At a time when travel schedules and events are scaling back to match a sagging economy, Courage Distributing, the exclusive Canadian distributor for Solamatrix, has once again proven it can buck the trend to draw a crowd. Not only did the company go ahead with its annual Film Fest event, but officials report it was one of the grandest to date.

“While many companies are cutting back during these tougher economic times, we felt it was important to start the season off right by giving our dealers an opportunity to enjoy a weekend of networking and education with their peers,” explains Trent Courage, the company’s director of sales and marketing. “My current supplier cancelled their show which gave me the opportunity to see this one,” commented one of the event’s attendees. “It’s huge!”

Courage and Solamatrix officials report that more than 400 people representing approximately 270 companies attended the Vancouver-based event on February 22, as well as a second event in Toronto March eighth. The festival included seminars, educational sessions, product reviews and an annual automotive tinting competition. Solamatrix, a St. Petersburg, Fla.-based manufacturer, sponsored the event and seized the opportunity to conduct sessions on its new Dealer Vault, an online marketing tool and Proposal Generating System (PGS) for flat glass installers. The company also displayed its new IQue spectrally selective films.

The event’s tinting competition proved fiercely competitive as it gathered Canada’s top installers. Through several rounds, dealers went head-to-head to determine the best.

Mike Vanderlee from Tintworx in Niagara Falls, Ontario, placed first in the Toronto competition, while Dave Kaspar from T&D Tinters Direct in Windsor, Ontario, placed second and Jason McMullin from Lil’ House of Tint in Toronto took third.

In Vancouver, Craig Pengelly of Craig’s Car Care in Langley, British Columbia, claimed first place, while McMullin returned for another appearance, claiming second this time around. Nixon Hipolito, of Street Legal in Vancouver, placed third.