MCA Toronto Annual General Meeting a Success
The 43rd MCA Toronto Annual General Meeting was a
great success with 180 contractors and associate members attending. It is my sincere hope that this event will
continue to be a favourite of our members and that it will evolve into a
platform for discussing the pressing industry issues that continue to affect us
all.
MCA Toronto was delighted to have our industry partners and
their spouses attend the AGM. Among
those in attendance were Mr. Neil McCormick, Business Manager of the Ontario
Pipe Trades Council and his wife Gerri; Mr. Steve Morrison, past chair of the
OPTC Bargaining Unit and Business Manager of Local 527, Kitchener, Ont., and
his wife Donna; Mr. Jim Hogarth, Business Manager of Local 46, Toronto and his
wife Joan; and Mr. Larry Cann, Business Manager of Local 463, Oshawa and his
wife Susan. The various mechanical
contractors’ associations must continue to work co-operatively with our
industry partners in order to forge comprehensive strategies for meeting future
issues like labour shortages and competitiveness against non-union labour in
order to secure a bright future for all involved.
The Sheraton on the Falls was an excellent venue which
provided splendid Ontario fall weather combined with access to many famous
attractions. The AGM began with the optional Golf Day held on Fri. Sep. 22,
which was organized by the MCAT Associates Committee. The World Pool Course gave 60 golfers a great
opportunity to bask in the beautiful scenery of the Niagara region and enjoy
the camaraderie of business partners and friends.
The opening reception and dinner was held at the Hernder
Winery after a unique Double Decker bus ride through the Winery Region. All
attending enjoyed a casual evening of music and fun followed by an excellent
dinner.
On Saturday morning, following the AGM, our guest speaker
from the MCA of Louisiana, Mr. Henry Heier, gave conference attendees a very
detailed overview of what had transpired from the time Hurricane Katrina
ravaged the New Orleans area. As part of
his presentation Mr. Heier also displayed a video from three individuals whose
lives were severely affected by the disaster.
The video offered a sincere thank you from those who received assistance
from MCA Toronto, MCA Ontario and MCA Canada in their time of need. On behalf of MCA Toronto I would like to
thank Henry for all his hard work and dedication in preparing the presentation
and we wish the best to all those still struggling to reclaim their lives in
the New Orleans area.
The Saturday afternoon barbeque was held in a private
section of the Hard Rock Café overlooking the Falls. After lunch the conference
attendees were entertained by the Warren Stirtzinger Band with a very special
guest appearance by Mr. Steve Coleman of MCA Ontario on guitar, Mr. Glen
Kellaway of Crane Supply on banjo and Mr. Adrien Pilon of Emco Corporation on
guitar. When the three gentlemen took to the stage the crowd was delighted as
the band now grew to seven, and many old and new music hits were sung. Thanks
guys for being good sports!
On Saturday evening I had the pleasure of recognizing the
achievements of some of our members with the presentation of the MCA Toronto
Safety Awards. The Safety Awards are
based on the current year’s manhours reported to MCA Toronto, safety
performance in relation to lost time injuries, a Safety Policy and Program
procedure checklist, and a job-site inspection performed by the Canadian Safety
Association of Ontario (CSAO). I would
like to thank Mr. Mike Duffy of CSAO for overseeing and organizing the Safety
Award Program.
The contractors are divided into three categories:
1. Catgeory
I – 50,001 manhours and over
2. Category
II – 15,001 to 50,000 manhours
3. Category
III – One to 15,000 manhours
This year’s Safety Award recipients were the following:
- Category
I – Pipeall Plumbing & Heating
- Catgeory
II – McWatters Mechanical
- Catgeory
III – GTA Mechanical
Congratulations to the winners, keep it up, and thank you to
all those who participated in this year’s program.
As I begin my second year as president, I am looking forward
to working with all related stakeholders to help make the MCA of Toronto a
vibrant and forward-thinking organization – a tool and resource for all
members; a trusted and dedicated partner for our friends throughout the
industry; and a beacon of honesty, integrity, and leadership throughout the
construction industry.
I look forward to working towards this goal with all of you!
