On October 9, the Aftermarket Guild (originally launched as the Automotive Fellowship Society back in 1960), hosted its 2025 annual reunion and awards ceremony.

Taking place at the Delta Marriott Toronto Airport, this year’s event recognized individuals who have made some incredibly significant contributions to the automotive aftermarket Industry in Canada. Among the esteemed inductees into the Aftermarket Guild Hall of Fame was Autosphere’s own Shirley Brown, who was on hand to receive the award with her son, Linc Brown.

Shirley has long been recognized as a pioneer in the industry. In receiving the award, Shirley said that she was honoured to receive this distinguished award and has loved being part of the industry and the people within it. “I would like to thank each and every one of you for the privilege in being part [this industry].

Shirley is a pioneer in the aftermarket industry. She worked in radio and television, before joining the team at Wheelspin News in 1978. In 1981, she launched her own magazine, Aftermarket Canada, dedicated to the auto parts and service repair industry in this country. Brown recalls attending her very first AIA Canada meeting where she was the only female in the room, and how she met her first friend in the industry, Fred Shaddick, with whom she became life-long friends, until his passing in 2005.

Brown and her husband Joe, a Chrysler dealer from Burlington, were regular fixtures at industry events, and as the magazine grew, more and more people asked what Joe’s role was at Aftermarket Canada. Eventually the couple came up with a solution and a title for Joe on a business card that read, Joe Brown, Aftermarket Canada, “I sleep with the boss.”

When Aftermarket Canada was sold, Brown joined Rousseau Publications, which today, has evolved into Autosphere Media, and was instrumental (along with Luc Champagne) in the launch of the group’s aftermarket industry magazine, Canadian Automotive Service Provider Magazine, which later became CarCare Business and now forms part of Autosphere Mag.

Shirley has been very active with AIA Canada over the years and served on the association’s Ontario Division as Chair, Car Care Council and the board of directors.

Additionally, Brown was actively involved and represented the aftermarket when Georgian College began creating its automotive graduate program at the Barrie Campus which officially began in 1985. Originally aimed at those students, seeking careers in the automotive retail and OEM space, the program has grown to encompass more and more aftermarket content and opportunities.

Today Shirley continues to work actively in the industry, writing and contributing to Autosphere, serving as an inspiration to others, who have been able to establish careers in this incredible industry.

Besides Shirley Brown, other inductees into the Hall of Fame in 2025 included Bob Greenwood, Don Skuce, Tony St. Amour, Grant MacPherson, Al Blair and Rick Miller.

Additional information on the Aftermarket Guild and this year’s nominees can be found at https://aftermarketguild.ca/