News & Publications - E-news
The AirCare E-news is a monthly newsletter created to keep business partners and the general public up-to-date on AirCare and vehicle emissions related issues. Visit the E-News Archive.
May 2013 - 148th Edition
- Connie Hajdik Celebrates 15 years with AirCare
- Haigo Mardikian Becomes Master Technician
- Clean Air Day – June 5
- AirCare.ca Enhancements
TOP STORIES
Connie Hajdik Celebrates 15 years with AirCare
This month we celebrate Connie Hajdik’s 15 years of service with the AirCare program. As a Certification Clerk, Connie is the main contact for all AirCare Certified Repair Technicians and Repair Centres. She is responsible for maintaining a technician certification database and records. Connie also acts as a Receptionist for the program administration office, answering AirCare-related questions from customers, stakeholders and our business partners.
Thank you Connie for all your hard work!
Haigo Mardikian Becomes Master Technician
At a special luncheon in his honour, Haigo Mardikian of Hi-Tech Automotive (North Vancouver) became the latest AirCare Certified Repair Technician to be certified as a Master technician. Technicians receive the Master designation after winning 10 Quality Repair Awards for excellence in emission-related diagnosis and repair.
Haigo sat down with Envirotest Canada’s Public Relations Manager, Rashpal Rai for an interview for the next issue of AirCare Repair, our emissions repair newsletter. In it, Haigo tells of his journey from Africa to North America where his love of science led him to a degree in Physics from Simon Fraser University. However a lack of employment opportunities in that field persuaded Haigo to find a job in automotive repair. As a teenager, Haigo worked as a tool runner during summer holidays.
With over 30 years of experience as an automotive technician, Haigo has some valuable advice for future automotive professionals,
“You need to be a plumber, an electrician, a welder and know how to use a computer. We have to know all these things and continue our education and training, otherwise you can get behind on the technology in newer cars really quick.”
You can read the rest of Haigo’s interview next month in the Spring Edition of AirCare Repair.
Congratulations Haigo!
Clean Air Day – June 5
Canada celebrates Clean Air Day on June 5, 2013, during Canadian Environment Week. Clean Air Day began in 1992 as a British Columbia initiative designed to increase public awareness of the benefits of participating in environmentally friendly activities that promote clean air and good health.
In our region, the cars and trucks we drive everyday generate 18% of the smog-forming pollutants and 31% of greenhouse gases released into the air. Today compared to 20 years ago, our air quality is significantly better due to AirCare-related repairs, stricter emission regulations and controls, better technology, and cleaner fuels. Unlike smog-forming pollutants, greenhouse gas emissions are higher today than they were 20 years ago. Unfortunately, vehicle fuel economy have not progressed at the same pace as the advancements realized in vehicle emission control technology. In fact, LowCVP just reported that carbon dioxide levels recorded at the Mauna Loa station in Hawaii has exceeded 400ppm (parts per million) for the first time.
Clean Air Day is a perfect time for Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley residents to reflect on their vehicle usage, the impact of vehicle emissions on local air quality and ways to reduce it. On our website, we have a list of Clean Air Tips to help motorists reduce their vehicle emissions, not only during Clean Air Day but every day!
AirCare.ca Enhancements
We have improved the ‘User Experience’ of the Q&A section on the AirCare.ca website. Previously, all questions were ranked in order of popularity. After some valuable feedback from users we have enhanced the Q&A section. As a result, the landing page of the Q&A section is now a ‘Top 10’, a search function and tabs that group the remaining questions into categories. This should help users find the answers to all their AirCare-related questions easier and quicker!
OPERATIONAL STATISTICS
May 2013
Total Inspections:44,441
Pass: 39,972 (89.94%)
Fail: 4,387 (9.87%)
Conditional Pass: 82 (0.19%)
Year to Date
Total Inspections:167,398
Pass: 151,192 (90.32%)
Fail: 15,846 (9.47%)
Conditional Pass: 360 (0.21%)
