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September
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In
order of most recent
MAJOR
INSURANCE PANEL AT COLLISION CELEBRATION
Awards and acknowledgement planned for industry training donors
October 7 dinner meeting to also feature BAJA 1000 Hummer Race winners
September 5, 2004
Chandelier
Place at the Fruitland Road exit for QEW is the location on Thursday
October 7 for a major insurance and collision repair industry special
event.
Special
guest Mike Colle, MPP, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of
Finance, will update the dinner attendees. MPP Colle is the Ontario
government's lead on auto insurance issues like towing and vehicle
storage charge abuse. After his speech an insurance industry panel
will be answering questions and providing comment on their issues
of importance. Panelists include Mark Yakabuski, Vice-President,
Ontario, Insurance Bureau of Canada, Ted Doyle, Vice-President Property
Claims for ING Insurance Company of Canada and Wendy Hillier, Vice--President
Claims, Aviva Canada.
A
special feature of the evening will be the Team Trinity Race Hummers,
the three-time winning vehicles of the BAJA 1000 desert race, the
toughest race event in the world. The Team Trinity Hummer Racing
secondary school student pit crew will be in attendance with the
vehicles and trailer.
JOIN
THE COLLISION REPAIR INDUSTRY CELEBRATION
A
major potion of this special evening event is devoted to those companies
and individuals who have generously assisted the industry through
their donations of equipment, funds, products and services. Join
schools, school
boards and colleges for a celebration to honour those who have helped
in improving training and ensuring that young people can start a
good career in collision repair with a great future. Some of those
being honoured include major paint coatings companies, Don Treschak,
Don Teevens, Toyota Canada, and Steve Challoner. Join Gail Smyth,
Executive Director of Skills Canada-Ontario when she congratulates
the winners of the recent national
Skills Canada technological autobody competition- Ontario's Mark
Millson and Hartley Ellis.
For
more information and your tickets for this special event, contact
1-866-309-4272 or info@ciia.com.
Order tickets online at www.ciia.com/haradinner.html
(see
headlines)
|
|
HAMILTON
DISTRICT AUTOBODY REPAIR ASSOCIATION PRESENTS
Collision
Repair at the Crossroads
"A
Hummer of an evening"
An exciting dinner event with current and future insurance and industry
importance
Thursday
October 7, 2004
Chandelier Place (Barton and Fruitland Road, QEW Exit, Stoney Creek)
Join
Mike Colle, MPP, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister
of Finance and Ontario's lead on auto insurance & towing
and storage issues and the challenges government is working with.
How will these changes impact shops?
Our insurance industry panel guests include:
Mark Yakabuski, Vice-President Ontario, Insurance Bureau
of Canada
Ted Doyle, Vice-President, Property Claims, ING Insurance
Company of Canada
Wendy Hillier, Vice-President of Claims, Aviva Canada
Maryanna
Lewyckyj, Assistant Money Editor and Consumer Affairs Writer,
Toronto Sun will identify the problems that anger consumers.
Alex Szabo, President of CISCO ( Collision Industry Standards
Council of Ontario) will bring the latest updates on Ontario's Collision
Repair Standards Act.
An industry celebration to praise those generous supporters
of school and college training
From spraybooths to paint, from cars to engineering, this evening
gives us all a unique and needed chance to publicly and enthusiastically
praise those companies and individuals for their help in enhancing,
and sometimes saving, autobody programs in local schools and colleges.
Join Gail Smyth, Executive Director of Skills Canada/Ontario
as community colleges and school boards join together in a unique
celebration honouring the winners of the Skills Canada National
Autobody competition, Skills Canada sponsoring companies, and coatings
firms for their paint donations. A special award to Toyota Canada
for a spraybooth donation to keep the autobody program vibrant in
Halton region. Join Niagara, Mohawk and other Colleges as
they thank suppliers and individuals who made better autobody apprenticeship
training possible Help us honour shop owners who have donated vehicles
and resources to help young people in our industry and in our schools.
P.S. Come early to this 6:30 p.m. event and talk to the local
secondary school students that are now the pit crew for Team
Trinity Hummer Racing, the 400 hp., three-time winners of the
Baja 1000 desert run, the world's toughest off-road race. See the
Hummers, equipment and trailer.
