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 The red Dodge Ram pick-up sits high on the hoist in the far bay of the shop.
Tarps drape the windows as patches of metal on its body are in various stages of sanding and welding.
One would never know the short box truck was totally demolished a few months ago -- even the roof was collapsed.
It’s being refurbished, thanks to the College of New Caledonia’s autobody students in the shop of the John Brinks Building.
The 30-week program started in the fall of 2008, with nine high school students.
“We just started from the ground up,” said CNC automotive instructor Byron Hayashi. “These students are learning everything – autobody and the mechanical end – and it’s worked out really well. A couple guys are already working.
“They get a lot of hours here. They’re working on other people’s cars. Everybody gets a fender to work on and they’re welding.”
In fall 2007, the autobody industry in Prince George met to discuss the labour shortage it was facing. Shop owners realized they needed to grow and train northern students in Prince George so they didn’t move away after high school to pursue their careers elsewhere.
With the help of the Automotive Retailers Association (ARA) and ICBC, a proposal was put together for CNC.
“I really felt the only way to keep trades here was to bring them through CNC,” said Queensway Auto Body owner Michelle Rolls.
“We just did it. Industry was fabulous … they donated equipment, the ARA helped and people gave their time and money. It was a fabulous success.”
In less than a year from that first meeting, the autobody program became part of CNC’s Career Technical Centre, which combines high school and college in a number of disciplines. When students graduate from high school, they’ll have accreditation for their first-year apprenticeships as well.
Earlier this year when it expanded and upgraded, Jack Shultz Auto Body gave the college a frame straightener, which allows students to work on the frame of everything up to and including a one-ton dualie.
“That was a nice Christmas present delivered to us in February,” said Hayashi.
From the first class of nine students who finished their training at CNC in January, Rolls handpicked one of them who worked in Queensway’s paint department.
“It’s working great for me, he still goes to school and he’s had good success.”
The current crop of students, who began in February, know they’re in demand by automotive shops.
Grace van Helvoirt already has a few jobs lined up and is glad there is a program like this in the North.
“The knowledge and experience I’ll have when I get into a job … I already have a foot in the door,” she said about the work experience.
Hayashi has an open-door policy to all the shops, which can check out what the students are working on at CNC.
That’s a bonus for the industry, said Rolls, who also serves as the northern director for the ARA.
“The more industry is involved, the more kids we’ll get. We’re all behind it to create and retain staff.”
In addition to autobody, students are also being trained in automotive service repairs (auto mechanics) to ensure they’re well-rounded and highly employable. Activities include repairing sheet metal and dents, and welding repair techniques.
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