Sept. 3, 2026 — CARSTAR Canada has named Jessy Dufresne and Eric Henault, owners of CARSTAR Rawdon and CARSTAR St-Félix-de-Valois, its 2026 Franchisees of the Year. The award was presented at the company’s Impact 2026 conference. It recognizes franchise partners for leadership, business performance, customer service, community involvement, and contributions to the CARSTAR network. Dufresne

  Minister Van Veldhoven is pictured in Sassenheim using a paint gun September 2, 2026 — AkzoNobel has opened a €7.5-million innovation laboratory at its Sassenheim site in the Netherlands, strengthening the company’s largest global research and development centre. The new facility, which focuses primarily on powder coatings, is designed to accelerate the development of

New system combines A/C service, leak testing, and live vehicle diagnostics September 1, 2026 — Autel U.S. has announced the availability of the MaxiHVAC AC909 Advanced A/C Diagnostic System, a comprehensive solution designed to help technicians diagnose, service, and verify increasingly complex automotive A/C and thermal management systems. Autel U.S. is now accepting orders for

Connect, Network and Engage with Present and Potential Members Before the Forum’s Evening Reception Aug. 26, 2026 — WIN Canada (Women’s Industry Network) will host a national Meet & Greet for current and prospective members attending the 2026 Canadian Collision Industry Forum (CCIF) in Montreal. The event will take place Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 4

 Aug. 26, 2026 — The 2026 SEMA Show is building momentum across key categories, including collision repair and vehicle restyling. For repair and refinishing professionals, this year’s show will provide a comprehensive look at the latest products, equipment and technologies shaping the industry. The SEMA Show’s dedicated Restyling and Collision Repair & Refinish sections will

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

 July 31, 2026 — Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Canada has been named the preferred automotive finishes partner for Mercedes-Benz Certified Collision Repair Centres in Canada. The designation recognizes Sherwin-Williams’ refinishing systems, technical training, and support services as meeting the requirements of the Mercedes-Benz Certified Collision Repair Program. Mercedes-Benz Certified Collision Repair Centres are required to restore

July 29, 2026 — CARSTAR recently hosted an estimator training session at the Don-Mor CARSTAR Collision Community Engagement Centre, located within the Humane Society London & Middlesex’s Old Oak Animal Campus. The session brought together estimators from CARSTAR locations across the London, Ont., market for classroom instruction and practical estimating exercises focused on repair planning,