After a two-year hiatus, the MCAC Annual National Conference starts back up Sept. 28 to Oct. 1, 2022.

For years, Pier 21 in Halifax, N.S., brought people together from all over the world as an entry point to Canada. In September 2022, this iconic Canadian landmark will once again serve as a welcoming point as MCA Canada prepares to hold its first annual National Conference since Nashville, Tennessee, in 2019.

"Stating it bluntly, it has been far too long since we have all been together," said Tania Johnston, MCA Canada's Chief Executive Officer. "As a national association representing 1,000 members across the country, this annual event is one of the best ways for us to connect with members, network and discuss important industry issues. We are so excited to have this event on the calendar once again, and we can't wait to see everyone in Halifax."

Conference registration is expected to open on April 1, 2022, and will be available at  https://conference.mcac.ca. 

At the most recent MCA America Annual Convention, MCA Canada President Wayne Davidson chaired the MCA International Alliance Meeting. This alliance brings together representatives from MCA Canada, MCA America, the Building Engineering Services Association (UK), Australia MCA, MCA Ontario, and MCA Northern California.

The meeting provides an opportunity to discuss current industry issues being faced in respective jurisdictions, and to share ideas and best practices on how to best address those concerns.

As to be suspected, many of the same issues were raised, including skilled labour shortages, industry supply chain issues, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, and net-zero building strategies. Alliance members will continue to dialogue on these and other issues, and to ensure mechanical contractors are well represented nationally and internationally.

On April 21, MCA Manitoba and MCA Canada will co-host an event in Winnipeg to explore current industry issues, as well as strategies to mitigate those “mechanical contractor migraines.”

Featuring a great lineup of speakers and topics, the program will look at issues such as labour force demand, supply chain issues, supplementary general conditions in contracts, net zero and the impact on the sector, and the role of collaborative contracting methods.

Open to all MCA Manitoba and MCA Canada members, this event is not to be missed.

MCAC and MCAA both recognize that for small to medium sized member companies, sometimes sending a project manager away for a week or more of off-site training simply isn’t practical. The good news is, there’s an alternative.

The Preparatory Institute for Project Management is designed to provide an accessible, strong foundation in mechanical project management education. Course materials are delivered in weekly 90-minute sessions, without a PM even having to leave their desk.

MCAC is thrilled to announce that through a partnership with MCAA, our Canadian members are welcome into the program.

This 12-week online course covers topics fundamental to successful project management that are applicable regardless of company size. The team of contractor/instructors have a broad range of work experience. Many have spent time in small and medium-sized family-owned businesses. Classes are live – never recorded – and student interaction is a critical component of the program.

This program will provide value whether a member contractor’s operation is small, medium or large. From planning and time management, to scheduling and close-out, the lessons learned are applicable across the board.

Here’s what previous attendees have said about the program:

“The Pre-IPM course was a great course to take. It did a fantastic job of covering common topics/issues that PMs face every day and gave many tools to manage these things as a beginning PM.”

“I love that it was a road map for what it means to be a PM, with a clear path to being successful. PM has always felt like the wild west, fake it till you make it. This class showed me there is a standard. I also am excited to be implementing many of the things I learned.”

Over the past 20 months, Pre-IPM has welcomed students from 300 MCAA member companies from all across the US. The 2022 Pre-IPM courses begin in May, and registration is open now. Space is limited and the registration cut-off date is April 11.

Check out our website for full course details and to reserve your spot.

MCA Canada CEO, Tania Johnston, and Membership Engagement Coordinator, Jessica Shaver, attended and displayed a booth at the 2022 CMPX Tradeshow last week at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

More than 500 exhibitors presented products, innovations, applications and information that define the mechanical industry today. It was great to meet with members after more than a two-year absence.

Also during the show, MCAC associate members held an in person council meeting providing attendees with updates on upcoming events including the associate sponsored night which will be held during the MCAC annual convention in Halifax, NS on September 28, 2022.

MCA Canada's Associate Council Chair Brad Cornelissen dropped by the booth to say hello and take a picture!

Are labour estimates taking too long and reducing your productivity and profitability? You can increase your profitability by utilizing a streamlined, systematic approach for labour estimating.

MCA Canada Members will have access to the MCAA WebLEM, which streamlines labour estimating by allowing your estimators to access labour estimates that have generated hundreds of millions of dollars for mechanical contractors everywhere!

• You can quickly search and retrieve data with our search engine, which will look for any text that is found across the entire database and give you links to the relevant information.
• Download any labour table as soon as data is exported into Microsoft Excel or CSV.
• Up-to-date labour units are available on our website on the latest products and joining methods. When items are new or changed, they will be highlighted in yellow over the next 12 months.

The MCA Canada Jobsite Journal is a daily log to help track projects, including:

• site conditions,
• weather conditions,
• productivity/time loss and reasons,
• area/work in progress,
• subtrade reports,
• daily report reminders,
• and more.

Daily and Weekly Reports track work site conditions, progress and delays which prevent costly claims. The Daily Reports record work site conditions and progress, while the Weekly Reports detail delays and provide space to give a more specific explanation of that week's progress.

For MCA Canada members, this valuable tool is available for only $11.50.

Source: HistoryNet.com

1872: First issue of Toronto Mail published; part of today's Globe and Mail.
1909: The Queensboro Bridge in New York opens. It is the first double decker bridge and links Manhattan and Queens.
1916: Mexican bandit Pancho Villa kills 172 at the Guerrero garrison in Mexico.
1946: The Allies seize 1,000 Nazis attempting to revive the Nazi party in Frankfurt.
1954: Toronto Transit Commission opens Yonge Street subway from Union Station to Eglinton; first line in Canada.
1981: President Ronald Reagan is shot and wounded in Washington, D.C. by John W. Hinckley Jr.
1982: Bertha Wilson sworn in as first woman justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
1987: Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers is bought for $39.85 million.