I-CAR ® CHAIRMAN ROBBS OUTLINES CANADIAN TRANSITION PLAN
AT CCIF MEETING

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL - January 26, 2009 - I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, announced at the Canadian Collision Industry Forum (CCIF) meeting in Toronto on Saturday, January 24 that it will be seeking a Canadian firm to which it can transition its Canadian operations for collision repair training.

Robby Robbs, Chairman of the I-CAR International Board of Directors, explained that the move is "in response to the International Board of Directors' mandate that the Canadian market establish the manner in which I-CAR would be best structured to serve the industry."

Robbs added, "Early indications of market interest are encouraging. However, I would strongly suggest that now is the time for industry leaders at a national, regional, and local level across all industry segments to step up." He cautioned that without I-CAR "the industry is at risk of each repair serving as the training ground for new technology."

Operations in Canada are continuing as usual while the training organization seeks a potential licensee. "We are continuing to do what we do - scheduling I-CAR classes, conducting I-CAR training, and working to support the training needs of the inter-industry," said John Edelen, President and CEO. "We intend to continue to do so as we transition to a Canadian industry-supported alternative," he added.

I-CAR is moving aggressively through the process and expects to complete the transition by the end of 2009. Robbs explained the tight timeline and noted that interested parties will need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) by March 1 to be invited to move further in the process and to submit a detailed proposal outlining a business plan that will successfully incorporate the I-CAR vision in future operations in Canada. The I-CAR Canadian Task Force will evaluate proposals in mid-June and hopes to have a recommendation for a licensee in July.

Robbs said, "As a fellow Canadian, I am hoping the industry in our country recognizes the opportunity that is available to it and rises to the challenges that lie ahead." He added, "What you have before you is a call for action and it is now up to the collision repair industry to decide what it wants and to engage."

-More-

Canadian firms interested in participating in I-CAR's Request for Proposal (RFP) process can access the Expression of Interest (EOI) document on the I-CAR website at
www.i-car.ca/eoi .

###

I-CAR, founded in 1979, is an international not-for-profit training organization dedicated to improving the quality, safety, and efficiency of auto collision repair for the ultimate benefit of consumers.

(See Headlines)

I-CAR ® ANNOUNCES PLAN TO TRANSITION CANADIAN OPERATIONS

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL - January 24, 2009 - I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, announced today that it is seeking a Canadian firm to which it can transition its Canadian operations for collision repair training.

Operations in Canada are continuing as usual while the training organization seeks a potential licensee. "We are continuing to do what we do - scheduling I-CAR classes, conducting I-CAR training, and working to support the training needs of the inter-industry," said John Edelen, President and CEO. "We intend to continue to do so as we transition to a Canadian industry-supported alternative," he added.

I-CAR is moving aggressively through the process and expects to complete the transition by the end of 2009.

Interested parties will need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) by March 1 to be invited to move further in the process and to submit a detailed proposal outlining a business plan that will successfully incorporate the I-CAR vision in future operations in Canada. Canadian firms interested in submitting an EOI can visit the I-CAR website at www.i-car.ca/eoi .

###

I-CAR, founded in 1979, is an international not-for-profit training organization dedicated to improving the quality, safety, and efficiency of auto collision repair for the ultimate benefit of consumers.

(See Headlines)

I-CAR ® RESTRUCTURES MOBILE WELDING QUALIFICATION TEST PROGRAM

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL - January 16, 2009 - Due to renewed growth in the number of locations offering I-CAR Welding Qualification Tests, I-CAR will restructure the Qualification Test service and scale back on its Mobile Qualification Test vehicles operating in North America. The move will improve the cost-effectiveness of the overall Qualification Test program for the inter-industry.

"With 83 sites currently offering I-CAR Welding Qualification Tests across the United States and two sites operating in Canada, the demand for dedicated mobile testing continues to decline significantly," said Jeff Peevy, Director of Field Operations for I-CAR. "While we will continue to offer mobile tests to the inter-industry on a limited basis, this restructuring will ensure the cost-effective availability of on-site testing in the future," he added.

I-CAR plans to continue growing the number of Authorized Qualification Test Centers. The I-CAR Welding Qualification Test is recognized by the inter-industry as one of the most comprehensive welding qualification programs being offered.

"Continued growth in the number of sites offering Qualification Tests improves efficiency for the inter-industry through increased access to the program," continued Peevy. "We would encourage any career and technical schools or colleges or other facilities interested in becoming an Authorized Qualification Test Center to contact their I-CAR Field Office."

