Join us for an exclusive presentation from Lois Gardiner, AON Global Risk Consulting on MCA Canada's Captive Insurance Program. Delegates are invited to attend this session to learn more about the program, and how becoming a part of the insurance captive could benefit to you and your company. Lois will guide us through the results of the feasibility study and answer questions. This may be one of the most important sessions you ever attend!

Waves of Discovery – Join us for MCA Canada's 76th Annual National Conference in magnificent Hawaii. This year's conference takes place from November 6 to 9 at the wonderful Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa in Maui. It will feature exceptional educational content, amazing featured speakers and spectacular social events. A couple of new additions are general sessions for all delegates with interesting guest speakers and a new reception and tradeshow. We look forward to seeing you. Visit our website to find out more. Aloha!

Over the last little while, we have seen the power of mother nature with the wildfires in British Columbia and the recent hurricanes south of the border. For those members who wish to contribute towards the respective disaster relief efforts, you can consider contributing as follows:

Hurricane relief: Make a cheque payable to "MCAA Disaster Relief”, attention John Gentille, Executive Vice President, Mechanical Contractors Association of America, 1385 Piccard Drive, Rockville, Maryland, 20850.

British Colombia wildfire relief: Contribute to the Red Cross.

If your company is interested in applying for the Mechanical Service Contractors of Canada Gold Standard Certified Technicians designation, you'd better act soon. For the remainder of the year, MSCC has waived the $75-application fee for the exams. To apply, simply email the MSCC office, include the list of techs to take the exam. Isn't it time you made the leap to truly differentiate your company from the rest?

Since the announcement by Minister of Finance Bill Morneau about his government’s proposed small business tax changes in July, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has been involved with the Coalition for Small Business Tax Fairness. CCA has joined a new campaign that is being led by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce called Protect Growth. Through this new campaign, CCA members from all across the country will be able to easily engage their local Members of Parliament through the microsite protectgrowth.ca. The password to access the tool is "Chamber2017”.

Federal, provincial and territorial infrastructure ministers gathered in Ottawa on September 21 with federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Amerjeet Sohi announcing afterwards that 'productive discussions' had taken place on the next phase of infrastructure spending.

If the repercussions from the legalization of cannabis by next July 1 are already preoccupying certain workplaces, the topic is of particular interest to areas of work in which health and security questions are omnipresent, such as construction sites.

Organizers of the Emerging Water Technology Symposium have issued a call for abstracts. The symposium in Ontario, CA, May 15 and 16, 2018, is for those who work or are interested in the fields of safe plumbing, water distribution and water efficiency.

The Boston Consulting Group hopes to begin a debate about what new projects could be built to bring Canadians together in the 21st century. The management consultancy's Canadian arm launched the CanInfra Challenge on October 4. The six-month public competition will seek "transformational" ideas from Canadians to solve infrastructure problems and change how the country grows, aiming not just to encourage fresh, economy-boosting ideas, but also to start a national dialogue on what Canada's future will look like.

MCAC members are invited to attend two free webinars to learn how to create online customer service that will help you earn new customers and keep existing customers around for a long time.

CEC is pleased to announce dates for the following training programs. Click the course name for a full description, dates and registration information. Or click through to the CEC programs page for a list of all the courses.

Dispatcher Training Program – Toronto, ON – October 25-26
Agile Construction Program – Toronto, ON – November 29–30

Wolseley Canada is the country's leading national distributor of plumbing, hydronic, HVAC/R and PVF products and solutions to professional contractors, retailers, and industrial users. With a network of over 220 branches coast to coast, and a national team of sales and service specialist, the Wolseley team is known for the knowledge and expertise that customers have come to rely on for their ever-changing needs.

1852: The University of Sydney, Australia's oldest university, is inaugurated in Sydney.
1869: The Red River Insurrection begins as Louis Riel stops Canadian surveyors on André Nault's farm.
1899: The Boer War breaks out; Canada will send volunteers to the conflict in South Africa.
1911: Robert Borden sworn in as Prime Minister, succeeding Wilfrid Laurier.
1950: CBS's mechanical color system is the first to be licensed for broadcast.
1952: CBFT Montréal carries first hockey telecast in Canada: Canadiens vs. Red Wings.
1972: First World Hockey Association games played by Québec Nordiques, Ottawa Nationals and Alberta Oilers.
1975: The NBC sketch comedy/variety show Saturday Night Live debuts.
1984: Aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, astronaut Kathryn D. Sullivan becomes the first American woman to perform a space walk.

September's unemployment rate stayed at a nine-year low of 6.2 percent after the country added 10,000 net new jobs, including 112,000 full-time positions.

The CCPPP annual conference has distinguished itself as the must-attend event for P3 industry leaders around the world. It includes representation from all levels of government across Canada and aboriginal communities, and attracts key decision makers from international developing and developed markets.

• October 15-18: MSCA Educational Conference, Boca Raton, Florida
• October 17: CIPHEX Roadshow, Edmonton, AB
• October 19: CIPHEX Roadshow, Regina, SK
• November 6-9: MCA Canada’s 76th National Conference, Maui, Hawaii
• November 22: CEC webinar: Increase Your Revenue by Clobbering the Competition
• December 13: CEC webinar: Get out of the Truck and Go Online to Own Your Customers

MCA Canada is proud to offer our members an update to the corporate rate when using Choice Hotels. Choice Hotels includes Comfort, Quality, Clarion and a few others like the upscale Ascend Hotel Collection. There are over 325 Choice locations across Canada, and more than 6,300 worldwide. Hotels are conveniently located near major airports, key highways and business districts. You'll also be able to connect easily with colleagues using free high-speed Internet, and jump-start your day with free breakfast at most locations. Contact the MCAC office for your discount code by emailing daryl@mcac.ca, calling 613-232-0492 or visiting www.mcac.ca.

With Thanksgiving just behind us, Operation Eyesight is saying "thank you” to everyone who has contributed to this very important cause. Learn more about some of the people in the developing world whose lives your donations have changed. And as we start to look ahead to the holiday season, please consider making Operation Eyesight your charity of choice—as it is ours.