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Local collision repair shop under new ownership, joining the CSN Collision Centres Network

CARSTAR Norgate becomes CSN Norgate and will retain same great team
 Norgate
Members of the CSN Norgate team, from L-R: Marlene Yeomans, Roy Drachenberg, Dave Ramcharran and Casey Caplette.

One of the oldest and largest collision repair shops in Prince George, the well-known local autobody shop CARSTAR Norgate, is under new ownership while maintaining the same excellent service they have always provided.

In November 2021, Lift Auto Group acquired CARSTAR Norgate, changing its name to CSN Norgate but maintaining the same high-quality staff and commitment to excellence.

Previous owner Kent Berg, whose father started the business in 1960 and grew up working in the business until he took over ownership, thought Lift would be the best company to continue on his family’s legacy.

“This shop is an important part of the community,” Berg says. “Lift Auto Group is a good, strong outfit that is growing themselves, and they are good for Norgate. I believe I’ve sold it to the right people, who can help it grow and continue with the shop’s community involvement.”

The sale is part of a natural progression, after two generations of hard work establishing a trusted destination for all collision needs.

“We built a very large collision repair centre that’s all tooled up, one of the most modern shops around, and I am confident it will continue to be a great shop for a very long time,” Berg says.

While CSN Norgate is under new ownership, the staff has remained largely the same, so long-time customers will have the added benefits of ongoing service from a familiar team, with the benefit of additional resources provided by joining the CSN Collision Centres Network.

“A lot of the team has worked together for over 20 years. Yes, there’s new ownership, but the tight-knit team that has worked here for years will remain. Nothing is changing,” CSN Norgate Office Coordinator, Marlene Yeomans says.

Yeomans has worked at the CSN Norgate location since 2006.

“Just like CSN Collision Centres, Norgate is aware of how quickly the industry is changing. The two companies hold very similar values, ” Yeomans says.

The CSN Collision Centres Network exists to assist independent collision repair facilities in enhancing operations through performance assessments, ongoing training, and marketing initiatives.

“Cars are constantly evolving, and there are always new things to learn. CSN offers support and training so we can stay up-to-date on the latest best practices,” Yeomans says.

“The training they offer is great and so are the insurance relations. They work hard to build  relationships with insurance companies so that we get the best people to deal with if we have any issues with claims.”

Getting into a car accident can be overwhelming, especially for someone who has never dealt with any kind of collision repair before and is inexperienced in dealing with insurance companies.

Being a tier 1 ICBC shop, CSN Norgate is an expert when it comes to dealing with ICBC claims. “We go above and beyond for our customers,” Yeomans says.

“We work six days a week. We stay late for our customers. Our technicians are all well trained, and we’re constantly evolving, making sure we have all the new technology.”

If you’re in an accident, you can drive away with peace of mind knowing that CSN Norgate has delivered best-in-class service to get you back on the road safely.

Something that sets CSN Norgate apart is its ability to deal with glass claims independently.

“If it’s a windshield, we can handle it all here,” Yeomans explains.

“We have glass-certified technicians that not a lot of shops offer. We can handle glass claims all in house. We can start and finish here without having to get in touch with insurance on your own.”

Under its new ownership, CSN Norgate will also continue with its local fundraising endeavours, raising money for Kiwanis International, the Ronald McDonald House and more.

“We’ve been here since 1960, and we’ve always contributed to the community because the community is what holds us together,” Yeomans comments.

For more information, visit liftautogroup.com.