Across Canada Report: More Than a Show

If you missed the Canadian International Automotive Show 2002 and the Automotive Industries Association of Canada’s Convention, you missed a good one.

It was one of the most action-filled shows I have attended with all of the seminars, product demonstrations and numerous special events.

First my heartfelt congratulations to Tom Saxton, who was awarded the AIA Distinguished Service Award. Tom, who retired as senior vice-president of Dana Canada Inc. last fall after 40 years in the business, is a great example of what service to the industry and the community is all about.

Also congratulations to John Zuk, the owner of Automotive Trade Supply in Kitchener, Ont., on receiving the Jobber News Jobber of the Year Award.

Having invested in the CARS Interactive Distance Learning (IDL) system for technicians as well as organizing business training for his customers, he is obviously a jobber who realizes that to be successful there is more to the jobbing business than just selling car parts. Jobber News editor Andrew Ross, who presented the award, said Zuk has demonstrated much commitment to the community and the industry as well as epitomizing the role of the jobber as a partner with his customers. That, I think, is what this business is all about, now more so than ever before.

On the topic of training and education, Georgian College in Barrie, Ont. will offer a Bachelor of Applied Business in Automotive Management in the fall of 2003. The first year has 90 seats available. The college had a booth at the show to promote their programs and this is the latest one.

And how about that–the Quebec Division won the AIA Division of the Year Award for the second year in a row. That should be a challenge to other divisions who have their sights on winning the award. There is no doubt that the Quebec Division is among the most active. Congratulations as well to the Southwestern Ontario Division for winning the AIA Most Improved Division.

Many other people were honored during the three-day event. As well, manufacturers were recognized for new and innovative products. There is not enough space in this column to mention them all, but the show coverage in this issue of Jobber News will provide you with all the details.

I took a lot of good memories back from the show, including meeting all kinds of people I had not seen for a long time. I was particularly delighted to see Greg Stone, the former president of McKerlie-Millen, Nathan Star, the former present of Acklands and Al Blair, the former president of UAP, standing together for a chat. At one time they were fierce competitors and now they are good friends.

I met all the AIA division field reps who contribute to this column. I talk to them over the phone but hardly ever see them. They are a good bunch of guys.

I also brought back a hockey stick signed by hockey great Johnny Bower. He was at the Dayco booth where there was a long line-up of autograph seekers. I also met Red Green in the Engine Rebuilding section. He drew a good crowd as well. Autograph seekers were also lined up at the Castrol Booth to see former L.A. Kings star Marcel Dionne.

Fun Night was fun with a different twist. The food was great, and the CASCAR race car drivers and their cars as well as simulated video racing set the tone for this industry event.

I think AIA, the show committee, and in particular, the manufacturers and other service providers who had booths in the show, put their best feet forward to make the event a worthwhile experience. And speaking of feet, I was among those who surely felt them after three days of pounding the show floor. I know AIA is already hard at work tweaking the event for next time around.

Stay tuned next month for our usual “Notes from Around” portion of this column.

Note: If you have any information to contribute to this column please call Bob Blans at (905) 844-8616, Fax (905) 844-8731, E-Mail to rblans@sympatico.ca or write to Across Canada Report c/o Jobber News Magazine, 1450 Don Mills Rd., Don Mills, ON M3B 2X7. In addition to AIA Division activities we are interested in hearing from you about the opening of a new business, change of ownership, expansions etc.