Spotlight on Alexandre Gingras: Getting involved for a better future 

Twenty-five-year-old Alexandre Gingras is an entrepreneur and technical advisor for Bumper to Bumper Service Auto – Garage Alexandre Gingras et Fils. Officially taking over a family-run business for a third generation as the garage’s owner in 2023, which has been serving customers since 1972, in Granby, the Eastern Townships. Today, he shares with us his background and perspectives on the industry, including the labour shortage, as well as how he intends to contribute to changing the external perspectives on this sector. 

Alexandre Gingras, Garage Alexandre Gingras et Fils

Did you plan on working in the auto care industry? 

Helping my father change the oil in the lawn tractor introduced me to this environment at a young age. I loved going on fantastic excursions with my sister when we had our own small ATVs and motorcycles to play with, but it was never imposed. I wanted to give it a shot even though it was not at first a passion or a decision I had to make. During my professional training, my interest soon grew, and it has not stopped since. 

How long have you been in the auto care industry? 

I have worked in this industry my whole career. I began my mechanical training shortly after graduating from high school in 2014, and I have eight years of expertise in the field. 

What company do you currently work for and what is your job? 

Currently, I am a technical advisor and recently became the owner of the family business Garage Gingras et fils in Granby. My professional roots go back to my father and uncle who took over my grandfather’s business many years ago. Today, it is my turn to take over. 

I started working for this company eight years ago, spending six months in the workshop after obtaining my DEP (Diploma of Professional Studies). I jumped at the chance to work at the counter as soon as it presented itself. I soon came to realize that this was the ideal job for me. Human contact is of great importance to me. I enjoy interacting with customers, sharing my knowledge, and always strive to ensure exceptional customer service and attentive follow-up. It is this approach that has distinguished our company for years. It is imperative to establish a trustworthy relationship with clients to be adopted. For us, honesty is the key to success. 

What advice do you have for someone starting out in the industry? 

I would recommend surrounding yourself with passionate, patient and attentive people, even during studies. During my mechanics training, I had the opportunity to receive excellent support, which had a big impact on my learning. Additionally, I would suggest putting all your effort into learning the required skills. There is a lot to learn, even though the training seems lengthy—two years, in my instance. 

In my cohort, we were initially 40 students, but that number dropped to 20 after a year. Only four or five of us graduated, and now only two or three work in the automotive industry. This underlines the importance of training and the seriousness necessary to succeed. There are real opportunities in this area, but you must be willing to work hard to seize them. 

What inspires you most about your work or the industry? 

My workshop team is what motivates me the most. Collaborating with a robust and driven group of people is immensely stimulating. Every three months, we arranged events to maintain a positive working atmosphere and to fortify relationships. 

Seeing a happy customer walk out of a repair is what drives me most as an owner. There is nothing quite like the satisfaction of giving the keys to a satisfied and safe consumer. In actuality, it is the cherry on top—or, more accurately, on the sundae! 

We are entering an era of great change in the automotive industry. What do you think are the biggest challenges in the coming years? 

The most pressing challenge, in my view, is undoubtedly the labour shortage. Although my workshop has the necessary equipment, space and a growing demand to add a technical advisor, we face difficulties in recruiting qualified staff. This raises questions about the attractiveness of the industry for potential workers. It may be time to rethink the perception of our sector and ensure higher working conditions and standards to encourage staff retention. We all have a responsibility to promote and showcase our industry. 

I spend a bit of my time sharing information capsules, anecdotes and photos on our workshop’s Instagram page. I also aspire to organize an open day in order to generate interest in our field and to put a caring face and welcoming image of our profession. 

About the campaign I am AIA  

I am AIA aims to raise the profile of auto care industry professionals in Canada with the goal of humanizing our industry and showcasing members of AIA Canada. If you are interested in participating in sharing your story through this campaign, we encourage you to apply.