Automotive Retailers Foundation Inc

ARFI’s 2022 Auction Hits a Historical High

Iva Kestrankova — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 23:54:48 +0000

Thank you to everyone who took part in the auction and helped raise an unbelievable $35,900 for the next generation entering the automotive industry.

Every year during the Automotive Retailer Association’s (ARA’s) Annual General Meeting (AGM), our Automotive Retailers Foundation Inc. (ARFI) hosts an auction to help raise funds for those pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket industry. All funds raised in the auction are then used for scholarships and bursaries for the upcoming year. The auction itself is usually one of the highlights of the AGM weekend, and this year was no exception. The auction, which was held in a beautiful Whistler resort on October 1, 2022, hit a historical all-time high, raising a total of $35,900.

The collection of such an unusually high amount was in large part due to the Pedal Car Challenge, a hands-on educational program created by the ARA to expose more children in B.C. to the automotive trades. Students from across the province participated in this project, learning how to assemble, design, refinish, and paint a toy pedal car. Our intention was to then auction off the pedal cars to raise funds to financially assist students who would like to enter the industry through covering the costs of tuition and tools.

In conjunction with the school series challenge, the ARA also held a pro series challenge involving pro B.C. shops to showcase their talents and give kids an idea of what they could do with the Pedal Car Challenge. The ARA also unveil a surprise at the AGM—an all-female crew revealed their finished pedal car to showcase what women in the industry are capable of. And it was a big hit! We gave the team a chance to address the audience and tell them what it meant for them to take part in the project. Looking around the room, you could tell it had an impact on the industry.

When it came time for the ARFI auction, our intention was to auction off only four pedal cars. However, it was soon obvious that this program had made a huge impact on industry and everyone in the room. So, when John McDonald and Marc Bergevin from ADESA began the auction, the bidding war for the cars got intense (to say the least). The four cars were auctioned off in less than five minutes, and the audience was demanding more. Little did we know that “more” would have us auctioning off all the remaining pedal cars and raising $35,900 for ARFI.

Never in the history of the ARA has an AGM auction raised so much money for the foundation. Our thoughts instantly turned to what impact this might have on the future of ARFI scholarships and bursaries. With this money, we could potentially help even more people get into this industry by assisting with the financial barriers of education and tools. As we learned from this year’s scholarship and bursary recipients, the financial factor is a struggle for many.

All of the ARFI recipients that were awarded scholarships and bursaries for 2022 were well deserving of the awards. All of them have a passion for industry despite the different sectors they are in. What they described as their biggest barrier to getting into this industry is their struggle with the cost of tools and tuition. Despite these struggles, they all had smiles on their faces when they spoke about their jobs and the reasons why they got into this industry. And this is all that matters, after all. Their passion for the industry is ultimately what will keep them working in the industry.

All in all, we were able to award two scholarships: the Ed Coates Automotive Red Seal Trade Scholarship and the Bob Clarke Memorial Scholarship. We also awarded four bursaries: the Women’s Automotive Bursary, the Indigenous People’s Automotive Bursary, the EVfriendly Technician Bursary, and the Motorcycle Technician Bursary. We cannot wait to see what next year’s awards and recipients will hold!

Cover photo: John McDonald (L) and Marc Bergevin (R) from ADESA did a fantastic job hosting the ARFI auction.

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ARFI Awards $17,000 in Scholarships and Bursaries

Iva Kestrankova — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 05:00:43 +0000

Despite the uncertainty around us, this year has proved to be a year of hope for the automotive industry.

As the pandemic lingered on, the importance of the automotive industry was demonstrated in being declared an essential service. Job security may be a growing factor for careers seekers. In previous years, automotive and powersports programs struggled to enroll students; however, in the last two years, there has been an uptick in enrollment for these programs. So much so, some programs have up to a two-year waitlist for enrollment.

Recognizing the rise in demand for automotive schooling, the Automotive Retailers Foundation (ARFI) knew something needed to be done to assist those for whom these programs may be out of reach for financial reasons. The ARFI provides financial aid and supports those with a passion for the automotive industry to complete their schooling and grow their careers.

In 2021 the ARFI restructured its slate of scholarships and bursaries, adding new categories to keep up with industry trends. Three new bursaries were created: the Women’s Automotive Bursary, Indigenous Peoples Automotive Bursary, and the Motorcycle Bursary. An Electric Vehicle Specialist Scholarship was added to compliment the pre-existing Ed Coates Red Seal Automotive Trades Scholarship and the Bob Clarke Memorial Scholarship.

The Women’s Automotive Bursary was created to encourage and assist more females to pursue careers in automotive. This year’s recipient was Louise Trenholm, a young female apprentice pursuing her Red Seal. The Indigenous Peoples Bursary was created to encourage those who identify as indigenous to pursue careers in the automotive industry. This year’s winner was Luc Plantier, who proudly identifies as Metis.

