The refurbished van donated by CARSTAR and Enterprise Rent-A-Car for AYCE’s Pre-apprenticeship Training for Auto Body Collision and Damage Repair program
An aging population and fewer collision repair shops opening means many Canadian dealerships are struggling to find skilled workers on the service side.
That’s good news for the new crop of 20 young students who were welcomed into the Pre-apprenticeship Training for Auto Body Collision and Damage repair program run by AYCE Employment Services, a division of Tropicana Community Services.
Now in its sixth year, AYCE’s program trains at risk youth between the ages of 18-30 to help prepare them for careers in the auto collision sector.
Addressing the new class of 2015 at a kickoff event held on April 7 at Tropicana Community Services in Scarborough, Ont., Marc Tremblay, program coordinator, said there are plenty of growth opportunities in the auto collision repair industry upon graduation. “You’re in a trade that will invest in you.”
(from left to right) Nimo Abdulkadir and Sharon Shelton of Tropicana Community Services with Peter Wrong of 3M. 3M donated $2,000 towards new tools for the students
Before the first day of classes started at the Tropicana Community Services building, AYCE hosted a press conference that included special announcements to get the new students geared up for the 19 weeks ahead until graduation.
Students heard from John Norris of the Collision Industry Information Assistance (CIIA), who said the program will give students the tools and training they need to keep up with the trends of the ever-changing auto collision repair industry. The goal of the program is more about getting a job after graduation, said Norris. It’s about finding a career.
To show that students are doing just that, Tremblay invited three former graduates who are now gainfully employed onto the stage to talk about the next stages in their careers. Lorne Jackson and DJ Avery from Brimell Toyota, along with Christopher Mombourquette who works at 427 Collision, discussed the importance of networking within the auto shops and the strong emotional support they got from the program. Now that they are working in the collision industry, the graduates hope to become Red Seal certified that enables them to practice their trades throughout Canada.
AYCE also partners with many vendors and employers who invest in the program. One of which is 3M, which has worked with AYCE for the last three to four years. “There’s no future in this industry without you guys,” said Peter Wrong of 3M Canada in a presentation to the students.
Following Wrong’s presentation, 3M presented a $2,000 cheque to go toward new tools and supplies.
The other big surprise of the morning was parked outside. CARSTAR, another advocate and supporter of the AYCE program, along with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, had donated a refurbished van for the students to use and handed over the keys at the press conference.
Tremblay said that the program has evolved from its inception to now, and has become one of the top programs of its kind in Ontario. “Every student we have is given a chance in life for a career they love.”
For more information on the AYCE Pre-apprenticeship Training for Auto Body Collision and Damage Repair program, visit ayce.on.ca.
