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Fenestration Canada: February 2015

With the holiday season just passed and the promise of a New Year ahead,
it is important we reevaluate our lives and businesses and ensure we
maintain the values that define who we are.

With the holiday season just passed and the promise of a New Year ahead, it is important we reevaluate our lives and businesses and ensure we maintain the values that define who we are. Canada has a rich history of generous philanthropy and a genuine concern for those less fortunate. The window and door industry has its share of caring, dedicated individuals who give their time, their efforts and monetary support to the needy in Canada and abroad. Recent contact with Habitat for Humanity has exposed how much more help is needed and how easy it is for us to get involved.

Habitat for Humanity is an organization dedicated to providing affordable housing for low income Canadians. Habitat has two new distribution facilities to accept and distribute window and door products to new builds and restoration locations. The Vancouver and Brampton, Ont., locations distribute all manner of products used in home building. With over 90 ReStore locations across the country ready to accept your imperfect, obsolete or overstocked windows and doors, Habitat provides low-cost fenestration products to those in need while increasing your brand awareness. Habitat can also provide you with a letter of acknowledgement or tax receipt.

 Here are some basic Habi-facts:

• Since 1985 over 2,500 Canadian families have realized affordable Habitat ownership
• Over 11,000 Canadians have volunteered their time and resources to build housing in over 47 countries
• 65 local Habitat affiliates serve over 300 communities from coast to coast in Canada
• The Habitat global network is active in over 70 countries and has built or repaired over 800,000 homes

I grew up hearing “charity begins at home.” What better way to improve a family’s chance for a good life than to help them provide their children with the warmth and security owning a home can bring? Fenestration Canada wants to encourage all its members to reach out to Habitat and discuss how you can become involved. Encourage your company and co-workers to get involved. By improving living conditions through good, affordable housing, Habitat and you can help families achieve greater stability and health while breaking the cycle of poverty.

Fenestration Canada’s annual general meeting will be held in Vancouver June 4 to 6 and we hope you will all be there. We are reaching out to Habitat to join us at our reception so that you can get more information regarding their efforts and needs. Don’t wait to get involved. Reach out. Please contact our head office or Habitat directly. Visit www.habitat.ca . Habitat can provide necessary materials for use on websites, newsletters or email blasts if desired. Make a difference this year!

In other association news, the Membership and Marketing Committee, chaired by Laura Weil of Euro Vinyl Windows, is about to announce the launch of our new website (oops, looks like I scooped them!) The new platform promises to be more user-friendly and current. Updates will soon be done internally allowing information and news to be current and timely. Members will also have access to update their information and profile. The new-look site was preceded by the creation of an improved prospect brochure and the committee is working hard to promote membership value. A newly formed committee was enacted to plan, organize and promote our upcoming AGM, being held in the breathtaking city of Vancouver. The planning process is well underway and details of the programs are expected shortly. Thanks to Terry Adamson of Westeck Windows and Fenestration B.C. for their support and contribution in organizing this event.

Windoor 2014 capped off what was, for most, a pretty good year overall. Attendance at the 20th anniversary show, although hindered by horrific weather to the south, was fairly representative of previous years. Opening night celebrations included recognizing our 20 year exhibitors: Amesbury/Truth, IGMA, Novatech and TrimLite, as well as several  pioneers of the show.

Skip Maclean is president of Fenestration Canada. He is business development manager for Tru-Tech Doors and has over 40 years’ experience in the window and door industry.