Canadian Carwash Association Showcases Industry Education and Awards at CARWACS 2026
Toronto, ON – March 16, 2026 – The Canadian Carwash Association (CCA) brought together operators, suppliers, and industry leaders during The Convenience U CARWACS Show on March 10–11, 2026, at the Toronto Congress Centre for a series of education sessions, industry awards, and a behind-the-scenes bus tour of local car wash operations.
The CCA Car Wash Education Session, held March 10, featured presentations and discussions focused on emerging trends, operational strategies, and the challenges facing Canadian small businesses.
Emceed by Jeremy Enns, Owner-Operator of Enns Wash & Shine, the program opened with remarks from CCA President Michael Saunders and Barry Munro of the Canadian Spinal Research Organization.
The keynote session, “Under the Hood: Where the Canadian Car Wash Industry Is Headed,” featured insights from Lars Hecht, Owner and Consultant with Car Wash Consulting; Ryan Mallough of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business; and Matthew Bristow of Mark VII. The speakers shared perspectives on business growth strategies, economic pressures facing Canadian entrepreneurs, and the role chemistry plays in wash quality and customer retention.
Attendees also participated in Peer Mentor Circles, small-group discussions designed to encourage practical knowledge sharing among operators. Topics included tunnel operations, self-serve and in-bay automatic strategies, marketing, chemistry optimization, and current policy issues affecting Canadian small businesses.
The session concluded with the 2026 CCA Industry Awards, marking the first time since 2008 that the association formally recognized excellence across the Canadian car wash sector.
2026 CCA Award Winners:
- Best in Show: Tommy's Express Car Wash
- Shiniest Operation: Klassic Car Wash
- Google Review of the Year: Red Hill Car Wash
- Community Champion: Valet Car Washes
- President’s Award: Jeremy Enns
- Captain Sudzy Award: Karen Smith
The Captain Sudzy Award commemorates the late Murray Ewing, founder of Transchem Group and CCA President in 2002.
On March 11, the CCA also hosted its annual Car Wash Bus Tour, giving attendees an opportunity to visit three innovative car wash operations in the Greater Toronto Area: Crosstown Albion, Tommy’s Express Car Wash, and Ultramar. Participants explored different business models, technologies, and customer service approaches while hearing directly from site operators and industry suppliers.
The events highlighted the value of bringing the industry together to learn, share ideas, and celebrate success.
