COURTNEY McCLURE, for The Standard
SCUGOG: True North Tire and Auto officially opened for business earlier this month, on October 1st. They are also following Covid-19 restrictions set by the Durham Region Health Department. Customers are expected to wear a mask when they enter the shop and keep two spaces apart from each other. Matt Diquattro and Greg Perusits are both licensed mechanics. They have also been friends since they were ten years old. “We decided to turn a bad situation into a good one and open up our own business,” said Matt Diquattro, one of the owners for True North Tire and Auto in Port Perry. Before opening up their auto repair shop, Mr. Diquattro and Mr. Perusits worked as mechanics for Air Canada, at Pearson Airport in Toronto. Instead of waiting to see if Air Canada would call them back to work, they decided to utilize their skills as mechanics and open up their own business. Like many others, during Canada’s long and cold winter months, Mr. Diquattro enjoys coming to Port Perry to go ice fishing on Lake Scugog. “I spend a lot of time in Port Perry. It’s a beautiful town,” he said. “I love the people in Port Perry, they’re very nice and very friendly, and I just like that small-town feel.” According to Mr. Diquattro, they clean and sanitize the vehicles upon arrival at the auto shop. They wipe down the interior, like spraying disinfectant on the steering wheel. “We’re a full mechanic shop,” he explained. True North Tire and Auto doesn’t just sell tires, they also do full automotive repair of vehicles. The address for True North Tire and Auto is 80 Vanedward Drive, Unit 4. It is next to the car wash on the right side.