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President’s report… Editor’s note

April 2006: The Canadian Glass Association brings news to the industry from across the country.

Editor’s note: CGA past-president, Keith Pynoo has submitted a report on behalf of CGA president, Dieter Ringler who was on vacation at press-time.

After reading the February 2006 issue of Glass Canada magazine, we cannot thank Glass Canada enough for all the tireless efforts put in by the editorial team. It is through this magazine’s efforts, by publishing reports from our Canadian Glass Association (CGA), that provincial members can find out what is happening in the other glass associations and the industry across Canada.

A couple of the glazing apprenticeship programs are revamping their curriculums to bring them up-to-date with what is happening in our glass industry. The glass associations in Ontario are reviewing the GCA specification manual for Ontario. The Glass Dealers Association of Saskatchewan (GDAS) has set up a committee to look into the specification manual, along with looking into the Industry Certified Autoglass Program (ICAP) which is in place in British Columbia.

Mike Summers, the CGA autoglass director, is looking for assistance from autoglass owners, autoglass technicians and other interested autoglass professionals to help put something together in the future for Canada to send a representative to the International Master Fitters Competition.

The future of our glass industry lies with the young people entering our industry. It was nice to see the new
apprenticeship award winners being acknowledged for their efforts in the February issue of Glass Canada. It is young people like them who will become the back bone of our industry in the future.

In closing, I would suggest you get involved with the local association in your area, whether it is for business or social reasons. You would be surprised at how much you will learn from your local association members and what you can contribute to the association. I learned a lot from being involved in several industry associations such as the Canadian Glass Association, the Provincial Glazier Association of Alberta, the Glass and Architectural Metal Association, Construction Specifications Canada and the Alberta Building Envelope Council.

You can contact any of the CGA executive members for more information or if you would like to contribute towards your industry. The CGA 2006 board of directors include:

• President, Dieter Ringler from the Ontario Glass and Metal Association (OGMA);
• First vice-president, Dave Husson from the Glazing Contractors Association (GCA) of British Columbia;
• Second vice-president, Dennis Haatvedt from the Architectural Glass and Metal Contractors Association (AGMCA);
• Treasurer, Rick Zuchetto from the Glass Trades Association of Northern Alberta (GTA);
• Autoglass director, Mike Summers from the Independent Professional Glass Association (IPGA);
• Director, Richard Verdon from the National Capital Glass Association (NCGA);
• Director, Ken Kassian from the Glass Dealers Association of Saskatchewan (GDAS);
• Past president, Keith Pynoo from the Provincial Glaziers Association of Alberta (PGAA) and the Glass and Architectural Metal Association (GAMA).
• The CGA media liaison is Chris Skalkos, editor for Glass Canada magazine.

Our next executive meeting will be held in conjunction with the Glass Dealers Association of Saskatchewan
Annual General Meeting and Trade Show in Saskatoon, May 5 to 6, 2006. -end-