Hamilton, ON (September 30, 2025) – The life plans of a local 18-year-old girl who was preparing to leave for college five hours away from home were put into jeopardy, after tragically losing the first car she had worked so hard to purchase in a fire.
Her plans to begin post-secondary education were suddenly at risk; but thanks to the generosity and community spirit of Shawn and Alli Leslie, owners of CARSTAR Goderich and Lucan, those dreams are back on track.
The young student had saved diligently through high school, working part-time to afford her car and insurance. Unfortunately, the vehicle was only insured with liability coverage, and the fire damage was not covered, leaving her with no transportation and limited options.
After seeing a GoFundMe page started by a family friend, Shawn Leslie stepped in with a plan to help.
“When I saw her story, I knew we had to do something,” said Shawn Leslie, co-owner of CARSTAR Goderich and Lucan. “We treat our community like family—and if this were my daughter, I’d hope someone would do the same. It was about more than a car—it was about making sure she could pursue her education and not have this setback define her future.”
Shawn not only sourced a reliable vehicle (Chevrolet Cruze) for the student, but he and his team completed all the bodywork in-house before sending the car to Hyundai of Goderich for mechanical work and safety certification, covering the full cost personally. The vehicle was then transferred into the student’s name, giving her complete ownership and independence.
“We’re beyond grateful,” the student’s family shared. “Shawn and his team were incredible to work with—kind, generous, and genuinely invested in helping our daughter. The car is perfect. It means everything.”
“This is what it’s all about,” added Alli Leslie, co-owner. “We’re in the collision repair business, but more than that, we’re in the business of helping people. We hope this small gesture helps her start this next chapter with hope and confidence.”
“What Shawn and Alli have done is truly inspiring,” said Collin Welsh, Senior Director, Ontario Region, CARSTAR Canada. “This isn’t just about fixing cars—this is about changing lives. Their compassion and leadership embody the values we strive for across all CARSTAR locations.”
For more information, visit CARSTAR.ca.