AssociationUpdate

Nova Scotia auto industry
7th annual awards evening

Once again, the Nova Scotia Automotive Industry had occasion to celebrate leadership and enjoy an evening of fellowship and fine dining. This growing and important Industry event was held at the Holiday Inn Dartmouth with over 100 delegates in attendance.



Pat Sullivan, Gerry Chute, Pat Frizzell


Ms. Corrie Robley, Automotive Sector Council Executive Director, recognized and thanked the partners in attendance that play such an important part to the Sector Council success.

Partners included Department of Education, Skills & Learning Branch, Apprenticeship, Nova Scotia Community College, Metropolitan Immigrant Settlement Association, Halifax School Board along with the Automotive Trades Association. Corrie gave a brief overview of the 2006 Sector Council workforce development initiatives that gave purpose to recognizing the outstanding leadership of many individuals and companies.

They included:

Ms. Robley also shared with industry delegates the 2007 strategies, focusing on the development of the Provincial Industry Education Committee and the role that Industry can play in supporting the Department of Education programs.
These initiatives are all designed to assist Automotive Industry employers attract, recruit and retain new employees, and are a direct response to employer’s requests.



Roy Pettigrew, Beth McNeill,Mary Lou Angowski, Sherrill Pettigrew


Automotive Trades Association Executive Director Graham Conrad extended a special welcome to Industry delegates especially to the Industry Association leaders who attended. Mr. Conrad stated that the Sector Council’s success is directly proportional to the support from Industry Associations and their ability to communicate to their members.

Industry Associations in attendance included: John Sutherland, Nova Scotia Automobile Dealers Association accompanied by President Al MacPhee, Mr. Roy Pettigrew, Retail Gasoline Dealers Association of Nova Scotia, Lindsay Gates, Collision Repair Association of NS, Maurice Anderson, Automobile Insurance Appraisers of N.S. and Frank Connor, Atlantic Tire Dealers Association.



Doug Bethune, Richard Sharpe, Graham Conradl


The highlight of the evening was a dynamic and well received address from Mr. Stu Gourley, Senior Executive Director of the Department of Education, Skills & Learning Branch. His presentation was related to the new opportunities for Industry to partner with his Department in an effort to deal with issues of workforce shortages and skills requirements.




Mike Power, Claudette Legault, Mohja Alia, Frank Connor


Stu’s presentation was extremely well received. Delegates also heard a short commentary from Alex Johnston, graduate of Auburn High School, about his experience with the new Options and Opportunities program. The Industry Excellence Award presentations were made to Rui Martins, Canadian Tire, Clayton Park and Valerie Brace, Chebucto Ford for their support, leadership and outstanding efforts within the Automotive Industry and to help Sector Council programs move forward.



Jamie Reid, Vernon Kynock, Joann Whitehead, Eric Bourque


Industry Appreciation Awards were presented to Don Burke and Dean Saltzman respecting their valuable long-standing contributions to the Sector Council Board of Directors and to the Industry.

Mentorship and Immigration Awards were presented to

Rui Martins, Valerie Brace, Corrie Robley

Richard Sharpe, Supervisor for Apprenticeship Training and Skill Development was given an appreciation certificate for his outstanding efforts in communicating details of the certification process as it relates to the auto body collision repair industry of Nova Scotia. Claude Legault, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Immigrant Settlement Association was recognized for their new partnership with the Automotive Sector Council and Industry employers. On the social side, delegates were unanimous about their enjoyment of the evening.



Al MacPhee, Corrie Robley




Mentorship and Immigration Awards Recipients


Door prize winners were Rui Martins, Canadian Tire, Ron Farrell, Dean of Trades and Technology, NSCC, Gerry Chute, Motor Mart, Yarmouth and Wayne Pace, Tantallon Esso. At the conclusion of this very enjoyable evening, delegates were reminded that the 2007 annual conference and trade show will be held May 11- 13 at Oak Island Resort & Spa.