August 19, 2026 — CARSTAR Canada kicked off its Impact 2026 conference Tuesday at the Halifax Convention Centre, bringing together franchise owners, team members, vendor partners, and corporate staff from across Canada for three days of education, networking, fundraising, and celebration.
The conference, which runs through Thursday, Aug. 20, began with registration activities, followed by the Seaside Stride Charity Walk in support of Cystic Fibrosis Canada. The waterfront walk raised $10,050 for research, care and advocacy supporting people affected by cystic fibrosis.
Following the walk, attendees returned to the Halifax Convention Centre for opening ceremonies and an evening focused on leadership, inspiration, and celebration.
Dave Foster, senior vice-president of operations and development for CARSTAR Canada, opened the evening with a leadership message focused on resilience, purpose, and the impact franchisees can have on employees, customers, and communities.
Damien Reyna, chief operating officer of Driven Brands Collision Group, followed with an executive leadership presentation offering a North American perspective on the industry’s future and outlining strategic priorities for the CARSTAR network.
Award-winning filmmaker, storyteller,and philanthropist Mike Downie then delivered a keynote presentation exploring the power of storytelling to build connections, strengthen culture, and drive meaningful change. Drawing on projects including The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal and Secret Path, Downie challenged attendees to consider how stories shape organizations, communities, and personal leadership journeys.
The evening also featured the presentation of CARSTAR’s highest honour, the 2026 Franchisee of the Year Award. Jessy Dufresne and Eric Henault of CARSTAR Rawdon and CARSTAR St-Félix-de-Valois were recognized for their leadership, business performance, and commitment to excellence across the CARSTAR network.
The day concluded with an East Coast-inspired opening-night celebration at Pavilion 23 on Halifax’s waterfront. Guests took part in a traditional Maritime kitchen party featuring local cuisine, live entertainment, backyard games, networking and fundraising activities supporting Cystic Fibrosis Canada.
“Impact is more than just a conference. It’s an opportunity to come together as a network, learn from one another, and leave inspired to make an even greater difference in our businesses and communities,” Foster said. “The strength of CARSTAR has always been our people, and this week is a celebration of the passion, leadership and commitment that continue to drive our success.”
Impact 2026 continues through Thursday, Aug. 20, at the Halifax Convention Centre, with educational breakout sessions, industry speakers, a vendor expo, fundraising events, and the annual awards gala recognizing top-performing franchise partners from across Canada. For more information go to carstar.ca