After 45 years, North Bay mechanics call it a career
It's the end of an era at the Petro Canada Mechanic Shop on Algonquin Street in North Bay.
After 45 years, Don Lelievre and Blair Martin are calling it a career and hanging up their tools.
A garage with a bay for Don and a bay for Blair is what you see at the Algonquin Garage – at least until next Thursday.
Martin said he has seen a lot of evolution in the industry in the last 45 years.
“Lots of changes happening very quickly with the automobile,” he said.
“It's been fun. You move along with the changes, you adapt, and do what you can.”
"We're hanging our tools up!” said Lelievre.
“It's been interesting, put it that way. You learn things ... hard things you learn -- and easy things you learn."
The duo have been working at the garage since 1977 and said loyal North Bay customers have made their job so enjoyable for this long.
"The ones that we've had, they're excellent,” Lelievre said.
“Me and Blair make them appointments and then they're back for other things. We had very good customers, repeatedly the same customers, and everything always seems to go fine."
The pair said there's been some ups and downs during their more than four-decade career, but said teamwork has gone a long way.
"We work off each other,” Martin said.
“There's things Don (excelled) at, there's other things I (excelled) at. We put those things together and make a good team."
While he’s retired before, at age 70, Lelievre said this time it’s for good.
As for Martin, he said you can find him on the lake fishing from here on out.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
'I killed four people': Trial hears video evidence of Jeremy Skibicki at Winnipeg trial
“I killed four people,” alleged serial killer Jeremy Skibicki told two homicide detectives during a recorded interview played as evidence in his trial Wednesday.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.