Mahalo to the more than 320 delegates who attended MCA Canada’s 76th Annual National Conference in Maui, Hawaii last week! MCA Canada hosted four action-packed days of speakers, education sessions, receptions, social events and networking opportunities. This was certainly one of the best conferences on record, and we're thrilled to have been joined by so many members from across the country. Thanks especially to all of our conference sponsors who make this event such a huge success every year. Stay tuned for the results of the numerous meetings held during the conference in future issues of Just the Fax and in our forthcoming issue of the National Bulletin. And if you missed us in Maui, pencil in next year’s event in Whistler, BC, September 19-22, 2018.

Introducing Dave Flamand, Partner in Peak Mechanical Partnership, Saskatoon, SK and new MCA Canada President.

"We have recently changed the term of president from two years to a one year term. While I whole heartedly support the change, it does reduce the time to get to know everyone and for everyone to get to know me as the new president. As such I thought I would take a little time here to tell you a little about myself. Let me start by telling you about some of the things that I love and that I am passionate about. First and foremost I love my family. Like all of us here, family is undoubtedly the most important thing in our lives. I love my wife Valerie. On December 17, we will celebrate our 40th year of marriage. So, kudos to you Valerie for putting up with me for so long! I love my three sons, their wives and our wonderful grandchildren. Our three sons, with their wives and children, bring so much light and joy to both of our lives. They are pure pleasure.

MCA Canada President Dave Flamand of Peak Mechanical Partnership in Saskatoon, SK is proud to announce the 2017–18 Board of Directors.

Executive committee members: president, Dave Flamand, Peak Mechanical Partnership; president-elect and vice-president eastern, Jack Bavis, G.J. Cahill; vice-president central, Dave Holek, Lekter Mechanical Services Inc.; vice-president western, Wayne Davidson, Davidson Brothers Mechanical; secretary/treasurer, Del Pawliuk, R.F. Contracting Inc.; chief executive officer, Richard McKeagan, MCA Canada.

National directors: British Columbia: Wayne Davidson, Davidson Brothers Mechanical Contracting Ltd; Dale Miller, Division 15 Mechanical Ltd.; Alberta: Tim Padfield, Pad-Car Mechanical; Brad Diggens, MJS Mechanical Ltd; Saskatchewan: Luc Kadzioika, Mr. Plumber; Ryan Tynning, Swift Plumbing & Heating Ltd; Manitoba: Brad Mason, DMS Industrial Construction Inc.; Ontario: Dave Holek, Lekter Industrial Services; Joe Givens, Western Mechanical Electrical Millwright Services Limited; Charles Webb, Anderson-Webb Ltd; Serge Robert, S & R Mechanical; New Brunswick: Derek Ermen, Ermen Plumbing & Heating Ltd.; Nova Scotia: Derrick Flinn, Western Plumbing & Heating Ltd; Prince Edward Island: Quentin Bevan, Bevan Brothers Limited; Newfoundland & Labrador: Jack Bavis, G.J. Cahill.; Associate Council Chairman: Mike Miller, Taco Canada; Mechanical Service Contractors of Canada Chairman, John Warnica, Lowe Mechanical Services.

More than 80 percent of respondents report confidence in their organization’s ability to deliver projects on time and within budget. An even bigger proportion (91 percent) report that their systems produce timely and accurate project and portfolio reporting. Yet half admit that, in the past three years, adverse project performance significantly impacted their company — rising to nearly 60 percent for contractors.

The new president of the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is focusing on three key priorities to carry the association into the future: advocacy, image and technology.

What makes you different from the other contractors in town? Is it because you have better techs? You have more experience? Because you offer better pricing? Isn’t that what your competitors are saying? Join us for two free one-hour webinars to truly differentiate your company, particularly your service company! 

MCA Alberta is offering a two-part webinar series on November 23 and 30. Being Effective with Difficult People is for employees at all levels who are committed to powerful and effective communication in the face of challenging circumstances and people. Webinars will cover different types of difficult people and how your personal triggers make you ineffective in conflict.

MCA Toronto in partnership with MCA Canada and the Construction Education Council are pleased to present these exclusive Agile Construction Training Learning Sessions on November 29 and 30.

Once the conference wrapped up, one thing became abundantly clear: not only is the industry on the precipice of massive change, but much of that change and evolution is already well underway.

With a long and successful history dating back to 1881, Bradford White is one of the most technologically advanced manufacturers of water heating, space heating, combination heating and water storage products in the world. With headquarters in suburban Philadelphia and its 800,000 sq. ft. manufacturing operation in Middleville, Michigan, the company builds all of its products strictly for wholesale distribution. Bradford White products for residential, commercial and industrial applications are designed for installation by plumbing and heating professionals. For more information, visit www.bradfordwhite.com.

IPS Corporation is a leading manufacturer of plumbing and roofing products, solvent cements, and adhesives for residential, commercial and industrial use. Across all of their brands and product lines, their promise is to provide innovative, reliable products and exceptional service. For more information, visit www.ipscorp.com, email russellpfeifer@ipscorp.com or call 289-834-0190.

164 BC: Judas Maccabeus restores the Temple in Jerusalem. This event is commemorated each year by the festival of Hanukkah.
1784: Thomas Carleton arrives at Parktown as First Governor; proclaims the new Province of New Brunswick.
1877: Thomas Edison announces his invention of the phonograph, a machine that can record and play sound.
1905: Albert Einstein's paper that leads to the mass–energy equivalence formula, E = mc², is published
1921: King George V proclaims Canada's Coat of Arms, with white and red as the official Canadian colours.
1927: University of Alberta radio station, CKUA, goes on the air; Canada's first public broadcaster.

Building permits rose in September for the first time in three months, as strength in the non-residential sector outweighed some weakness in the residential sector. Canadian municipalities issued $7.9 billion worth of building permits in September, up 3.8 percent from the previous month. A 1.7 percent decrease in the residential sector was more than offset by a 13.9 percent increase in the non-residential sector. Municipalities issued $23.4 billion in building permits in the third quarter, up one percent from the previous quarter. The value of institutional building permits reached $2.7 billion in the quarter. The multi-family component totaled $7.2 billion this quarter, up 1.7 percent from the last quarter and the third time in four quarters that the value has exceeded $7 billion. Nationally, the commercial component decreased 3.3 percent to $4.3 billion in the third quarter.

• 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

By now we hope that you’ve heard about the group insurance program available to you and your employees through your MCA Canada membership. AON is now able to offer you and your employees exclusive MCAC discounted group home & auto rates. You can save over 20 percent with discounted home and auto insurance. You’ll benefit from group buying power, and still receive unbiased, personalized broker service.

MCA Canada has decided that it will no longer offer the Equifax program as part of its Membership Advantage Program.

With the holiday season soon upon 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.