Tickets $40.00 (incl. GST) for HARA members. Non-members $50.00
(incl. GST)
Call 1-866-309-4272 or e-mail info@ciia.com
more information or to order by charge card
(see
headlines)
|
Labour
Day crash rate highest among summer long weekends
BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation offers advice to avoid becoming a traffic
statistic
BURNABY, B.C., Sept. 1 /CNW/ - The Labour Day weekend marks the end
of summer for most B.C. vacationers. It also tends to be the end of
the road for too many B.C. drivers. The BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation
says avoiding a collision this long weekend may be as simple as staying
alert and sober, and ensuring everyone in the vehicle is properly
restrained.
According to ICBC statistics, the Labour Day weekend recorded the
highest number of casualties in 2002 (the most recent data available)
among the summer long weekends. A total of 366 casualties (362 injuries
and four fatalities) were reported in B.C., compared to a total of
324 for Canada Day, 304 for B.C. Day and 264 for Victoria Day long
weekends. Labour Day also had the highest average number of traffic
casualties between 2000 and 2002.
Traffic safety is a key concern among BCAA members. In a 2004 survey,
over one-third of members cited safety concerns as the most important
issues facing them as motorists - issues such as bad or careless driving,
speeding and impaired driving. According to Allan Lamb, Executive
Director of the BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation, these are all issues
that drivers have within their power to do something about.
"It's no surprise that traffic safety is an issue all year round,
but on long weekends especially, speeding, drinking and careless driving
is more prevalent among motorists than any other time of the year,"
adds Lamb. "People try to incorporate the Friday into a holiday
instead of relaxing and starting off fresh the next day. And, the
summer also tends to present more opportunities to drink, such as
at parties, barbeques and while camping."
BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation says there are specifically four areas
where drivers can have the most impact on traffic collisions, especially
during this busy holiday weekend:
1. Driving distractions. According to AAA (American Automobile Association),
about 25 per cent of all traffic crashes are directly attributed to
distractions. Conversing with other passengers, eating and drinking,
manipulating audio controls and general leaning and
reaching for items inside the car are the most common driver distractions.
When at all possible, avoid these types of actions and focus on driving.
2. Driver fatigue. Motorists in a hurry to get to their destination
often push on and drive through dinner and much-needed rest stops.
Eyes closing or losing focus, continuous yawning and drifting between
lanes are all danger signs of drowsy driving. Stay alert by getting
enough sleep before a trip and take a break every two hours or every
160 km.
3. Impaired driving. The greatest number of impaired driving crashes
occurs between May and August, not Christmas and New Year's. If you're
going to drink, don't drive. And be alert for drivers who have been
drinking, especially if you are driving late at night.
4. Occupant restraints. When travelling with families on vacation
or to and from school, it's important to ensure everyone is buckled
up in an age-appropriate restraint. By law, children up to 40 lb must
be in a child seat, but research shows that it's just a important
for
children in the 40- to 80-pound category to be in a child or booster
seat. Children not restrained in an age-appropriate seat can submarine
under the seat belt or catapult out of the seat belt. For more information
or advice on how to properly secure your child, call
BCAA's Child Passenger toll-free line at 1-877-247-5551
(see
headlines)
|
|
CARSTAR
7th Annual Conference Enjoys Record Attendance
Close
to 300 delegates in attendance helped make the 7th annual CARSTAR
Industry Conference held this year in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the
largest to date. The conference brought together CARSTAR franchisees
and their families, corporate employees, insurance partners, vendor
partners and others from across the country for three days in late
August.
The
conference included educational sessions, a Business Partners Expo
and the annual awards presentation to franchisees that have demonstrated
distinguished service and outstanding leadership.
The
awards also saw a special presentation by CARSTAR's executive vice
president Larry Jefferies and Rick Tuuri, director of business development
and field operations for I-CAR, who performed a rocking rendition
of "Cycle Time Blues."
"This
was such an exciting conference for us, especially with CARSTAR
Automotive Canada approaching its 10th year anniversary this December,"
said Sam Mercanti, President and CEO of CARSTAR Automotive Canada.
"Our mission remains the same: to build a network of high quality
stores across Canada operating with ethics, standards and consistency.
CARSTAR promises customer satisfaction, cost containment and improved
turnaround time, and has delivered on these promises time and time
again."
Thanks to CollisionWeek
(see
headlines)
|
I-CAR
CANADA RESTRUTURES TRAINING FEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF GOLD CLASS PROFESSIONAL
BUSINESSES
ROLLING
MEADOWS, IL -August 30, 2004 - Effective September 1, 2004 I-CAR
has restructured the pre-paid class payment coupon discount in Canada
for the benefit of Gold Class Professional businesses. Training
for I-CAR Gold Class Professional businesses in Canada is even more
affordable now!
