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Fenestration Canada – Talent influx

The first item for my inaugural column is to thank Skip MacLean of Trutech Doors for the last three years of exceptional leadership and vision at the helm of Fenestration Canada. It was under Skip’s direction that Fenestration Canada moved to Zzeem Association Management and initiated the revitalization of the WinDoor Show.

As a way to cope with standard and code changes, Fenestration Canada now has an active Fabricator Council under the leadership of Lisa Bergeron of Jeld-Wen. The Fabricators’ Council holds bi-monthly meetings. Current priorities include the Fenestration Installation Technician (FIT) program that Fenestration Canada has purchased from its developers, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Another priority is to support code change requests for combustible windows. Because of the good work of the Council, we soon may see considerably more flexibility in Canadian codes for the use of vinyl framing in high-rise fenestration.

The move to Zzeem Association Management was done with considerable thought and planning by the executive team. While still new to our industry, the team at Zzeem has provided the necessary planning and execution skills to move Fenestration Canada in the right direction. Zzeem is now engaged with a review of all Fenestration Canada policies including procurement, confidentiality/conflict of interest and anti-trust, along with a review of the bylaws. In the last three months, Zzeem management has added two member-focused programs. The first is Perkopolis, where members can access discounts to a wide variety of products and services such as tickets to events and travel. The second is HASCO health and safety consulting services, where members can access a suite of 35 instructor-led training programs and over 300 online health and safety courses.

Education is a focus of Fenestration Canada in 2016. Along with the comprehensive, “something for everyone” education program offered at WinDoor 2016, Fenestration Canada is planning a series of education seminars across the county in the year 2017. The first opportunity will be a western Canada Technical Session at the Sandman Signature Langley on Oct. 25. We have a great list of speakers that will provide content relevant to B.C. and Alberta fabricators and suppliers.

Train the Trainer is another initiative of the Education Committee. Steve Alward of Atlantic Windows, Jeff Baker of Westlab and J.F. Kogovsek of Maxam Marketing are developing a Train the Trainer toolbox that will enable members to educate architects and building officials across the country and help them better understand the fenestration industry.

The Technical Services Committee is typically one of the most active groups in Fenestration Canada. Committee chair Jean Marios of Energi Solutions de Fenestration is working on changes to the CSA A440 Canadian Supplement. The performance calculator will be updated shortly with the revised changes. The committee is monitoring changes to NAFS.

Coming off a very successful spring meeting in Mont-Tremblant, I was buoyed by the talent and the enthusiasm of the volunteers that make our many active committees. The board was strengthened by the addition of three talented and dedicated industry professionals: Terry Adamson of Westeck Windows, Gary Blad of Loewen Windows and Stephane Labelle of Groupe Eugenie. All three have immediately stepped in to participate on key Fenestration Canada committees.

In addition to the usual June and November board meetings we have added two additional meetings: a teleconference in September and a strategic planning session in March. With so much on the plate, two meeting was insufficient and put too much strain on the executive committee.

The Annual General Meeting committee, headed by Jennifer Small of Screenco, is wasting no time getting things rolling for AGM 2017 in Halifax, N.S. on May 31 through June 3, 2017.

Allan Doyle is general manager and partner of Global Windows and Doors in Richibucto, N.B., and president of Fenestration Canada. He has over 30 years’ experience in the fenestration industry.