Each year, the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association features various education initiatives at the AutoShow
Auto careers and education take the spotlight at 2020 AutoShow.
The 2020 Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto, presented by the Toronto Star and Wheels.ca, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, is fast approaching. The AutoShow runs from February 14-23.
Each year, the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association features various education initiatives at the AutoShow, which are aimed at students seeking career opportunities in the retail auto sector and those considering a career change.
The CarsAndJobs.com Education Program will feature three informative kiosks positioned throughout the show this year to share information about careers in the automotive service and retail industry. Information about automotive education, job opportunities and careers in the industry will be available, along with demos of the site and free giveaways.
The TADA’s successful CarsAndJobs.com Live Stage sessions will be back for a third year, featuring panels, interviews, and discussions covering a wide variety of automotive career and education topics.
CarsAndJobs.com is an online hub for job seekers, students, and employers — offering industry jobs, as well as information about automotive scholarships and co-op education.
The TADA will welcome school groups such as the McMaster Baja Racing Team, the Georgian College Auto Show executive, Ryerson Formula Racing and the U of T Formula SAE Team, along with expert panels featuring students and faculty from Durham, Centennial, Conestoga and Niagara colleges, among others.
Bluevale Collegiate Institute’s winning entry in the University of Waterloo’s Electric Vehicle Challenge (co-sponsored by the TADA) will be displayed as the team that designed, built and raced the electric car in an annual endurance competition. The team will visit the show to continue planning its automotive future while secondary school students arrive to visit the show by the busload from across southern Ontario.
For the second consecutive year, CarsAndJobs.com will present a Student/Dealer Networking Night at the AutoShow, giving students and recent graduates the opportunity to talk to potential employers from dealerships across the province in a relaxed and informal setting.
No resumés required at this event — it’s personality, knowledge and networking ability that saw last year’s Networking Night result in dozens of interviews and numerous job offers.
Before the show even officially opens, CarsAndJobs.com, in partnership with the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) and Centennial College, will present the Toronto Automotive Technology Competition on Feb. 12. Two-person teams from southern Ontario high schools will be in open competition to diagnose, repair and correct vehicles purposefully outfitted with faults and operating problems.
In addition, they will face five different workstations that test their knowledge of technical automotive repair. Both the on-vehicle and workstation areas of the competition are time-limited and designed to challenge all competitors.
The high school students, all currently studying automotive service technology, will be vying for the opportunity to represent not only their school but also the TADA at the National Automotive Technology Competition at the 2020 New York International Autoshow in Manhattan this April. The TATC is open to the public in the North Building of the MTCC throughout the day on Feb. 12.
The winning team will be announced at the AutoShow’s Media Day, Feb. 13, and will receive the Gerd Reisenecker Toronto Automotive Technology Competition Award.
The Toronto Star and CarsAndJobs.com are also proud to present this year’s Greeter Program at the AutoShow. Look for friendly, helpful and informative staff near show entrances in both Convention Centre buildings to help guide you to the displays and features you’re looking to find.
Education requirements for automotive careers have evolved significantly in the past two decades. Most positions available at dealerships are highly specialized and require years of post-secondary schooling and training.
Visiting the TADA exhibit at the Autoshow will provide visitors with a unique window into the world of training and opportunities that exist within the retail automobile industry.
For more information about the 2020 AutoShow, visit autoshow.ca.
This column represents the views and values of the TADA. Write to [email protected] or go to tada.ca. Cliff Lafreniere is president of the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association and is president of Pinewood Park Motors (Ford) in Kirkland Lake. For information about automotive trends and careers, visit carsandjobs.com.
Keyword: Dealers Voice: Education, careers in spotlight at 2020 Canadian International AutoShow