2024 OARA Convention & Trade Show

Join us for Canada's largest auto recycling Convention and Trade Show as we return to the Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites Conference Centre in Markham, Ontario. A 50 booth Trade Show, keynote presentations, industry panels, roundtables, networking, fundraisers, and fun.

Agenda at a Glance

Thursday March 21

Friday March 22

Saturday March 23

Donald Cooper
Business Coach and Management Speaker

Back by popular demand!

Managing your business today is challenging. We’re all faced with increased complexity, decreasing supply, disruptive change, environmental restrictions and shrinking margins. Many of us also have succession and exit and ‘next-gen’ management challenges. In addition, great employees are hard to find and keep...and that problem won’t go away any time soon. Donald works with business owners and managers throughout the world to create clarity of purpose, compelling customer value, management effectiveness and long-term profitability.

Saturday at 11:45 am Employee ‘No-holds-barred’ session with Donald Cooper and Participation Poker!
Saturday at 1:45 pm Keynote Presentation: Accelerate Your Business!

JC Cahill
CEO and Co-founder of VINmatchPro

JC is a regular attendee at the OARA Convention, and last headlined our event in 2018. JC is the CEO of VINMatchPRO – building the worlds best VIN decoder, and changing a industry one VIN at time. He is the former owner of New England Auto & Truck Recyclers, and has held previous senior leadership roles with B&R Auto Wrecking, Greenleaf and LKQ.

Friday at 1:00 pm Industry Keynote Presentation: Discover the future of auto recycling

Detailed Agenda

Thursday March 21
Trillium Room	11:00 am - 12:45 pm	OARA Board Meeting
Conference 1&2	1:00 - 5:00 pm	Recycled Auto Parts Stakeholder Roundtable with invited Industry Stakeholders. Presentations by Mitchell International, Intact Insurance, Simplicity Car Care, and the OARA Green Recycled Parts Environmental Report
Conference Foyer	5:00 - 8:00 pm	Recycled Auto Part-Y. Enjoy a drink, appetizers and conversation to wrap up the Roundtable or start the Convention.
Friday March 22
Conference Foyer	7:30 am - 8:00 pm	Registration Open
Conference 1&2	8:00 - 9:15 am	OARA Breakfast and Annual General Meeting (Direct Members only please)
Conference Foyer	9:15 - 9:30 am	Coffee Break sponsored by ELV Select
Conference 1&2	9:30 - 9:40 am	Welcoming remarks. Greg Woodbeck, OARA
	9:40 - 10:10 am	Scrap trends for auto recyclers. Sean Davidson, Davis Index
	10:10 - 10:40 am	Vehicle trends for auto recyclers. Ryan Mandell, Mitchell International. This session will provide an overview of significant trends in the collision repair industry that impact auto recyclers. Particular attention will be given to changes in parts utilization, vehicle construction and complexity, as well as automotive electrification. Attendees will come away with a better understanding of how to position their businesses to best capitalize on these trends today and in the near future.
	10:40 - 11:20 am	Speed Presentations - Materials: Lithion Recycling, Cyclic Materials, SalvageScan, Environmental 360 Solutions
	11:20 am - 12:15 pm	Succession Planning Panel
	12:15 - 1:00 pm	Lunch sponsored by Progi
	1:00 - 2:00 pm	Keynote industry address: JC Cahill, VINMatchPro - Discover the future of auto recycling with JC Cahill, a renowned figure in the industry, as he shares his trailblazing journey since moving on from New England Auto and Truck. Alongside his partner Holly, they've been steering family-run recycling operations toward unmatched operational efficiency. This Industry Keynote presentation will be a treasure trove of insights, from the innovative VINMatchPRO service that's revolutionizing part identification with OEM data, to the resilience of the industry during challenging times, and the pivotal role of conferences like the OARA Convention in fostering a strong community of experts ready to learn and network.
Conference 3&4	1:30 - 7:00 pm	Trade Show Opens
Conference 3&4	4:00 - 7:00 pm	Reception and Appetizers in the Trade Show sponsored by Techemet and Wholesale Auto Parts Warehouses
Conference Foyer	7:00 - 11:00 pm	Fundraisers, auctions and Casino for the OARA Employee Scholarship Program sponsored by eBay Canada
Saturday March 23
Conference 1&2	8:00 - 9:00 am	Breakfast sponsored by IAA
	9:00 - 9:45 am	EV Profitability. David Giles, PoweredEV Training & Consulting - As more EVs enter into the landscape of public and commercial transportation, we will look at the value and opportunities with end of life electric vehicles (EV). I’ll talk about different types of vehicles and the challenges and opportunities with that EVs represent, including different types of safety concerns that you may have and the growing market for recycled EV components. The discussion will cover the environmental impact, cost considerations, and market trends associated with EV recycling. Looking at key EV components and systems as well as examining high voltage battery’s condition and parts replacement value. Also provide a solid practical insight into technical, economical and practical ways EVs can bring value to your recycling. We promise this session is not to be missed with lots of info and practical tips in EV recycling.
	9:45 - 10:30 am	Sales Panel: Be Your Customer's First Choice
Conference Foyer	10:30 - 10:45 am	Coffee Break sponsored by ELV Select
Conference 1&2	10:45 - 11:45 am	Speed Presentations - Technology: Buddy Automotive, Car-Part, ProgiParts, Hollander, EZ Suite
	11:45 am - 12:15 pm	Staff Engagement Best Practices Panel
Primrose Room	11:45 am - 12:15 pm	Employee ‘No-holds-barred’ session with Donald Cooper and Participation Poker!
Conference 1&2	12:15 - 1:00 pm	Industry Luncheon sponsored by IAA and Progi
	1:00 - 1:45 pm	Sales vs Production Role Playing Panel
	1:45 - 3:15 pm	Donald Cooper Keynote Presentation: Accelerate Your Business - Hear the ‘straight goods’ on how to sell more, manage smarter, grow your bottom line...and have a life! Managing any business today is tough...and getting tougher. We’re all faced with more demanding customers, more and stronger competition, increased complexity and shrinking margins. On top of that, great staff are hard to find and keep...and that problem won’t go away any time soon.
	3:15 - 3:30 pm	Closer: Recap, takeaways and final auction

Registration

Registration as a delegate is now open.

Download Registration Form

Hotel

Hotel Reservations:

The hotel block of rooms has expired at the Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites Conference Centre

You can contact the hotel directly at 905-470-8500 to see about any availabilities.

Address:

Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites Conference Centre
8500 Warden Avenue, Markham, Ontario

(about 24 minutes from Toronto Pearson International Airport YYZ)

ALERT!

Don’t fall prey to bogus hotel booking services who call or email you offering cheaper hotel accommodations and claiming they are affiliated with OARA. Be aware that any such calls are fraudulent, and are not affiliated in any way with OARA.

Exhibitors

Trade Show Hours

Friday March 22, 2024

Set up 6:00 am to 1:30 pm
Open 1:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Tear down 7:00 to 11:00 pm

New or seasoned, our exhibitors know that each year the OARA Trade Show and Convention will bring added value to their company.

As with last year, there will be no concurrent seminars to the Trade Show – you will have the undivided attention of all delegates from 1:30 to 7:00 pm.
The Passport Program ensures continuous traffic to your booth and offers the chance to engage with delegates outside of your current network.
There are always plenty of draws and contests in the Trade Show – if you are planning something please reach out to Steve to help promote and coordinate.

Here is our current Floorplan.