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Message From The Editor
The next generation will be green and we need to prepare it
In the final stretch of the election campaign, environmental and labour issues are very much in the spotlight. These issues are also of concern in our industry. In this issue, we present solutions to the challenges of the next generation and sustainable development. Solutions, but also incentives, because inclusion, diversity and sustainability pay off, and not only socially, as our contributors talk about. Check out the industry news and good reading!
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EFC - Opinion
Building our Industry’s Bench-Strength for the 50-30 Challenge!
By Carol McGlogan
The 50-30 Challenge is an initiative between the Government of Canada, businesses and diversity organizations. The goal of the program is to challenge Canadian organizations to increase the representation and inclusion of diverse groups within their workplace, while highlighting the benefits of providing all Canadians with ‘a seat at the table’. The 50-30 Challenge asks that organizations aspire to two goals: Gender parity ("50%") on Canadian board(s) and senior management and significant representation of other under-represented groups ("30%") on Canadian board(s) and senior management. Why does this matter? Diversity in the workplace simply makes good business sense.
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Best Practices: Marketing
Sustainability Delivers Green
By David Gordon
Turtle & Hughes and Southwire are two in the electrical industry who are embracing one of the biggest trends in business — sustainability. Over the past decade, perhaps longer, there has been increased interest, and focus, on sustainability to improve the environment. Climate change impacts everyone, regardless of why it is occurring. On Wall Street, companies are embracing ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) initiatives with publicly held companies openly discussing this on their earnings calls and analysts seeking information on these initiatives. The “E” element … environmental … is driving much change within companies. While there are environmental benefits, companies are also finding that there are recruitment benefits, branding / marketing benefits, cost-savings benefits and, yes, financial benefits. The financial benefits can also be found in companies, and individuals, wanting to do business with companies that are environmentally friendly. Two industry leaders were recently in the news for their sustainability efforts.
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Human Resources
Succession Management and Planning: How to Get Started
By Michelle Branigan
Succession planning is a fairly straightforward concept. It refers to the process for identifying and developing the people in an organization to ensure critical positions are not left vacant due to staff turnover. While succession management focuses on build¬ing bench strength and the broader corporate ca¬pability, succession planning has a narrower scope, concentrating on the depth and breadth of com¬petencies for specific roles. Its purpose is to highlight critical occupations and roles within the organization, assess future resourc¬ing risks, and identify specific candidates to be pro¬moted to key positions when they become vacant.
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Interview
Mark Klein on his Role with Klein Tools, Leadership, and Promoting Skilled Trades
By Blake Marchand
Mark Klein is Co-President of Klein Tools, managing Sales & Marketing activities, alongside Co-President, Tom Klein Jr., who manages Operations, Research and Development. Mark pursued a career in marketing after attending the University of Iowa, gaining experience in the electrical industry with Anixter before being offered a job by the family company. He started as a Buyer for Klein Tools, which is what he was doing while with Anixter. Early on in his time with the Klein, Mark was sent to work a tradeshow to help give him a better understanding of the company and customer base. The experience ended up being a meaningful one, highlighting the brand loyalty the company had cultivated over its long history.
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Wires and Cables
The New Normal in Canada’s Wire Cable Industry
By Jerome Leroy
In just 18 months, our industry has seen businesses locked down and borders closed. Lead times have grown from weeks to months and orders have been cancelled. Copper prices have nearly doubled and continue to increase. We’ve seen an increasing number of extreme weather events, for instance Texas shut down by cold weather and British Columbia hit by record heat. And, of course, the pandemic has affected every economy in the world. Make no mistake: these events characterize a new normal where, we believe, we’re seeing the emergence – and acceleration – of two widescale trends. The first is supply chain disruption. The second is the rise of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
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Looking Back
Saskatchewan: A Prosperous Future Ahead
Even in a principally agricultural province like Saskatchewan, the impact of electronics on the electrical distribution industry will be “very big,” forecasted Ward Johnson, President of Ward Johnson Electric Ltd., Regina. However, the economy of the province is in a dismal state and “it's a matter of hanging in until things improve.” The future is very bright, however, because of the province’s mineral wealth, potash in particular, and reserves of oil. When these industries begin to boom in three to four years time, distributors will prosper for years to come.
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One Distributor’s Counter
Abbotsford, BC Gets a Bigger, Better Gescan Branch
Last month the Gescan branch in Abbotsford opened its doors to welcome guests at a new location, 211-3311 Mount Lehman Road. Located in one of BC’s fastest-growing markets, Gescan Abbotsford outgrew its existing space several years ago and had been looking for a new space to meet its long-term needs ever since. Gescan's new location is located right off Highway 1 and features dock level doors, ample storage space, a large yard for improved efficiencies, improved customer parking, and much more.