Industry professionals interested in scheduling a Qualification Test can contact their local I-CAR field office at (800) 422-7456.

Information on the I-CAR Qualification Test Programs and the location of Test Centers is available on the Internet at www.i-car.com .

###

I-CAR, founded in 1979, is an international not-for-profit training organization dedicated to improving the quality, safety, and efficiency of auto collision repair for the ultimate benefit of consumers.

(See Headlines)

"HEAVY SNOW CRACKS AUTO BODY SHOP CEILING BEAMS"

HARA member Diamond Auto Body staff had a scare on Christmas Eve when two ceiling beams cracked above their heads. No one was injured at the shop sat the corner of John and Cannon Streets in Hamilton. Hamilton Fire Department officials say that two old wooden beams in the office cracked about 11:00 am under the weight of snow on the flat roof. The Fire Department advised that some eight inches of snow with water underneath was on the roof at the time. The City Building Department has visited the shops and is expected to "shore-up" the beams that were cracked.  Repair time is unknown. Workers say that nothing fell from above but reported hearing a big noise.

(See Headlines)

Bodyshop Owner And Crusader For Cystic Fibrosis Fondly Remembered

Harry Belmont, a former CARSTAR franchise owner, passed away on Dec. 26, 2008, following a long battle with cancer. Belmont is credited with launching the strong relationship between CARSTAR Automotive Canada and the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, after his granddaughter was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.

For the past nine years the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has been the charity of choice for CARSTAR Automotive Canada. To date, CARSTAR collision centres have raised more than $1.5 million to help find a cure.

Belmont opened a CARSTAR store in Mississauga, Ont., in 1995 and ran a very successful business until he sold it in 2004.

A statement from CARSTAR relates how Belmont met with Sam Mercanti, president and CEO of CARSTAR Automotive Canada, when his grand-daughter was diagnosed with CF. Belmont depended on his associates at CARSTAR in his time of need. Belmont also asked if CARSTAR could help in his efforts to find a cure.

But Belmont's passion to find a cure did not end there. He introduced CCFF to a young mother named Maggie Finch, who was raising two sons, Joe and Jayson, who both have cystic fibrosis. Belmont and his wife Heather did what they could to ensure the Finch family knew they had much-needed support. Belmont was a shoulder to lean on for the Finchs as well as the countless others who grew close to the Finch family.

Last year, CARSTAR awarded Harry Belmont a Lifetime Achievement Award for his many years of service.

(See Headlines)

I-CAR ® ADDS NEW OPTIONS TO ONLINE REGISTRATION PROCESS

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL - January 12, 2009 - I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, is continuing to see growth in its new online registration process. Since implementation in November, the collision repair training organization has seen an upward trend in use of the system. The rate at which students are using the online registration system has increased by nearly 100 percent in the most recent four weeks of use.

"The growth in the acceptance of the online registration system suggests that training managers are becoming acclimated to the new technology and are finding online registration beneficial to their organization and to their employees who are attending classes," said Joyce Kasmer, Director of Marketing.

In addition to the online registration system, I-CAR continues to accept registrations by phone and is also announcing that it will accept faxed registrations via a fax form. Jeff Peevy, Director of Field Operations said, "Recent feedback from our front lines has helped I-CAR identify some of the challenges that shops are experiencing with online registration." The fax form is available to all customers who conduct a class search on the website at www.i-car.com.

"We believe the fax form will simplify the process even further for those individuals with restricted access to the internet," said Kasmer adding that I-CAR will continue to make enhancements to the registration process in the coming weeks.

###

I-CAR, founded in 1979, is an international not-for-profit training organization dedicated to improving the quality, safety, and efficiency of auto collision repair for the ultimate benefit of consumers.

(See Headlines)

MANAGEMENT SEMINARS FOR COLLISION INDUSTRY SHOP OWNERS/MANAGERS

Topics include:

• Shop valuation
• Employment law
• Succession
• Employment grants and business incentives

The collision repair associations continue to offer technical and online training, but have been advised by members that they are interested in management seminars to assist in providing profitability and management skills to shop owners and managers.