The new Canadian price structure is as follows:
| |
Gold
Class |
Non-Gold
Class |
At
The Door |
| I-CAR
Coupon |
$80CDN |
$100CDN |
$125CDN |
"I-CAR
is committed to continue to add value to the Gold Class Professionals
program in Canada. Offering this further discount shows that commitment,"
stated I-CAR Canadian Manager Tracey Blouin.
"I
am pleased that we are able to reduce prices for Gold Class Professionals
in Canada," added Rick Tuuri, I-CAR Director of Business development
and North American Operations. "I-CAR is a not-for-profit organization
that is committed to offering the best value possible in collision
training. As such, we constantly reevaluate our pricing structure
and are very happy that we are able to make this change."
For
additional information, please contact I-CAR Canadian Manager Tracey
Blouin at 416.299.4227 or 800.422.7456.
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. For more
information, visit the I-CAR web site at www.i-car.com.
(see
headlines)
|
FURTHER
UPDATE TO OUR MEMBERS
September
1, 2004
This
is further to our warning to you dated August 17, 2004. We wish
to reiterate that the contact and communications you may have received
from CIAG are not authorized by HARA. Despite the implication, CIAG
is not working with your local trade assocation (HARA)
Some
of our members have received unsolicited invoices and / or telephone
calls falsely advising that “HARA is not your trade association”.
We believe this to be an unprofessional business practice that should
be terminated immediately. If you have been subject to such business
practices, please let the HARA office know at 1-866-309-4272 or
hara@ciia.com
On
your behalf, HARA continues to provide innovative and cutting edge
programs, training and other benefits to our members.
Do
not be misled by unsolicited invoices that you receive by mail,
e-mail or facsimile transmission.
(see
headlines)
|
WARNING
TO OUR MEMBER COLLISION REPAIR SHOPS
August 17, 2004
You
may have received an unsolicited invoice from a Toronto company
called Collision Industry Action Group (CIAG) in the mail with a
two page unsigned attached letter that a number of shops believe
is authorized or implies working with your local trade association.
We
are not working with this company.
The
letter and invoice promises membership in this Toronto company,
if the shop pays them $375.00. The letter says that this group provides
support to local trade associations, and promises that through payment
of this unsolicited invoice, you are enabling your local association
to represent your interests.
HARA
has no affiliation with this company and we have not asked them
to collect funds on our behalf.
HARA
continues to provide programs, training and benefits to our members
and invoices shops directly for membership dues renewal. Our new
membership package is now available for members by calling 1-866-309-4272
or online benefit information at: http://www.ciia.com/provinces/ontario/hara.html
If
you receive this unsolicited invoice in the mail or a collections
telephone call, which may advise you that we do not exist, please
let the HARA office know at 1-866-309-4272 or hara@ciia.com
(see
headlines)
|
|
NEW
HARA CONTACT INFORMATION
The
HARA office has new phone numbers. We apologize for any recent inconvenience.
We are eager to hear from you and help you with any problems or
needs.
Our new contact information is below:
Hamilton District Autobody Repair Association (HARA)
mailing: P.O. Box 47594, Centre Mall,
Hamilton, Ontario
L8H 7S7
Office: 350 Dosco Drive, 2nd Floor
Stoney Creek, Ontario
L8E 2N5
Phone (905) 664-7888
Fax (905) 664-3340
Toll free 1-866-309-4272 (HARA)
E-mail hara@ciia.com
Best wishes,
John Norris
(see
headlines)
|
|
HARA
Hamilton District Autobody Repair Association
"To represent the best interests of the industry, providing
opportunities for growth for environmentally sound, profitable businesses
having competent and trained professionals serving the public."
WE
HAVE MOVED AGAIN (as of July 15th, 2003)
HARA's
new office is:
|
HAMILTON
DISTRICT AUTOBODY REPAIR ASSOCIATION
|
|
350
Dosco Drive
|
|
Stoney
Creek, Ontario, Canada L8E 2N5
|
|
(above
Pipeline Automotive Warehouse)
|
|
NEW PHONE as of
Jan/ 04: (905) 664-7888
|
|
NEW FAX as of Jan/ 04: (905)
664-3340
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| |
|
The
following remain the same:
|
|
Mailing
address:
|
|
P.O.
Box 47594, Centre Mall, Hamilton,On L8H 7S7
|
|
Toll
free: 1-866-309-HARA (4272)
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