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Canada’s Glass Associations

AVFQ
The Association de vitrerie et fenestration du Québec (AVFQ) has collaborated with Transition Énergie Québec (TEQ) as part of the re-evaluation of the Novoclimat program. This program encourages the construction of new homes with high energy performance, according to specific construction requirements. It targets houses, small residential buildings and large residential buildings with four to 10 floors. For the part of the program dedicated to large buildings, the discussions with TEQ were fruitful for both consumers and industry players. Thanks to the representations and arguments brought forward by the AVFQ, the program will be more open and accessible. In fact, more types of windows will be able to qualify and thus increase the use of energy-efficient products at a reasonable cost. 

After two years of absence, the Omnium AVFQ was back on Sept. 9 at the magnificent Le Blainvillier Golf Course near Montreal. Our 288 golfers were enthusiastic to meet up as well as the many sponsors. In compliance with the sanitary rules in force at that time, 350 people gathered at the end of the day to network and share their fun facts.

Under the theme “The future is now,” the AVFQ’s annual conference will feature more than a dozen workshops and conferences. It is also time to book Feb. 10 and 11 at the magnificent Château Frontenac in Quebec. The program and registration are available at avfq.ca. The Prix Lumières Gala will be back to reward the most beautiful projects in the industry. It will also be an opportunity to launch the AVFQ’s 60th anniversary celebrations.

In order to support and properly inform its members, the AVFQ is organizing two forums this fall: one on the tricky problem of the lack of labour and the other on digital transformation. These forums will make it possible to know the different possibilities and to discuss the respective experiences.

Architectural Glass and Metal Contractors Association
From time to time, the AGMCA uses this space to highlight its volunteer directors or its member companies.

This month, we salute AGMCA president, Tony Menecola of Applewood Glass.

Tony was first introduced to the business by his father, Lorenzo, and spent summers and weekends from the age of 12 helping his dad out in the shop.

Upon completing his education, Tony joined his dad full time. Together they turned out a lot of work from a small shop on Wolfedale Road. Twice, they had to add approximately 8,000 square feet to keep up with their commitments.

Through continued hard work and determination, Applewood became successful, building a customer base that was anxious to do more work with Tony, given his emphasis on quality and his conscientious attention to detail. Tony takes his commitments seriously, and by the ‘90s, he had developed a niche within the market: fabricating and installing unitized curtainwall for small and mid-size buildings. Previously this was the exclusive domain of large curtainwall specialists.

From that humble beginning in 1979 on Wolfedale Road, Applewood has come a long way. Today, Applewood’s shop on Southfield Road is a state-of-the-art facility, with over 50,000 square feet of efficiency and a staff of over 50 people. Applewood has completed several signature projects, including the BMW dealership at the foot of the Don Valley and the Aviva building at 407 and Warden.

In addition to running Applewood Glass, Tony’s commitment to our industry is well documented. He was a long-time director of the OGMA, has been a director of AGMCA for almost 30 years and is our current president. He is the chair on our Glazier Apprentice committee, overseeing the training of our glass and metal technicians. He also sits on our local apprentice committee that monitors the progress of the apprentices and ensures they complete their training. Tony is also a valuable member of our negotiating committee, representing the concerns and issues that affect all of our unionized glazing contractors.  Tony can be reached at a.menecola@applewoodglass.com.

Ontario Glass And Metal Association
It is with great sadness that we bring you the news of the passing of one of our industry’s most virtuous and respected gentlemen.  Al Jones left us just a week before his 93rd birthday. Al was one of the good guys and was well liked by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him. He had a great sense of humour, was always joking, always friendly, and seldom ran out of something to say. 

Al Jones

Al was athletic his entire life, was a better-than-average golfer and enjoyed playing at the Toronto Ladies Golf Club. Even though the men’s locker room was in the basement next to the furnace, Al said he liked the company at his course of choice. As a younger man, Al was quite the baseball player and it was at one of his games at Christie Pits that he met his wife, Barbara.

Al began his career as a draughtsman at Pilkington Glass on Mercer Street in the late 1940s, where he quickly worked his way up the ladder to land an outside sales position, calling on glass shops and architects. His technical background helped him to excel at his job. He moved on for a short stint at Scarborough Glass before joining Fred Fulton to grow the sales at Sealite Glass Ltd. in the early 1960s. They become good friends while both working at Pilks.

Al made a big move in 1971 when he bought Jessup Glass and eventually changed the name to Parkway Glass and Mirror Ltd. when he moved the company up to Denison Avenue in 1975. Al’s son Steven was a key member of the company until winding things down in 2018.

Al selflessly gave back to our industry by becoming a director of the Architectural Glass and Metal Contractors Association in 1980. In 1989, he assumed the role of Treasurer, a position he held with pride and integrity until his retirement from the board in 2019.