Message
from the President
When I
took over the job of HPBAC President from John Vukanovich in
March I was aware of the huge shoes that needed to be filled.
After serving on the board with John in the vice-president‛s
capacity it seemed that he, as president, devoted a lot of time
to this volunteer position. He assured me that wasn‛t the
case.... "Just the odd phone call and email." he said. I thought
he was downplaying the workload in an effort to convince me to
take the job. It turns out he‛s not only a good leader, he‛s a
good salesman. I took the job, despite some misgivings.
Now, a
few months in, I find he was being truthful. It‛s not
all-consuming, not even close. We have John and the past boards
to thank for that. They did put a lot of time and effort into
moving the association forward. During his two years as
President, John was instrumental in setting up active
Membership, Communication, Strategic Planning and Government
Relations committees, developing a Mission Statement and
improving communication between staff and the board, and HPBAC
members. Through his leadership, the board was challenged to be
stronger and more involved. The result has been the association
has continued to move forward and evolve into a professional,
focused organization. John will continue to represent HPBAC
interests on the HPBA board and to be involved with our current
HPBAC board of directors as Past President.
A thank
you also goes out to Pat Bourque who has made tremendous
contributions to HPBAC. Serving on the board for over six years,
Pat was active on the Retail Advisory group, Membership
Committee, served as Treasurer, President and Past President and
Atlantic Chapter Representative. Pat contributed his time and
expertise in the development of many of HPBAC‛s member benefits,
including the Mystery Shopping, Insurance and Financing
Programs. It‛s hard to imagine the board without Pat as one of
our mainstays.
Other
board members of note who completed terms this year and have
stepped down are Chris Barker and Lou Olsacher. Chris and Lou
contributed to the Strategic Planning Committee and served on
the Ontario Chapter board. They were also strong supporters of
HPBAC‛s training initiatives. We thank them for their efforts.
I‛d like
to welcome our new board members Kim Stone of The Furnace Man in Cornerbrook, NL who joins us as the Atlantic Chapter
Representative, Paul Hebert of CFM Canada as Manufacturer
Representative, Mark Strate of The Fireplace Centre in Kamloops,
BC as Western Chapter Representative and Mark Hartman of Terasen
Gas in Surrey BC as the Utility Representative.
The
HPBAC staff have also provided our board and the membership with
tremendous support and guidance. Tex McLeod has long been the
"face" of our industry. He tirelessly waves the HPBAC flag when
meeting with government agencies and strategic partner
associations. Laura Litchfield and Michelle Brandt do a great
job of working behind the scenes to organize meetings on both
the national and regional levels, put together this newsletter,
oversee our books and many other tasks. It would be hard to get
anything accomplished without these coordinating efforts. You
are welcome to pass on any thoughts, ideas or comments to them.
The staff has been the glue that holds it all together!!
There
are a few challenges currently facing us both regionally and
nationally. It seems there is always something going on in the
industry and with HPBAC. Please be assured all of the HPBAC
National Committees and Regional Chapters are busy working on
your behalf whether it is to resolve issues or bring more member
benefits to you. Stay tuned, we‛ll have some interesting
updates for you... In closing I would encourage you to read
through the newsletter. Thanks for supporting your industry!!
Kim Rodgers
HPBAC President
Committee Reports
Government Relations
As
part of HPBA‛s ongoing support to the affiliates, HPBAC
was invited to send three representatives to the HPBA Government
Affairs Academy which was held in Minneapolis from July
23rd to 26th at the Hearth and Home
Technologies Training Centre. The training focused on
how to effectively respond to regulatory and legislative
challenges and opportunities facing our industry. The
agenda included media training, the rules of effective
lobbying and giving testimony. HPBAC representatives
included George LeBlanc (Maritime Fireplaces) and HPBAC
staff persons Laura Litchfield and Tex McLeod. This was
a pilot project to test the approach and it was deemed
by all to be a very valuable affiliate tool.
Consideration is being given to organizing a somewhat
different version of this event in Canada, focused on
Canadian issues and
regulatory processes. Many thanks
to HPBA chair Tom Pugh and HPBA staff for a very
successful event.
Communications Committee Update
Watch for our new Logos!
We are introducing two new
logos that will be used for the promotion of activities
sponsored or organized by HPBAC.
The first logo will convey the
purpose of HPBAC, which is to Protect our industry and the
end users of our products, Promote both the industry and
good practices in the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue business
and finally Educate members and industry-related people
working in government levels and other related fields.
HPBAC is also making available
a Member Logo. Show your affiliation with the Hearth, Patio
& Barbecue Association of Canada on your website, your
brochures and your advertising. Make sure that you are using
the current version of the logo. Download it from the HPBAC
web site or ask for it from our office.