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Economy
Investment in Building Construction, July 2021: Single-unit Construction Slows Down
Investment in building construction was down 1.7% to $18.1 billion in July. Residential construction declined for a third consecutive month following a record peak in April, while non-residential construction was up slightly. On a constant dollar basis (2012=100), investment in building construction declined 1.6% to $13.0 billion in July. Residential construction investment was down 2.6% in July, a third consecutive monthly decline after a sustained period of strong growth from May 2020 to April 2021. Declines in all provinces brought investment in single-family homes down 4.0% to $7.2 billion. Ontario posted the largest decrease after reaching a record high in April 2021, followed by Quebec, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
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Surveys Says
Skills in Outside Sales and Impact on Salary
This graph shows five valued skills in outside sales. Although there is little differentiation in salary, new business development and account management skills are the most valuable of those surveyed.
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Changing Scene
- CEO Plans to Sell Shares in Hammond Power Solutions for Diversification, Estate Planning and Charitable Giving Purposes
Hammond Power Solutions Inc. announced that Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Mr. Bill Hammond, has filed Form 45-102F1 and intends to sell up to 170,000 Class A Subordinate Voting Shares, directly and indirectly, controlled by him for diversification, estate planning and charitable giving purposes. Acumen Capital will facilitate the share sale. Following the sale, Mr. Hammond will, directly and indirectly, control 902,220 Class A Subordinate Voting Shares and 2,778,300 Class B Common Shares, representing approximately 59.7% of the voting rights of the Company.
- Westburne Promotes Matt Madonna and Mark McArthur
The Ontario Division of Westburne has announced two new additions to the senior leadership team. Mark McArthur (right) has been promoted to Eastern District Manager. Mark will be responsible for Westburne’s branches in Belleville, Brockville, Cobourg, Cornwall, Kingston, Lindsay, Oshawa, Ottawa, Pembroke, Peterborough, and Smith Falls. Mark joined Westburne in September 2016 as the Peterborough Branch Manager bringing with him over a decade of related sales, management, and supply chain experience…
- Eaton Appoints Jeff Bouchey as the Local Field Service Representative in Northwestern Ontario
Eaton’s Electrical Engineering Services and Systems Division is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeff Bouchey as the local Field Service Representative adding to the existing EATON Team comprised of a Power System Engineer and Technical Sale Representative…
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Changing Scene
- EFC Field Service Business Section Appoints New Vice Chair
Kevin Chung, Eaton Industries, has been appointed the new Vice Chair of EFC’s Field Service Business Section committee. Kevin brings more than 15 years experience to this role in the areas of strategic marketing, business development, operations management, process improvements, and project management.
- Ali Julazadeh Joins Mersen PTT North America as Manager, Sales
Bruno Alves VP, Power Transfer Technologies announced that effective September 1, 2021, Ali Julazadeh has joined PTT North America as the Manager, Sales PTT North America. He will be located at our Toronto PTT facility reporting to Cedrick Fontes, VP, PTT NA. Prior to joining PTT, Ali held various positions within the Electrical Protection segment in Mersen. Ali started with Mersen as a Solutions Engineer (Sales Engineer) for both USA and Canada in March 2014 before moving into a Sales Manager role for Central Canada in August 2017...
- IMARK Canada announces 2021 Award Winners-Oscan and Kidde take top honors.
IMARK Canada is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 Distinguished Performance Awards. Award winning companies were selected based on superior performance during the period of time between July 1, 2020 and July 31, 2021. The IMARK Canada members listed below were recognized (based on objective criteria tracked by IMARK HQ) for their effective implementation of IMARK Canada marketing programs and their exemplary support of IMARK Canada preferred suppliers…
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Changing Scene
- Rexel Canada Joins ETIM North America
ETIM North America (NA) announced that Rexel Canada, one of the largest and leading distributors of electrical products in Canada, has joined the product classification standards. Rexel Canada Electrical Inc. operates throughout Canada under four banners, Nedco, Westburne, Rexel Atlantic and Rexel Utility with over 200 branches to deliver quality products and high-quality services…
- Hammond Power Solutions Declares Quarterly Dividend
The Board of Directors of Hammond Power Solutions Inc. (“HPS”) declared a quarterly cash dividend of eight and a half cents ($0.085) per Class A Subordinate Voting Share of HPS and a quarterly cash dividend of eight and a half cents ($0.085) per Class B Common Share of HPS payable on September 24, 2021, to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 17, 2021. The ex-dividend date is September 16, 2021…
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Changing Scene
- Starting from the Top: How Leaders can Advance Equity - September 28
Join BCEA on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, 12 PM PST for the next webinar in their Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) series. Diversity and Inclusion are indivisible parts of conversations about how to build a successful team and culture. Creating an environment that is inclusive to employees of all genders, backgrounds, and identities is important not just because it’s the right thing to do but also because it’s the only thing to do.
- Deschenes Group Inc. acquires Matériaux de Plomberie PMF and PMF Plumbing Supplies Toronto
Deschenes Group Inc. (DGI) proudly announces the acquisition of Matériaux de Plomberie PMF and PMF Plumbing Supplies Toronto (PMF) effective September 1, 2021. PMF is an independent wholesaler of luxury brand plumbing products. The company serves the professional trade and retail markets in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario from their two locations in Montreal and Mississauga. A long tenured, knowledgeable and talented team of people support the business in both provinces.
