Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec - Last February, the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA) held its "Grand Forum". The theme was Business Success and Profitability. Hundreds of participants had the opportunity to share their opinions on a variety of issues and challenges in their respective workplace, with a focus on tomorrow's workforce. Throughout the forum, executives and guest speakers talked about the growing difficulty to hire new recruits.
The AIA is a national trade association representing the automotive aftermarket industry in Canada, which employs more than 220,000 people in companies that manufacture, distribute and install automotive replacement parts, accessories, tools, and equipment.
In addition to AIA members, this inaugural event was attended by over 20 aftermarket specialists. Topics being discussed were mainly oriented toward the future, from hybrid vehicle maintenance to advanced technologies likely to be found on most cars by 2010.
A brilliant green concept
Interestingly, organizers made this forum a "zero-waste" event, meaning that every bit of plastic and paper used for the various lectures and meetings were collected and sorted out for reprocessing. But that's not all: kitchen waste was entirely salvaged and composted. For dinner, all the tableware and napkins were eco-friendly.
The AIA also made the forum a carbon-neutral event. Organizers promised to plant as many trees necessary to compensate for all greenhouse gas emissions produced by participants throughout the seminar. Thanks to the voluntary contribution of everyone on hand, a total of 221 trees will be planted.
The AIA is a national trade association representing the automotive aftermarket industry in Canada, which employs more than 220,000 people in companies that manufacture, distribute and install automotive replacement parts, accessories, tools, and equipment.
In addition to AIA members, this inaugural event was attended by over 20 aftermarket specialists. Topics being discussed were mainly oriented toward the future, from hybrid vehicle maintenance to advanced technologies likely to be found on most cars by 2010.
A brilliant green concept
Interestingly, organizers made this forum a "zero-waste" event, meaning that every bit of plastic and paper used for the various lectures and meetings were collected and sorted out for reprocessing. But that's not all: kitchen waste was entirely salvaged and composted. For dinner, all the tableware and napkins were eco-friendly.
The AIA also made the forum a carbon-neutral event. Organizers promised to plant as many trees necessary to compensate for all greenhouse gas emissions produced by participants throughout the seminar. Thanks to the voluntary contribution of everyone on hand, a total of 221 trees will be planted.