Canada’s collision repair industry is facing a new reality as catastrophic weather events become increasingly common across the country. From hailstorms and flooding to wildfires, tornadoes and high winds, these events can create sudden surges in damaged vehicles while putting pressure on repair facilities, insurers and salvage operations.

At the same time, the vehicles arriving at collision centres are becoming increasingly complex. Advanced driver assistance systems, electrified powertrains, parts availability and repair capacity can all influence whether a damaged vehicle is repaired or declared a total loss -- making preparation more important than ever.

In this abridged edition of Collision Repair magazine’s Industry Insider, Mackenzie Grant speaks with IAA Canada managing director Blair Earle and Colorado State University atmospheric scientist Phil Klotzbach about the changing weather landscape, the collision repair industry's role in catastrophe response and what businesses can do to prepare before the next major event hits.

Shop Alignment: The case for bringing measurements in house with Steve Dawson Washington DC Regional Manager for Hunter Engineering by Collision Repair Magazine

Vehicle Theft & Fraud in Canada: How IAA and CARFAX Are Protecting the Automotive Ecosystem by Collision Repair Magazine

Recyclers and EVs: Addressing EV Training Gap by Collision Repair Magazine

From Numbers to Know How: Daniel Trevisanutto's Guide to Collision Repair Metrics by Collision Repair Magazine

In this episode of industry insider Stuart Klein discusses his career path and the critical role of ICAR in enhancing collision repair training in Canada. He explains how ICAR supports ongoing technician education beyond Red Seal certification and offers recognized designations like Platinum and Gold Class. He also highlights partnerships with organizations like the Canadian Welding Bureau to improve training access, especially in remote areas. ICAR’s subscription model helps shops train staff efficiently, and achieving Gold Class reflects a shop’s commitment to quality and staying current with industry changes.

In this episode of Industry Insider, Daryll O'Keefe, vice president of strategic business development for Fix Network, elaborates on his new duties bringing the Procolor brand across the U.S.–and perhaps beyond.

On this episode of Industry Insider, we speak with Blair Earle, managing director of IAA Inc., Canada, to hear how the used vehicle market is affecting Canadian aftermarket operations; vehicle sales prices and more.

Be sure to listen to the end to hear a special segment about vehicle theft in Canada and how it is impacting the new and used vehicle sales markets.

Industry Insider: ADAS: adoption, profitability, tooling and more, Hunter Engineering by Collision Repair Magazine

On today's episode of Industry Insider, Stuart Klein, the VP of Collision Programs for the Automotive Industries of Canada (AIA Canada) sits down to chat about collision repair training--why it's important for the future of your business; how to access top-notch training and opportunities and the topics you should pay attention to.

Tune in for:

– The learning needed to work on emerging and advanced technologies

– Stuart's opinions on the training topics that could drive profitability

– Balancing the staffing shortage--the skills-training connection

– Information on training offerings from AIA Canada and other acclaimed industry reps