This year the foundation received a $5,000 donation from Trev Deeley, and, as a result, ARFI was able to create and award two motorcycle bursaries to two deserving candidates: Aurelien Sechet and Landon Laberge, both pursuing careers as motorcycle technicians.

With electric vehicles and technology ever-evolving within the automotive industry, the ARFI wanted to garner more interest and recognition in this sector. The Electric Vehicle Specialist Scholarship was created to support a technician who is solely focusing on learning how to repair electric vehicles. This year’s winner was Michael Waddle, a young technician who has been learning about and helping repair electric vehicles while still in high school.

The Bob Clarke Memorial Scholarship was created in memory of the late Bob Clarke, a long-standing and well-respected figure in the industry whose passion was unmatched. This scholarship was created to help with tuition or tools for anyone pursuing a career in the automotive industry. This year’s winner was Anthony Casey, a practicing apprentice pursuing his Red Seal.

The Ed Coates Red Seal Automotive Trades Scholarship was named to honour the legacy of the late Co-founder/President and CEO of Lordco Parts, Ed Coates. This scholarship was created to help fund and support a technician in the completion of a red seal apprenticeship in the automotive industry. This year’s winner was Chad Lhee, a current student at BCIT completing his Motor Vehicle Body Repair Program.

This year the foundation was able to award a combined total of $17,000 to deserving candidates pursuing careers in this amazing industry. Despite the uncertain times, ARFI wanted to demonstrate that there is always support available to those wanting to enter the industry.

The foundation needs the support of the industry to attract more talent. Please consider donating today at ARFI.ca.

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ARFI Offers Four New Bursaries and Two Scholarships for 2021

Iva Kestrankova — Thu, 27 May 2021 22:42:38 +0000

Investing in future automotive professionals is a prerequisite for the industry’s success. The Automotive Retailers Foundation Inc. (ARFI) is thrilled to announce that, in effort to help young professionals in the automotive industry to pay for their tuition, it will offer a total of $15,000 in scholarships and bursaries in 2021.

With a modified range of awards available this year, students will be able to apply for two of the legacy scholarships (Bob Clarke Memorial Scholarship, Ed Coates Automotive Red Seal Trade Scholarship). The ARFI is also introducing four new bursaries ($2,000 each) supporting diversity and inclusivity at the workplace and assisting people to reach their career goals in the in-demand industry sectors.

2021 SCHOLARSHIPS

Bob Clarke Memorial Scholarship

this scholarship provides $2,000 toward tools or post-secondary education tuition to people with a genuine interest in pursuing a career in the automotive trades and planning to enroll in a Red Seal apprenticeship
learn more >>

Ed Coates Automotive Red Seal Trade Scholarship

this annual scholarship provides up to $5,000 toward tools or post-secondary education tuition leading to a career in the automotive industry
learn more >>

2021 BURSARIES

Women’s Automotive Bursary

this bursary was created in 2021 to assist women who are pursuing their careers in the automotive industry
learn more >>

Indigenous People’s Automotive Bursary

first introduced in 2021, this bursary supports an inclusive work environment in automotive, while assisting Indigenous people with their career aspirations in the industry
learn more >>

Electric Vehicle Specialist Bursary

this bursary is new for 2021, introduced to assist industry in preparing for the forecast proliferation of electric vehicles
learn more >>

Motorcycle Technician Bursary

this bursary was introduced in 2021 to attract and retain more people to the motorcycle sector, through the completion of an accredited motorcycle technician program
learn more >>

The deadline for all applications is July 31, 2021.

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Christian Soper

reneyoung — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 20:30:18 +0000

Ed Coates memorial Scholarship ($5000) Recipient, 2019

“Mechanics have to be stronger in the electrical field and in tune with software to be able to fix today’s cars, but I think it is definitely improving our cars. This scholarship helps a lot with tools, schooling and books.”

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Ashley Harvey

reneyoung — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 20:24:47 +0000

Automotive Apprentice Level 3 ($2000) Scholarship Recipient, 2019

“I love cars. My future goal is to become the best auto body technician that I can be. There’s always new cars coming out with new technology, and there’s always something new and exciting. I just love it! [This award] means that there are people out there willing to say, yay, you can do it. It will help me financially.”

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Brayden Hollsworth

reneyoung — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 20:19:46 +0000

Training, Education and Advancement Bursary ($2000) Recipient, 2019

“My goal is to, hopefully, own my own shop some day. This award means that I’m doing really well with my carer, and hopefully it keeps going that way.”

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Adesa Auction Raises $17,200

reneyoung — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 02:52:39 +0000

Courtesy Automotive Retailers Association

The 2019 Automotive Retailers Association AGM was one of the best ever and of the many highlights, the auction hosted by Adesa on Saturday night really stood out.

Not only did the auction raise money for the Automotive Retailers Foundation Inc. (ARFI), which offers scholarships and bursaries to young professionals pursuing careers in the automotive industry, it also made for great entertainment! Marc Bergevin and John MacDonald from Adesa knew just how to engage the audience and put on a great show.

