The largest gathering of collision industry stakeholders in Canada, CCIF Toronto, returned on March 11 and 12, 2026, as part of the Canadian Auto Care Industry Conference (CAIC). Everyone who is anyone in the collision sector—collision repairers, insurers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), suppliers and service providers—was brought together under one roof in Toronto to connect, learn vital industry insights, and view the latest innovations at the CCIF vendor showcase.
An industry-wide networking reception on March 11, 2026, officially kicked off CCIF Toronto at CAIC, where key industry stakeholders from both mechanical and collision sectors gathered to connect and discuss the industry’s trends and challenges.
How to streamline business processes to maximize profitability
The day opened with programming aimed at helping businesses optimize operations and performance from Dan Friedman of Entegral. Attendees gained practical insights on leveraging technology and process improvements to reduce costs and support profitability.
“Everyone needs to work together for the benefit of the customer and to unlock the full potential of the industry.” said Friedman.
Collaboration and leadership in today’s ecosystem
Next up was a fireside-style conversation moderated by Amin Youssef, regional vice president, Fix Network – Canada, and Wendy Dugas, human resources manager at Donnelly Auto Group. Throughout this session, attendees learned about how they can build strong workplace culture, empower employees, and how proactive retention strategies can drive long-term business performance.
On the topic of retention rates and passion, Wendy Dugas drove home the importance of passion. “Why do you do what you do? Because you have a passion for it. You have to love what you do every day. Do not settle, do not give up, and follow what you love to do. One of the mistakes learned the hard way is that when you settle, employee turnover increases.”
Tailored concurrent sessions for customized learning
Following networking and vendor showcase time, attendees chose from three tracks designed to support business growth:
- Profitability: Practical guidance on succession planning and long-term business value strategies from Shawn Wilson, COO, Simplicity Car Care
- Human resources: Approaches to build the autobody workforce of the future, including apprenticeship pathways and retention with Josh Westgate of Fanshawe College
- Vehicle technology: The future of learning and skill development with immersive and technology-enabled training, led by Jeff Peevy of I-CAR.
These sessions equipped attendees with actionable approaches for streamlining internal processes and adapting to new industry demands.
Industry trends and future outlook
After lunch, Ryan Mandell of Mitchell led a data-driven session on global trends reshaping collision repair, focusing on supply chain pressures, tariffs, and advancing vehicle technology. This forward outlook helped businesses align strategic planning with broader market forces.
Inspiration and innovation from an Olympic gold medalist
The conference wrapped with a presentation led by Alex Kopacz, Olympic gold medalist, about resilience and adaptation, using themes of continuous improvement and mindset shifts to reinforce the importance of innovation in maintaining profitability and competitiveness.
To those who attended the 2026 edition of CCIF Toronto at the Canadian Auto Care Industry Conference, thank you!