J.C. Bolduc Alignement, whose storefront bears the colours of M Mécanique 360, is clearly a flagship shop that motorists in Mont-Laurier and passing through are fortunate to have access to.

Opened in 1968 and successively acquired in 1971 by his father, then by Martin Gauthier himself in 2001, the shop embodies the new alliance between traditional mechanics and electric vehicle technology.

As a true pioneer, Gauthier has held the highest certification level in the EV Skills Program since 2022, a designation further enhanced in 2025 to reflect emerging technologies. Vast-Auto’s Vérifié Électrique accreditation has also been added to his list of credentials.

In this field, nothing is a mystery to him. Beyond being a second-generation mechanic, this 50-year-old shop owner trained in radiocommunications and worked in that field for seven years.

He has a thorough understanding of the electronics world that has so profoundly shaped today’s vehicles. With an end-to-end knowledge of that technology and its language, he used the COVID period to refocus, fully update his skills, and establish his shop as a solid reference for EV services.

Gauthier’s path speaks for itself: alongside his passion for automotive electronics, he also built solid experience in operations and team management along the way.

Although much of what he knows was learned independently or alongside others, he shares his knowledge freely. He is anything but guarded about it, just as eager to pass it on to his employees as he is to learn from their experience in return.

A strong next generation
That generosity shines through in the pleasure he took in exchanging knowledge with the mechanics who recently retired. True masters of their craft and team spirit, they had been with the shop since 1971 and 1978.

Seeing them go was a genuine loss, decades of craftsmanship culture and quiet dedication walking out the door. But what a stroke of luck it was that, before they left, he had recruited a Mexican technician.

Hector arrived in 2020 bringing 10 years of Volkswagen experience with him. Gauthier doesn’t hesitate to call him the ideal successor, a model employee in every sense. He came highly recommended by Michel Pagano of Recrutement International Canari.

Beyond the day-to-day routines, it is the values Hector brings that one would hope to see carried forward: discipline, respect, work ethic, generosity, honesty, and a spirit of sharing. All defining qualities.

Originally from Pachuca, near Mexico City, Hector has settled in Mont-Laurier with his family and fully intends to become a Canadian citizen.

Climbing the ranks
Following in his father’s footsteps from the start, Gauthier got his first taste of mechanics as a teenager, starting with the basics.

In practice, that meant not only changing tires and oil, but more importantly getting the chance to disassemble and reassemble engines and transmissions under a watchful, experienced eye.

His exceptional background aside, the level Gauthier has reached also owes a great deal to the targeted training programs offered by the Vast-Auto Academy, where renowned technician Almeida leads the way.

Located roughly halfway between Montreal and Abitibi, J.C. Bolduc Alignement received the Vast-Auto Shop of the Year Award in 2010, 2016, and 2023.

Having been in business for 55 years, belonging to the same network for four decades, and sitting at the top of EV expertise – that’s no small feat.