The auction opened with a houseboat rental in the Shuswap and then a weekend adventure to Victoria. Canucks tickets were also up for grabs again year. There was a basket of wine, a miniature Mercedes-Benz G63 6×6 ride-on car, and a mystery box, although the highest bidder chose to hang on and open it later, so the contents remain a mystery.

The big twist of the night was the bidding war over a mountain bike donated by Rob Libera of Blue Star Motors. Immediately following the closing bid, John rode onto the stage with a second bike. In the end, both top bidders each rode away with one.

Darcy Griffith of Oliver Auto Recycling honoured the B-CAR division by donating two pieces of art, which he then generously bought back. And just when everyone thought the auction was over, there was an outcry from the floor to bid on the socks that John and Marc had simply been handing out. The auction went on and more than a few members went home with a set of $100 socks, proving just how generous the members are when it comes to donating to the foundation.

In total, the auction raised $17,200 for ARFI, exceeding last year’s record. This, combined with a $5,000 donation from Lordco for the annual Ed Coates memorial scholarship, $2,000 donated by the auto recycling division, $1,000 from the auto glass division, and $3,000 generated from the ARA’s annual golf tournament, means ARFI is on track to give away even more than the $28,000 it gave away this year in scholarships and bursaries.

Marc and John did a terrific job for a great cause. A big thank you goes to Adesa for not only conducting the auction but also donating most of the prizes, and Rob Libera for donating not one but two mountain bikes.

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WCR Raises $5,750 for ARFI

reneyoung — Fri, 07 Jun 2019 03:04:54 +0000

“When we were thinking of doing a charity auction, I couldn’t think of a better cause,” said Cody Darby of Western Canada Remarketing Inc. (WCR). “Tools and school are expensive so we want to make a difference for somebody.”

WCR is a small, boutique-style auction that prides itself on offering quality service. This was their first year hosting the online charity auction, which raised $5,750 for the Automotive Retailers Foundation Inc. (ARFI).

“Trades are really suffering right now, mechanics especially,” Darby said, explaining how it seems less and less young people are interested in getting into trades. And for those who are interested—unless you are born and raised in it like Darby was—it can sometimes be a difficult industry to break into. “Hopefully, this can help someone in need.”

That was why ARA set up the foundation, to eliminate financial limitations for young people wanting to pursue a career in the automotive industry. In a time when the industry is struggling to hire and retain good employees, it is an excellent time to invest in education.

In 2019 the ARFI had over $20,000 in scholarships and bursaries to give away.

It is a wonderful thing to see ARA members step up to help the next generation. A big thank you goes out to WCR for organizing this auction and all the top bidders who donated to ARFI.

Some of the prizes included were Barret Jackson VIP tickets to the muscle lounge, a 2019 BMW Power Wheels, John Force Racing memorabilia, a hockey jersey autographed by Trevor Linden, and Country Vines & Golf passes with a wine basket. Darby is already looking forward to next year, he hopes it’ll be even bigger with a live event in addition to the online auction.

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The ARA donates $4,900

reneyoung — Wed, 08 May 2019 02:59:59 +0000

Courtesy Automotive Retailers Association

Thank you to all the members who stepped up and helped the ARA raise $4,900 for Pitt Meadows Secondary School. The donation will be used to purchase cutting-edge tools and equipment for the automotive program.

The donation will be used to purchase cutting-edge tools and equipment for the automotive program.

“It’s all about the community working with the schools,” said Steve Wiebe, principal district alternate, youth train in trades programs and work experience. Wiebe, along with the automotive teacher, Dale Ablett and a number of students in the class accepted the cheque on May 1 at the school’s lively automotive shop.

Classes in the automotive department start in grade 10 and go through to grade 12. The students also have the option of doing their level one automotive service technician apprenticeship in grade 12 so they are ready to go right into level two upon graduation, which fast tracks them towards red seal certification.

However, sometimes after students have completed their level one and two, their apprenticeship turns to full-time work and they never go on to complete their Red Seal certification. The ARA wants to help students go all the way by offering over $20,000 in scholarships and bursaries through the Automotive Retailers Foundation (ARFI). And new for 2019, four bursaries will provide up to $2,000 for continuing education tuition related to an automotive career. This can include sales, management, or administration training.

One of the biggest challenges the automotive industry faces is attracting young talent. Automotive programs in schools like PMSS encourage students to pursue careers in the industry.

“For a good number of students this type of class inspires them to entertain a career in the automotive field, or it opens up a significant number of career opportunities that start with working on cars,” said Ablett.

The PMSS automotive program also benefits the community by offering auto services and repairs at reasonable prices.

“It is a win-win-win for everybody,” said Ablett. “The kids benefit from working on the vehicles for practical experience and for the great feeling of being able to help somebody else.”

A big thank you goes out to CSN BC Collision, Maple Ridge Towing (1981) Ltd., Grandcity Autobody Ltd. (Vancouver), Craftsman Collision, Rapid Auto Glass, and CJ Automotive for their donations.

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