AIA Canada funding auto biz school project

BARRIE, Ontario (May 1, 2015) — The Automotive Industries Association (AIA) of Canada is donating $250,000 (Canadian) to the Automotive Business School of Canada (ABSC) to help develop a dedicated “changemaker” space for students to use while working on collaborative projects.

The ABSC is part of Georgian College in Ontario, which offers the only Bachelor of Business Automotive Management degree and Automotive Business diplomas in Canada. Graduates of these programs can be found in many sectors of the automotive industry including dealerships, aftermarket, finance and insurance, remarketing, corporate head office, fleet management, marketing and advertising, and event management.

“AIA Canada is very proud and excited to partner with the Automotive Business School of Canada to educate future leaders in the Canadian automotive aftermarket industry,” said Marc Brazeau, president and CEO, AIA Canada, at the presentation of the donation April 29 at the college's Barrie campus.

“This important financial contribution from our members will ensure that students have the right learning environment and the right tools to succeed in our sector for many years to come,” he said.

AIA Canada's donation was made in support of Georgian's fundraising campaign, “Power of Education: Transforming the Student Experience.”

Marie-Noelle Bonicalzi, Dean of Business, Automotive and Hospitality at Georgian College, said, “Since the mid-1990s we have nurtured and developed a strong relationship with AIA Canada and as a result, many of our students are choosing the aftermarket sector as their career of choice.”

Matt Garwood, a student at the business school and director of performance and sponsorship for the 2015 Georgian College Auto Show, said, “There is a lot of opportunity in the automotive aftermarket for Georgian students and graduates. Through the changemaker space, we'll be able to learn more about the AIA and pursue our own ideas for the next big products and services in the ind