It only took one tour of a high school auto shop for Colin Bailey to realize he had found something different. He was in eighth grade, visiting Toronto’s Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute on a school tour.
“I clearly remember walking into the shop and seeing all the different vehicles in different states of repair. The shop was small with all the tools and equipment utilizing as much space as possible. It was like a mad scientist’s lab gone Mad Max,” said Colin.
He went on to attend Danforth, where he competed in car painting at Skills Canada. He took home a gold medal and an award for the highest overall mark. There, he also met William “Bill” Speed, the teacher who would become a lifelong mentor.
“Bill Speed instilled a sense of accomplishment and confidence in me, taught me valuable and transferable skills and has gone out of his way to help me multiple times throughout my life,” said Colin. “I have been successful in my career path because of that foundation started in high school.”
Now an autobody appraiser with Action Appraisers and chair of Skills Canada’s Autobody division, Bill nominated Colin for his perseverance in the trade and his efforts to guide the next generation. “In my current position as an appraiser, I stop into the shop from time to time and I have seen [Colin] mentoring the younger techs. He is a great mentor,” said Bill. “The last time I was there, we were talking with one of the young techs and I said that Colin was in the top three of all the students I ever had. [Colin] tried to shrug it off. He is humble but a great tech and I’m sure, a valued employee at Excellence.”
Excellence Auto Collision is where Colin now works as a technician. He still volunteers with Skills Canada and makes time to support new techs entering the industry. One apprentice in particular stands out.
“A little over a year ago I helped to train a co-op student in our shop, and got him going in his apprenticeship when he was done with school,” said Colin. “This young man is now about to go to Shanghai for the WorldSkills competition representing Canada! He has grown and evolved in such a short time and he has the X factor and has put in the work to get there. I like to think that I played a role in helping him with the foundation that he’s built upon. That’s what I’m most proud of, igniting a fire and passing the torch.”
Colin believes one of the biggest barriers to trade careers is perception. Collision repair, he said, is far more complex—and fulfilling—than most people think.
“A misconception about most trades is we’re all low IQ troublemakers that couldn’t sit still in school and learn!” he said. “There are some incredibly talented people in the trades. The trades can earn you a very competitive salary and afford you the life you want, as long as you’re willing to work for it!”
