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Fenestration Canada: Building something great

So far, it seems like 2021 has been no different than 2020. Maybe there have been a few more unexpected challenges that have come up along the way. In the meantime, I sincerely hope everyone is doing well and keeping safe. This virus will some day pass and we will all be able to get back to normal life.

On a personal note, I want to take this opportunity to thank my team for helping me get to where I am today as president of Fenestration Canada. Without them taking on some of my responsibilities, I would not be able to be as engaged as I am with the industry currently. I want to thank my father, Frank, for showing me and my brother the way to grow as a person in this industry. He always led by example. To my brother, John, I would like to say thank you for supporting me and helping me achieve my goal. He is a part of this.

At Fenestration Canada, we have all been busy this year with our online events, the Marketplace by Windoor, an uptake in Tech Talks and even more involvement in regulatory affairs and government relations. Our team, led by Stephane Labelle, has grown to include a technical department, with Terry Adamson taking the lead role. I wanted to once again thank Terry for his leadership during the past couple of years. With him leading the charge and with the great support from our engaged board of directors, Fenestration Canada has never been stronger.

Now stronger than ever regionally with our several regional committees, we have put in motion multiple projects in each area. Look for our team to be reaching out to you and feel free to add your voice to your regional group.

Our industry has been struggling with supply chain issues again this year and it looks like it won’t get better during this calendar year. This issue is not specific to one component but to the whole supply chain. With the announcement of the Greener Homes incentives from the federal government along with other rebate programs that are stackable, we are going to see a further strain on the supply chain. Fenestration Canada was called to the table on this initiative and our position was clearly stated.

The Spring Conference was a great success, with over 250 registrations. The event opened with a bang with the announcement from our executive director, Stephane Labelle, that Canadian window and door manufacturers and dealers can join the association with membership dues waived until the end of 2021. The education presentations were of the usual high quality. We learned about upcoming changes the National Building Code that might create a conflict between window restrictors that prevent children from falling out and the fire egress codes. A panel of dealers discussed customer service – something we all want to be better at. And we got a look at embodied carbon: an emerging issue in the fight against climate change that might change (again) the way we all build our products. Staying on the environmental message, we heard how Net Zero homes could become more attractive to Canadian homeowners when all the future costs, comfort and esthetic features are considered. We also talked about the ongoing trend toward larger windows and doors and the challenges and opportunities that presents us all. All of the presentations are available online in Marketplace by Windoor.

We also announced that Windoor will be a hybrid event this year. It will take place in Toronto for the in-person event and also online for those that can’t join us. I am sure everyone is looking forward to the in-person show and of course to participate in the Main Event! You can buy your tickets for the Main Event and reserve your booth by contacting Laine Atkins at laine@fenestrationcanada.ca