Two-day conference delivered in spades when it came to content and networking.

On March 19th and 20th, the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA Canada) hosted its 2025 Canadian Auto Care Industry Conference (CAIC). 

Taking place at the Delta Marriott Toronto Airport, at 655 Dixon Road in Etobicoke, more than 300 attendees registered for the event which included a sponsored breakfast, a full day of general sessions, on-site breakouts, a sponsored networking lunch and awards ceremony, plus an evening cocktail reception. The event focused on a range of topics impacting the auto care sector. 

Career support and engagement

The first session of the day, The Hear, Now and Next of Auto Care, presented by AIA Canada President Jean-François Champagne; looked at some of the initiatives happening at the association, including upskilling and career exploration. Champagne noted that there has been major progress here, with support from the Government of Ontario, including more funding, following meetings with ministers this year, as well as major progress made in partnership with the Automotive Business School of Canada, regarding an automotive aftermarket management certificate program at the school, which is launching in 2025. Given that Canada was gearing up for a federal election at the time of the conference, Champagne stressed the importance of engaging with elected officials and conveying the importance and essential nature of the aftermarket auto care sector and how vital it is to the economy and countless communities across the country. Champagne also took the opportunity to talk about the transition of leadership that will be taking place at AIA Canada this year, and that he will be handing the reins over to a new President, once that announcement is officially made.  

Next up, was an informative panel discussion on Canada’s current labour market and immigration. Hosted by James Channer, CEO of InMotion Brands, the panel featured Tony Kuczysnski, President and CEO, Mister Transmission; Susan Mowbray, Consulting Partner, MNP and Karim Mouldi, President Canari Recruitment International. The panel looked at the current situation, including shortages facing the auto care sector, particularly for technicians and some of the tactics and strategies open to the industry for recruiting. These included hiring workers from overseas, via immigration, though changing rules and requirements are impacting skilled worker through this stream (look for a more in-depth article on this on Autosphere.ca regarding this subject).

Breakout sessions

This session was followed by three breakouts which looked at Women in the Auto Care Sector (Empowering Leadership for Women in the industry); Young Professionals in the Aftermarket (Time Management and Burnout Prevention); and Market Research and Data (Consumer Experiences and Expectations of Vehicle Technology).

Another key highlight was AIA Canada’s signature Curbside Chat session, The Road Ahead: Top Trends in the Auto Care Sector. This one, hosted by automotive journalist Lorraine Sommerfeld, featured Bill Hanvey, President and CEO of the Auto Care Association in the U.S.; as well as Trevor Tenant, President of Piston Ring Service, and independent industry consultant Matthew Growden. The panel discussed the current global situation regarding tariffs and trade wars, and that it is important to separate facts from the noise currently being generated. Matthew Growden noted that ultimately, despite the threat of tariffs, people still need vehicles, and we will need to sell them and repair them. Trevor Tenant looked at the service side of the industry, noting the consolidation that’s been happening over the last 20 years and the growth in EVs and hybrids. Tenant stressed it was important to understand that these changes are happening gradually, and service centres have an opportunity to take advantage of that, since these vehicles still require maintenance and repairs. Bill Hanvey added that it was important for industry leaders in the auto care sector to surround themselves with curiosity and be curious themselves in order to embrace and effect change within their organizations. He also stressed the importance of working with government and regulators, particularly in a fast-changing environment like we’re currently witnessing today and getting them to understand the role the aftermarket auto care sector plays in the wider economy, one that’s beyond the OE narrative. 

Complexity, China and cost increases

An afternoon keynote from Steve Greenfield of Greenfield Ventures, entitled Vehicle Technology Outlook, painted a very interesting picture of how things are evolving. Greenfield discussed the current issues surround tariffs, noting that in reality, they aren’t good for anyone and will drive up the cost of both new and used vehicles. He talked about China’s massive ramp up in the automotive space over the last 20 years, particularly related to EVs and how tariffs are being used to stem the flow of Chinese vehicles and Chinese influence, since China’s ultimate goal, is to be the dominant player in both the industry and global economy. He noted that innovation cycles are currently much faster in China and in the west, and while tariffs are a tool to help limit Chinese influence in our markets, they are at best a short-term solution. He stressed that longer term, adopting some of their practices, including JV partnerships with automakers here and in Europe, are likely going to be more effective in ensuring a level playing field. Greenfield also looked at growing vehicle complexity and repair costs, which are also impacting insurance rates which have surged in the last two years. He noted that if nothing changes, we could end up with a situation where vehicles simply could not be repairable in the future, which would be disastrous for the economy and the automotive industry. 

Elections and unpredictability

The final session of the day came from David Coletto, CEO and founder of Abacus Data. This one focused on the current political landscape in Canada, and the upcoming federal election. Coletto highlighted how emotion plays a huge part in the voting process, and that currently, precarity mindset is impacting public opinion today, based around several factors including the cost of living, housing shortages, rapid population growth and an aging population. He also noted how the threat of trade wars and tariffs are also impacting Canadian sentiment including the decisions for some related to buying U.S. products and services. Coletto also noted that from a poling perspective, things can change fast, and the outcome of the 2025 Canadian federal election was far from certain at the time of this event. 

CCIF Toronto 2025

For the first time, and following feedback from the industry and past attendees, AIA Canada chose to host the 2025 Canadian Collision Industry Forum (CCIF) Toronto event, back-to-back with CAIC. With over 500 attendees registered, CCIF Toronto 2025 was a busy event to say the least. If featured a range of high-quality keynote sessions with some incredible insights, as well as on-site workshops and a trade show, as well as multiple networking opportunities. The keynote sessions included Improve Your Financial Puzzle—a highly informative presentation from Jim Bethune, President, Bethune Consulting Services, that focused on accounting practices and financial processes—highlighting the importance of streamlining your operations and leveraging modern tools and solutions available to help you. 

A case study in collaboration

Another very informative session focused on collaboration in the collision repair industry. Presented by Tom Bissonnette, a former collision centre owner and now Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Association for Automotive Repairers (SAAR) and Ryan Smith, Vice President of Claims at Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI), it was a fascinating insight into how insurers and repairers can work together effectively. Bissonnette and Smith shared examples of how both sectors have been able to get things done for the betterment of the industry and while they might not always agree, focusing on building relationships and shared mutual benefits can go a long way. The SAAR/SGI model is a true example of what can be achieved in this industry, particularly when it comes to safe, quality and profitable vehicle repairs—and serves as a benchmark of what can be possible across the country, provided all stakeholders are on the same page.

This session was followed by a series of breakout workshops, that focused on Shop Profitability (the impact of vehicle technology on collision repairs), Human Resources (harnessing the power of human nature to drive better productivity) and Recruitment (Building the future with the next generation of collision repair technicians).

I-CAR updates

Following a networking lunch and the onsite tradeshow, CCIF Toronto concluded with an update from I-CAR, delivered by Stu Klein, including new courses and programs available, including a new Subscription Program designed to make technician repair training more cost-effective for collision centres. The end result, is to enable them to enroll more staff while at the same time, maintain more control over professional development budgets during these cost-conscious times. 

The final part of CCIF Toronto 2025, was an energetic closing session from Ryan Taylor, CEO of BodyShop Booster as he navigated through the world of AI and ways in which this technology is changing the collision repair space, and how it can be used to reduce downtime, increase profitability and boost customer satisfaction. It was an eye-opening session and illustrated the power and benefits of modern technology can offer in providing your business an edge in today’s competitive marketplace.