Bill Hatswell, the founder of Craftsman Collision — one of the largest family-owned repair businesses in Canada — has died.
According to the a family statement, he passed away peacefully on November 1 at home in Palm Desert, Calif. with his wife Thanida, stepchildren Jessica and Patrick, and his children Melanie, Rick, and Greg by his side.
Hatswell started Craftsman Collision in the 1970s, having fallen in love with British Columbia while vacationing from Australia. He built the business based on the philosophy of “crisp, clean staff uniforms, friendly receptionists, clean replacement vehicles, and new standards of quality.” After opening his first location on Vancouver’s Cambie Street in 1977, the business soon became the largest family-owned body shop chain in Canada with more than 40 locations across North America.
After over 40 dedicated years at Craftsman’s helm, Hatswell decided in 2017 to take a step back as President to focus on his role as CEO and make room for his son Rick to take the reins.
Bill’s legacy includes a dedication to helping others, donating millions of dollars to dozens of charitable causes through the years. Among those who benefitted from his generosity are the Salvation Army through Craftsman’s annual Making a Dent Christmas food drive, the Heart & Stroke Foundation, the BCIT Foundation and School of Transportation, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Vancouver Symphony, and the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation, to which Craftsman has donated more than $1 million to create the hospital’s Craftsman Collision Cast Clinic.
Hatswell is survived by his brothers Jeff and Anthony, sisters Liz and Julie, and grandchildren Cooper, Madeleine, and Elowyn. A celebration of life will be held at Seymour Golf Club on November 22.