---
title: "CARSTAR Vermilion in Vermilion, AB, Celebrates National Mom and Pop Business Owner Day with a Passion for Repairing Community Members’ Vehicles"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/b541de97-857d-4fc2-95f6-c9fa1c172fd2
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20240401_carstar_vermilion_in_vermilion_ab_celebrates_national_mom_and_pop_business_.html
category: "Collision"
industry: "Automotive"
segment: "Collision"
published: 2024-04-01T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T19:55:15.682Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1503387762-592deb58ef4e?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# CARSTAR Vermilion in Vermilion, AB, Celebrates National Mom and Pop Business Owner Day with a Passion for Repairing Community Members’ Vehicles

**TL;DR:** CARSTAR Vermilion owners Mike and Loren Donkin celebrate National Mom and Pop Business Owner Day, having taken over the location in 2010 and joined the CARSTAR family in 2019. The Donkins are committed to building their family business by serving their community and sharing their passion for repairing vehicles.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2024-04-01. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20240401_carstar_vermilion_in_vermilion_ab_celebrates_national_mom_and_pop_business_.html).*

## Story

Mike Donkin started working at the location in 1992, managing the facility and took it over in 2010, with his wife, Lorena, joining the team after the front office administrator retired. They joined the CARSTAR family in 2019.

“Fixing and repairing vehicles is what we love to do,” said Mike Donkin. “It’s gratifying when our customers refer others to our location because of the quality of our work and our customer service.”

Son, Brandel, 21, works full-time at the facility, continuing the family leadership. He and his brother Karsten Donkin participated in registered apprenticeship program at CARSTAR Vermilion.

National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day was established by Rick and Margie Segel in honor of their parents and the successful hat shop they opened in 1939. It is a special day to appreciate the long hours, hard work and dedication it takes to run a small business.

The Donkins give back to the community through a number of programs, including supporting local sports, their church community, and education awards, among others.

“We are very involved in the local golf course and work on the board,” said Donkin. “CARSTAR Vermilion regularly sponsors a hole-in-one contest for tournaments throughout the year. We’re also involved in our church and the work they do in the community. In addition, we donate to minor-league hockey, two curling clubs and the J.R. Robson Math 9 Award.”

Like many mom-and-pop businesses, the Donkins are committed to building their family business by serving their community and sharing their passion for repairing vehicles.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- Home Services (sector)
- franchise ownership (topic)
- community involvement (topic)
- family business (topic)
- CARSTAR (company)
- auto repair (topic)
- Rick Segel (person)
- Margie Segel (person)
- mom and pop business (topic)
- CARSTAR Vermilion (company)
- Mike Donkin (person)

---
Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20240401_carstar_vermilion_in_vermilion_ab_celebrates_national_mom_and_pop_business_.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/b541de97-857d-4fc2-95f6-c9fa1c172fd2).