When it comes to legacy, we often think only of assets; yet, isn’t the inheritance of family knowledge superior to them all?

In Laval, good luck to anyone who would try to steer 58-year-old Guy Villeneuve toward another career or simply toward retirement.

With mechanics stamped on his heart since his very first steps, this descendant of a great La Malbaie family reignites the same flame every time he opens his shop.

Since becoming the owner in 2011, he has seen a steady stream of loyal customers, including second- and even third-generation clients, often behind the wheel of highly technological vehicles.

But — oh, the challenge! — there are also those taxis that, far from being rare, he says, have done the equivalent of circling the Earth ten times or more, showing 400,000 to 500,000 kilometres… and nearly all of them are Asian models.

Much of his clientele knew him while he was in the maintenance and repair department of the CGN auto recycling centre, during the era of Gérard and Normand Barabé.

Having worked there for about twenty years with his brother, Léopold, the opportunity to take over the shop when the business was sold to LKQ Lecavalier felt like a duty of remembrance.

He never sat for days on end to focus on theory. He developed his expertise solely through family knowledge and a hands-on approach. He learned a great deal from his father, Benoit, who specialized in diesel mechanics.

But how else to demonstrate the full wealth of his experience than by always having a solution for everything and everyone, including engine and transmission replacements?

From so-called basic, non-connected mechanics to the systems of the 2000s, Villeneuve knows it all, to the point where he can readily discuss the most prestigious brands as well as the worst models.

He knows his craft all the more because no manufacturer or safety recall escapes him, as he systematically checks if any vehicle entrusted to him is affected; a sign of professionalism that is much appreciated.

Should a case seem particularly complex, Villeneuve doesn’t start any advanced diagnostics without first consulting the artificial intelligence that instantly provides information — a key that was once time-consuming to find.

Better yet, there is reason to be pleased when finding what was never made accessible, isn’t yet, or is generally only known by manufacturer networks.

While the maintenance and repair of the mechanical components themselves excite him as much as on day one, he is quick to point out that it is his customers who give his work its full meaning.

They know this so well that some even show up at the crack of dawn, just to enjoy a coffee that is always ready and to chat with him before the workday begins.