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Fenestration Canada: December 2013

Win-Door 2013 was another tremendous success for the association,
attracting another excellent crowd of window and door makers,
distributors and retailers for three days of education, shopping and
networking at the Toronto Congress Centre Nov. 12 to 14.

Win-Door 2013 was another tremendous success for the association, attracting another excellent crowd of window and door makers, distributors and retailers for three days of education, shopping and networking at the Toronto Congress Centre Nov. 12 to 14. Attendance numbers were about the same as in 2012, with exhibitors commenting on the high quality of visitors stopping at their booths. Win-Door 2013 was larger than 2012, with seven per cent more floor space taken up by displays.  The show continues to be healthy, informative and an invaluable opportunity for our industry to come together in one place.

The education seminars once again presented a wealth of knowledge that just cannot be found anywhere, at any price. Jeff Baker and J.F. Kogovsek packed them in again with their update on the inclusion of NAFS-08 air/water ingress standards into the Ontario Building Code. This is a critical issue affecting every door pre-hanger doing business in Ontario, and some lively discussion followed the outstanding presentation. Steve Hopwood of Natural Resources Canada gave attendees the inside track on upcoming developments in Energy Star, and Peter Norman of Altus presented an economic overview and forecast that should be required viewing for anyone in this business. Presentations by Guy Gosselin and Michael Lacasse, senior officials with the NRC, gave attendees access to some of the people who write the rules. All in all, the education program alone was worth the price of admission.

The Partners Promoting Window and Balcony Safety and the Walk It Off Clinic joined forces to raise awareness and money with a putting competition. Five of the best golfers took home shiny new putters, and the grand prize: a full set of Taylor Made clubs. The booth raised $3,000 for the Walk It Off Clinic’s important work in rehabilitating victims of spinal cord injuries, including children injured in falls. The Partners were not the only ones showing their charitable spirit at the show. Screenco and Mennie used the gathering as a chance to host a gala fundraiser for Nellie’s Women’s Shelter, raising $4,600 for that cause. Other winners included Mennie Canada, which took home the Jim Parker award for best booth, with Performance M&T as runner-up.

The Fenestration Canada general meeting heard that the association remains in excellent financial shape in its first year under the management of executive director Robert Rivard. The executive has listened to member feedback and created a Fabricator’s Council designed to give window and door fabricators a dedicated forum for their issues within the group. Chairperson Lisa Bergeron of Jeld-Wen reported the group has had two fruitful meetings.

Fenestration Canada second vice-president Al Dueck was active at the show promoting Fenestration Canada’s 2014 Annual General Meeting in Winnipeg. It is clear that no effort will be spared to make that event fun and valuable to all attendees.

Win-Door 2014 will return to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre Nov. 11 -13. It will be a very special edition of the show, as it will mark the event’s 20th anniversary. Plans are in the works for a big celebration of this important milestone. Anyone with input as to how we can make this event especially noteworthy and worthwhile is encouraged to contact myself or Robert Rivard at 1-613-424-7239, rivard_robert@hotmail.com.

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.