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CGA Newsletter: April 2013

Professional Glaziers Association of Alberta

Professional Glaziers Association of Alberta
The PGAA, in association with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, have created the framework for a Master Glazier’s Program. The MGP is a continuing education program for certified journeymen glaziers. We will be creating nine courses specifically designed for our industry. While the framework is in place, the courses are only just embarking on the development stage with subject matter experts.

The Master Glazier Program is an initiative of the PGAA that started about seven years ago. Over the course of the first five years there were a handful of meetings and discussions about what we wanted to achieve. We arrived at the following consensus.

The Master Glazier Program will be a continuing education program designed for certified journeymen glaziers. We recognize that many journeymen may only excel in one or two areas of the trade, for instance, curtainwalls or glazing, and others were accredited decades ago when Mono was considered the building envelope. As a result, a committee was struck and met with SAIT to develop an outline for courses designed specifically for the glazier trade.

Upon completion, a certified journeyman glazier, would be better rounded in more aspects of the glazing trade, as well as trained in the latest techniques and standards of the trade. While the criteria has yet to be established, the idea is that SAIT will deliver the courses to any individual that wishes to enroll. A certified journeyman glazier would take the courses and, after meeting a set criteria to be established by the PGAA, would make application to the PGAA to be recognized as a Master Glazier. In the future, the PGAA would like to approach specifiers to give consideration to making a bid requirement for projects that companies have Master Glaziers on staff. However, this would be something to consider in the future, right now we are concentrating on getting the courses and the MGP in place.

We are very close to seeing this idea come to fruition. We believe this type of program will be the first of it’s kind in North America and quite possibly the first in the world.

This new program is going to cost a lot of money in start up costs, so the PGAA has organized a golf tournament where the proceeds from the tournament will go towards the MGP. The tournament will take place at the Alberta Springs Golf Resort in Red Deer on August 16th.To date, we have 144 golfers committed to play in the tournament, which is the largest tournament in the Alberta glazing industry’s history. We have six golfers on a waiting list. In addition, our sponsors have pledged $48,550 so far. We are very proud of the buy-in that we have had from industry in this worthwhile endeavor. Essentially we’ve sold 98 holes on an 18-hole golf course! Don’t be left out. To become a sponsor, contact Dwayne Stolz, PGAA treasurer, at Leyden’s Glass at leyglass@shaw.ca or 1-403-346-8611.

Ontario Glass and Metal Association
The OGMA is pleased to put on an exciting and fun night of thoroughbred horse racing again this spring. Come out and join us for a great dinner and camaraderie and some time at the slots. Race Nite will take place at the Woodbine racetrack’s Post Parade Restaurant on Wednesday, May 1, at 6 p.m.

Mark May 30 on your calendar and plan to attend the renowned OGMA Spring Golf tournament once again being held at the Glen Eagle Golf Club in Bolton, Ont.

OGMA Fall Golf tees off Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013, at the Carrying Place Golf Club in Caledon, Ont.

Atlantic Provinces Glazing Association
The December meeting of the APGAA went very well with nothing but positive comments all around, especially towards the guest speaker. It was great to see and hear from everyone.

Eric LeDrew of McInnes Cooper certainly had the group’s attention with his eye-opening talk on contract law.

Eric LeDrew from the law firm McInnes Cooper certainly had a captive audience as he explained contract law. Hopefully, he wasn’t too scary! Talking law, specifically contracts, is certainly an eye opener. It lends to the idea of associations such as this one getting together to standardize a proper contract that is not so one-sided.

 As we noted in our meeting, any comments or ideas members may have that would help progress this association and turn it into something of value for all of us in the industry would be welcomed and greatly appreciated.

 We are planning our next meeting in April where a prominent Halifax architect will be addressing our group with his desires and concerns for our industry. We will also have two government people from the trades come in and answer your questions about apprenticeship. It should be a very informative meeting.

 To those of you who have joined, thank you very much. To those who have expressed an interest, please consider the benefits you can help create, and join now.