In driver’s seat for the WIN

Renée Sicotte has an unusual item on her to-do list these days: write an acceptance speech.

The Women’s Industry Network, which supports women in the collision repair industry across North America, has chosen the Winnipegger as one of six recipients of its 2025 Most Influential Women awards.

Sicotte, managing partner at Marion Auto Body and Glass, will travel to Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in early May, where she’ll be honoured at a gala event during WIN’s annual conference.

“It’s unbelievable,” Sicotte said. “I’m still pinching myself.”

The Most Influential Women awards recognize women who have enriched the collision repair industry with their leadership, vision, commitment to excellence and community involvement.

Sicotte has worked in collision repair for more than 25 years and started volunteering in the industry 13 years ago.

Since then, the 56-year-old has been an officer and director with the Automotive Trade Association of Manitoba, served as a director and member of the selection committee for the Motor Vehicle Industry of Manitoba, Inc., and been active with the Manitoba Public Insurance consultation committee.

Last year, Sicotte co-founded Manitoba Resource Organization for Women in Collision, which provides opportunities for women in the industry to grow, network and support one another.

Through her advocacy, Sicotte hopes to encourage women in collision repair to deepen their involvement in an industry that has historically been dominated by men, as well as show women who aspire to do collision repair there is a place for them.

“My passion for this industry definitely comes from the heart,” she said. “I strive to see everyone in this trade succeed while reinforcing women’s perspectives and insights in our world.”

With a bachelor of arts in justice and law enforcement, Sicotte once aspired to be a social worker. In 1999, she and her husband, Grant, bought Marion Auto Body and Glass.

Started in 1976 by Grant’s parents, the shop employs four people. Sicotte’s duties include a number of operational and managerial hands-on activities, as well as building relationships with customers, suppliers and industry partners.

“I love what I do,” she said. “It’s the lasting relationships that make me continue doing what we do.”

Collision repair is a $500-million industry in the keystone province, according to Denis Cloutier, executive director of the Automotive Trades Association of Manitoba. There are 1,200 Manitobans working as collision repair technicians and the association estimates the workforce is short 400 people.

Cloutier and his colleagues are doing what they can to attract people to the industry, he said, including promoting it to people from all backgrounds.

The association doesn’t keep statistics showing how many women work in the industry, but the Manitoba Resource Organization for Women in Collision plans to launch a census next month to find out.

Sicotte is a driving force in the collision repair industry, Cloutier said, adding her WIN award is well-deserved. “It’s overdue recognition for Renée.”

Motor Vehicle Industry of Manitoba co-founder Joyce Sobering agrees. She’s known Sicotte for two decades and describes her as dedicated and hard working.

“She has a real interest in carrying on and making sure tomorrow will be better for women coming into the industry,” said Sobering, one of the people who nominated Sicotte for the award.

“I am so very proud of what she’s done and I’m just happy she’ll be representing Manitoba and Canada on a North American stage to get her award. There’s very few from Canada that get it.”

By Sicotte’s count, of the 139 women who have received the award since it was established in 1999, only five Canadians have been recipients. (A representative from WIN could not confirm this, saying the organization has not tracked such data.)

This year’s six winners were chosen from a pool of 26 nominees by an independent selection committee composed of industry professionals.

The committee reviews nominees and selects winners based on established criteria, said Jenny Anderson, WIN conference chair. These criteria include industry influence, professional accomplishments, mentorship and community service.

“We feel it’s critical to showcase the outstanding work of women in our industry for others,” Anderson said in an email.

aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca