference will be held in Edmonton, on September 24-25 and we’re looking to build upon a solid foundation begun with the inaugural event this year.

VIN branding

In other news, vehicle theft continues to be a problem across Canada and for recyclers, improper vehicle branding remains an ongoing issue. When an improperly branded vehicle goes through the salvage sale process, it creates an opportunity for VIN swapping and this is a problem that’s happening both at the provincial level and nationwide.

At ARC, we are advocating for and believe that continuity is needed between provinces when it comes to branding practices and regulations, along with a better flow of information on vehicles, including provincial registration systems. By taking a standardized approach to this, along with enforcement practices, we have a real opportunity to significantly reduce the issue of VINs losing their brand by being passed through multiple jurisdictions.

Salvage related issues

Another potential issue concerns laundering money through vehicle salvage auctions. We’ve also seen this issue surface in the United States where damaged vehicles are being run through salvage auctions with laundered money. As of yet, we haven’t really seen hard evidence that this is happening much in Canada, but often, what happens south of the border tends to impact us here in some shape or form. At ARC, this is something  we are closely monitoring and will continue to focus on, particularly as fraud continues to be significant potential threat and issue for many industries, including ours.

Even though it is November as the words are being written, plans are already well underway for the 2027 OARA Convention and Trade Show from April 1-3. We will be returning to Niagara Falls, and as a popular tourist destination we are focusing on creating a family style event for the 2027 OARA Convention.

Action-packed

While it is still early days yet, we are looking at planning some yard tours and onsite activities, and it promises to be action-packed event, with plenty of networking opportunities, on-site trade show, industry keynote sessions as well as a range of panels and presentations. We’ll provide more details as the show edges closer in the new year. All that remains is for me to wish you all a very happy holiday season and prosperous 2027.