Commencing in Feburary these five evening events will feature:

 Tuesday, February 3, 2009
GRANTS, INCENTIVES AND TAX CREDITS
Hiring an apprentice, increasing business, hiring staff, upgrading for spray booths, business loans, etc.
Guest Speakers:  Christine Boucher, JobConnect
Brian Morris, City of Hamilton, Economic Development
Lorraine Baatz, apprenticesearch.com

 Tuesday, February 10, 2009   
SUCCESSION FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Keeping your business within the family, sale to employee, share allocation, arranging your business assets properly, tax and capital gains issues
Guest Speaker:  A representative from  Grant Thornton Accountants LLP, will highlight the answers and the process that has been successful for other collision repair shops.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009
COLLISION REPAIR EMPLOYMENT LAW
Dismissal, hiring, wrongful termination, constructive dismissal, employment standards, holidays, employee vs. contractor rules Guest Speaker:  James Cimba,B.A., LL.B., Cimba and Associates Barristers and Solicitors

Tuesday, February 24, 2009     
WHAT IS MY SHOP WORTH?
What price would a willing buyer pay? How to valuate? How are assets priced? Is goodwill identifiable?  Is a banner name worth more? Also, property only sale with lease back and environmental issues.
Guest Speakers:  Anthony (Tony) Nigro, Royal LePage State Realty Brokerage and                         former Fix Auto Shop owner
                        Massimo Iudica, Royal LePage State Realty Brokerage
                        Tony Auchincloss, Tool Inventory and Appraisal      

Tuesday, March 3, 2009              
PROFIT CENTRES
Paint less dent removal, car rental, car wash, windshields and repair, headlight restoration, rustproofing, gold plating, paint touch-up and your phone as a profit centre. Some providers of these add-on services for your shops will explain how this works.

  Location:
Motive Power Training Centre
606 Rennie Street, Hamilton (just off the QEW at Woodward Ave. exit))

Time:
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 pm

Admission:

• Members in Good Standing (membership paid in full) $10.00 plus GST
• Non-members $25.00 plus GST

 Refreshments provided.  Question and answer sessions included.

Pre-registration with payment is mandatory. 
Contact our office at 1-866-309-4272, e-mail to info@ciia.com,
register online or by fax at 905-545-3440.

MEMBER SHOPS SPECIAL OFFER!!

With 4.1 million hits last year, the collision repair industry web site at www.ciia.com is the best place to list all those parts that are in your shop, but can not be returned, were ordered incorrectly or just never picked up.  Even equipment can be listed.

A FREE 50 word parts ad is your opportunity to get rid of some of those parts and put money in your pocket.

This offer is valid until FEBRUARY 28, 2009 and extends to any paid up collision repair shop member of any of the collision repair associations across Ontario.

Please use this opportunity to change old inventory into cash!!

Just send your ad to info@ciia.com

(See Headlines)

HIGH-END AUTO THEFTS RISING

Police in the southern Ontario city of Hamilton are saying that they are seeing an increasing level of organizational sophistication in the number of stolen high-end vehicles turning up on the Six Nations Reserve near Caledonia. By late December, 2008,. 718 stolen vehicles have been recovered on Six Nations, say police.  That compares to a total of 558 stolen cars and trucks in all of 2007. Police say that young people, some 15 and 16 years old, are being paid $1-4,000 to deliver the vehicles for their after-market upgrades, including chrome wheels and body add-ons.  Police believe that someone is teaching young people how to steal a car in under 30 seconds. One stolen bait car reached speeds of 150 kilometers an hour before it was safely shut down. 

(See Headlines)

TRAINING DRAWS, FREE PARTS ADS AND NO GST OFFERED
TO MEMBERS OF THE TRADE ASSOCIATION
Special Offers And Incentives To Make Shops More Profitable

This is a special opportunity to join your local collision repair association. This year-end special offer is to generate shop owner interest across Ontario to join and participate in the valuable activities and benefits of association life.

Any new or renewing trade association member that pays their membership by January 30, 2009 will receive the following:

• Waiving of the GST
  The association will pay your GST on your membership.

• FREE Parts Ad
  A 50 word ad on the industry web site at www.ciia.com to list old parts that every shop has collecting dust. Exchange old parts for cash with a FREE listing on the industry web site.

• A Draw For Free Internet Training
  A special offer for one lucky person from five different shops will now be able to access all 23 of the association's online training courses over the course of a full year for FREE. (The normal value is $100.00) Training courses include popular topics like Automotive WHMIS, Isocyanates, and Hoist Safety Training.

