This website is the online home of Canadian automotive journalist and sport tuning lifestyle writer and photographer Shaun Keenan.

Some people know me by my online name: journauto. Either way, that’s me and this is my blog. [dramatic music] Thanks for visiting! I live a short walk from the northern shoreline of Lake Ontario just west of Toronto with my wife Lisa and our chocolate Labrador Retriever Pinky, who’s still waiting for the Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain.

I like adventure and have canoed several times the interior lakes and rivers of Algonquin Park in Northeastern Ontario. My latest, in August 2009, was five days of paddling and hauling heavy-ass gear for nearly 100 kilometres of the wet and dry stuff. It was no vacation, but more about risks and rewards, challenges and successes.

In September 2008, Lisa and I trekked the high-altitude Inca Trail for four days to get to see Peru’s Machu Picchu in all it’s glory, first from the Sun Gate, then up close and personal! It was awesome and we had an amazing time–an incredible place! Check out some of my photos here! We can’t wait to explore many other corners of the Earth and see wonders of the world together.

I love to ski. Unfortunately, I don’t get to ski much these days, though I’ve been to Whistler/Blackcomb and did the steep Couloir Extreme and deep in Seventh Heaven. I’ve also done the Dew, as well as the Delirium Dive at Sunshine Village, and hiked into the Purple Bowl at Lake Louise near Banff, Alberta. First tracks in Fernie, BC’s Cedar Bowl is still a favourite of mine, but Colorado’s Aspen and Snowmass tracks are pretty memorable too. One day I hope to visit the Alps. And, I don’t care which ones or where, just as long I can ski ‘em. I’ve always wanted to ski in Chile too. Fingers are crossed.

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My day job is pretty coo. I’m fortunate to be able evaluate new cars on a regular basis and contribute vehicle first-peeks, road tests, design showcases and all sorts of original automotive articles for my clients in both print and on-line.

I’m an accredited automotive journalist and established member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. Every year, my peers and gather for our annual “Test Fest” event that decides the AJAC Canadian Car of the Year. This year it is the 2010 VW GTI! Visit the AJAC website to access a wealth of free new car buying info.

I’ve covered the huge-normous SEMA and CES trade shows on several occasions and consider myself an authority in most facets of the aftermarket tuning world. I don’t have much hands-on technical experience, but I know plenty of people that do and am always willing to get my hands dirty.

I’ve actually been writing about, test driving and photographing cars–both OEs and tuners–for over a decade. After graduating from Wilfrid Laurier University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications in 1999, I got my first break with Performance Auto & Sound magazine where I eventually rose to Senior Editor. A few years later, I held the same post for a pair of popular enthusiast magazines before finally jumping into the freelance waters in 2005.

Moving forward, I hope to be able to post often–a few times a month anyway– and encourage your comments. If I don’t respond quickly, hopefully that means I’m either hot-lapping in something fast and four-wheeled, schussing down a mountain on my two planks, or maybe even kicking up a muddy wake on my Specialized mountain bike.

I’m no stranger to the shortest, fastest line possible, but I do hate poachers! Stay tuned because fresh content is inbound.