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From Our Last Issue
The Only Constant Is Change
The recent flurry of activity in mergers and acquisitions and other moves over the past year continues to challenge how we define the electrical industry in Canada. Let’s look at what’s happened in the past 24 months. Wesco buys and integrates Anixter. Rexel Buys the Wesco utility business. Guillevin makes three moves with the acquisition of Wesco’s datacom practice, Quebec’s Dubo Electric, and most recently McLoughlin Electric in the Atlantic provinces. Deschenes on the heels of buying Ideal Supply bought Daltco, Baril and Powrmatic. Behind the scenes Aztec left IMARK and joined AD, while IMARK grew with seven new members: Coldbrook, Unique Lighting, Estate Lighting, Concord Electric, Rolan, Aurora, and Rana. Alongside this Electro-Federation Canada (EFC) has begun its efforts to attract more automation and control distributor members while building its foundation and influence, further adding companies involved in the integration of high, medium, and low voltage power systems. So, what does all this mean to the Canadian electrical industry?
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Sub-Standard Products, You and Your Customers
Many of us have been shopping online more than ever. The dramatic increase in online shopping during the pandemic is likely to continue as the majority of us have adopted online buying habits during lockdown. With the change in this trend, a growing number of sellers are now looking for your money through online sales and are offering low prices for a variety of products, including electrical. But is cheaper better? Remember that quality, performance, and above all, the safety of goods may be compromised when the price is too good to be true. And online sellers that sell substandard goods may disappear quickly, leaving you with an unusable product and a loss of your money.
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Industry 4.0 Introduces Increased Cybersecurity Risks
Smart manufacturing and smart factories depend on connectivity and data sharing to deliver Industry 4.0 benefits such as increased operating productivity and enhanced safety, as well as reduced downtime and costs. However, critical connected systems are an attractive target for cybercriminals in search of a potentially profitable opportunity to exploit. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) systems can be particularly difficult to secure. Each device added to the network creates a new potential risk. Factor in the inherent complexity of big automated systems and the fact that malicious hackers only need to find one vulnerability to gain access to the entire network potentially, and the challenge becomes clear. What may not be as easy to understand is how to mitigate these complex security issues.
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Six Things Every Distributor Should Ponder
Recently I was asked to write on the post-pandemic “new normal” for [IT]IMARK Now Electrical[IT] Magazine. Specifically, I addressed how distributors could find new customers and nurture their current customers. I began the article with a half dozen thoughts I believe distributors everywhere should use to better focus their businesses. First, over the years, distributors have done a poor job of selecting their customers. In many instances, it is the customer who selects the distributor for reasons often unknown to the distributor. Second, the cost of bringing on a new customer, whether good or bad, is high…
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The IoT and Lighting Design
The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) recently published ANSI/IES LP-12-21, [IT]IoT Connected Lighting[IT] . This 43-page lighting practice and American National Standard provides guidance for lighting professionals to consider and evaluate connected lighting and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and applications. The IoT can be confusing when one tries to define it according to its full range of features and benefits, which are evolving. Instead, it is more useful to define it according to core capabilities, with realized features and benefits individualized to applications. An IoT solution networks sensors and computing devices that can be globally programmed, interoperate, cross-communicate, and generate data. These capabilities provide a powerful tool for building owners and managers to improve operational efficiencies with benefits that go far beyond maximizing energy management.
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Lumen Breaks Ground for New Distribution Centre
On August 17, 2021, an official groundbreaking ceremony took place in Laval, Quebec to mark the expansion of Lumen’s distribution centre, a $90 million investment project. Several dignitaries were present, including Stéphane Boyer, Deputy Mayor of Laval, Quebec and Christopher Skeete, MPP for Ste-Rose. The expansion will increase the building’s total area to more than 560,000 sq. ft. This is the fourth phase of an automation process that will significantly increase the facility’s cable cutting capacity.
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Gerrie Moves into New Distribution Centre
A new Gerrie Electric distribution centre opens on September 8 in Burlington, Ontario. The new 76,000 sq. ft. facility, located at 3475 North Service Road, Burlington, ON L7N 3G2, has been in planning and preparation for two years. This expansion includes leading edge process automation to ensure that the Gerrie team supplies customers with the products they need accurately and on time. The solution increases employee efficiency, rather than replaces people. “We believe in the importance of having a physical presence in our cities and towns in Ontario,” the company says. “Our branch teams will continue to serve you and have the right inventory available for pick up locally as they always have.”
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Technology Will Force Change
“The products we distribute now will change as much in the next few years as cars did between 1974 and 1984. The pistons are still there but just about everything else has changed,” says Clare Radis, president and general manager of Electrical Wholesalers (Edmonton) Ltd.
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