New Association Members Also Receive: The Autobody Profitability Workbook, How to Market your Collision Shop manual, brochures on profitability and safety in shops, the Prep for the Future report, as well as the Health and Safety information package. New handouts will include a five part human resources package, How to become a Salvage Inspection Station and Technician Equivalency package information including grants and incentives folders.

For more information, or how to become a member of your local association contact 1-866-309-4272 or info@ciia.com

Other membership advantages can be found at: http://www.ciia.com/provinces/ontario/mbenefits.html

(See Headlines)

TRAINING AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE

Always been curious about industry online training?

In an effort to highlight the value of online training in collision repair, Ontario's collision repair associations are offering shops a free online WHMIS refresher course at no charge.  This special offering is to try and help shops better understand and become familiar with online training.  The course can be completed at work or at home.

This course is designed as to assist staff that have previous WHMIS training and need a refresher.

Contact the association office at info@ciia.com or  1-866-309 4272 for your password and user number.

The associations also offer 23 other online courses including, full WHMIS, hoist safety training, and isocyanates training.  All courses are available as one package with a low price of $60.00 plus GST for member shops.  Please check out the course listings at: http://www.ciia.com/provinces/ontario/itraining.html

(See Headlines)

NIAGARA AREA SCHOOL PRESENTERS WANTED 
Collision repair message to reach interested students

Across Niagara region, many schools are waiting to hear about the collision repair and automotive painting industry.

In co-operation with the Business Education Council of Niagara and the local collision repair trade association, there is a need to motivate collision shops owners with the opportunity to speak to classrooms about the trade.

From Niagara District Secondary School in Niagara-On-The-Lake, through West Park Secondary School in St. Catharine's to Kernahan Park Secondary School, the need to have guest speakers from the industry is important. These schools are looking for a guest presenter who has collision repair, auto body or automotive painter experience, to speak to young people about a good career in fixing damaged vehicles.

Shops owners who are interested in speaking about the value of an apprenticeship in this field are given brochures, videos, handouts and props for the presentation.  Many students are really interested in listening to your personal story of achievement in the trade. How did you start? What is involved?  How much can they make? What are the future employment prospects?

If you are a Niagara area shop owner and interested in highlighting your industry to young people, please call HARA at 1 866 309 4272 or info@ciia.com for more information on this great way of showcasing your talent and your business.

(See Headlines)

COLLISION REPAIR TRADE ASSOCIATION OFFERS TRAINING
COURSES FOR LESS THAN $3 EACH

WHMIS, ISOCYANATES and AUTOMOTIVE LIFT TRAINING
are some of the courses being offered.

Calling it a major shift in how training is offered in the collision repair industry, the Collision Industry Information and Assistance.com (www.ciia.com ), representing Ontario-based collision repair associations, today started offering online training in 23 different courses for less than $3.00 each. "Our members have been asking about isocyanate and Vehicle Lift Safety in order to meet Ministry requirements in their shops, and we wanted to provide for them a quick, easy inexpensive training solution. In cooperation with E.A.G.L. Enterprises in Pickering, Ontario, we are now able to offer health, safety and management training courses online that shops and staff can access at any time," says Mark Timson, a Caledonia area shop owner and a director of www.ciia.com "Our instructor-led WHMIS course and our six-night Basic Estimating course are popular and are taken at our training centre or at a shop location. Also, we wanted to offer programs to help member shops that were more geographically distant. Vehicle Lift Safety courses are important and we could not arrange for a physical delivery of that course to date." Member shops can access the collision repair industry web site at http://www.ciia.com/provinces/ontario/itraining.html .  Registration forms can be faxed, e-mailed or completed online.  Member shops can call Monica at 1 866 309 4272 for more information.  Member shops pay $60.00 plus GST and get access to any or all of the courses for a full year.  Completion documents are provided after the member successfully completes an individual course exam online.  A training certificate identifying all courses taken is issued annually. Other courses offered include Fire Safety, Back Safety, Due Diligence, Joint Health and Safety Committee, Understanding Bill C-45, Safety Inspections, Office Ergonomics, Stretches and Heat Stress.

For more information or to access online training courses call 1 866 309 4272 or e-mail info@ciia.com

(See Headlines)

----------------------Autobody Profitability Workbook (82 pages)-------------------------

-------Issues Facing The Canadian Collision Repair Industry (39 pages)------------

NOTE: To view these files you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. This Reader is free and you can download it from the Adobe Website