A strong, professional image
for HPBAC supports a strong image for the industry. Thanks
for advertising HPBAC.
Membership Committee
Member Success Club - In May, two HPBAC members traveled to Nashville to attend
the first Member Success Club meeting. The program is
modeled on the very successful NHBA Dealer 20 Club with
non-competing retailers meeting to discuss and compare their
operations and learn from one another. You can find more
information about the program at hpba.org and hpbacanada.org.
Mark Strate of The Fireplace Centre in
Kamloops, BC attended the meeting and sent this report...
"The
participants were from B.C., New Brunswick, Colorado,
California, Arizona, Texas, Montana and Indiana.
The
meeting was moderated by Mr. Jim Kessler from the Xscend
Performance Exchange in Kansas. Their company has been
developing Success Clubs for 50 years within many other
industries. Mr. Kessler was excellent in leading our
meeting and providing superb discussion topics.
This
meeting was the first in trying to establish a 12-18 member
group. A second meeting will be held in Chicago in
Sept/06. I encourage any single store owner to consider
joining the group.
We
not only discuss common issues, but also open our financial
statements and compare with other members. Xscend provides
an IT person to compile data and benchmarks for the group.
We
have also decided to meet every six months at one of the
members‛ locations. This will allow the store owner to be
put under the microscope and receive invaluable objective
input regarding the
operation."
Regional Reports
News from the Atlantic Chapter
In June 2006 the Atlantic Chapter produced its second
edition of East Coast Home & Hearth. Each of the
Atlantic Chapter members received copies for distribution to
their customers. The magazine has been receiving rave
reviews.
 In
June 2006, the Atlantic Chapter partnered with WETT-NB to
hold a Sales Seminar entitled "Service Inside & Out" put on
by Carol Lesbirel. There were 35 attendees, who thoroughly
enjoyed the informative seminar.
The
Atlantic Chapter held their Annual General Meeting, at
Crystal Palace in Dieppe in June, they would like to welcome
four new board members, Sean Watt from Emco Ltd., David
Lively from SBI International, John Eldridge from Kerr
Controls and Eric Barnhill from Compact Appliances. The
Atlantic Chapter would like to take the opportunity to thank
outgoing board members Malcolm Fisher of Compact Appliances,
Peter Henderson of Kerr Controls, and Patrick Bourque of
Maritime Fireplaces, who helped form the chapter and have
been instrumental at growing and supporting it.
Quebec / APC Update
APC
held their 2006 Annual General Meeting on May 31st
and will host their annual Golf tournament on August 13th.
Poeles & Foyers magazine will be published with 40,000
copies printed this year. The magazine will be available
early in the fall.
Bonus Distribution of the magazine this year will be through
Idees de ma maison, Chez-Soi, Renovation Bricolage
magazines and at National Home Shows in Montreal and Quebec
City.
An APC
Advanced Technical course on Wood Burning was held June 14th
in Montreal.
Ontario Chapter Update
The
Ontario Chapter held two Building Your Business Education
Days in June featuring Richard Wright presenting "The World
According to Richard" on trends in the hearth industry
followed by a session on the Outdoor Room. Katie Erickson of HHT presented
"The Changing Retail Environment". Both
speakers were inspirational and received excellent feedback.
Some
comments from Participants Surveys…
"Absolutely
everything was inspiring and of great value"
"My second HPBAC training. Both excellent, I will recommend
and look forward to more training with the wonderful panels
you bring together. Thank you again!"
"Panel
discussion very important to understand strengths,
weaknesses and trends in Canada, and specifically in
Ontario... Manufacturer, distributor, retailer perspectives
all very important."
"Very
valuable information. We are a new retail store. Left me
very excited to be venturing into the hearth world."
Hearth,
Patio & Barbecue Summit 2007 June 2-4, 2007 Four
committees and HPBAC staff are working on plans for the
Summit at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville in 2007. The
education schedule will include something for everyone from
hands-on technical training to sales and marketing and
business management sessions. There will be a roundtable
session for Reps and a discussion panel on
"How to Sell Your
Business".
Indoor and
Outdoor exhibit space and sponsorship opportunities will be
available soon. For information call 1-800-792-5294.
Prairie
Chapter Update
The
Prairie Chapter Board, under the leadership of Bev Wood,
helped to organize and co-host the HPBAC Reception at EXPO
in March. They had fun working with the
"Wild West" theme.
The
Annual General Meeting planned for June was cancelled due to
lack of participation. Members in the region should contact
Roger Leach or any Prairie Chapter board member if you are
interested in participating in Chapter activities or have
suggestions for future events.
Western Chapter Update
Houston BC Town Council recently approved a new bylaw
dealing with wood burning which includes mandatory removal
of non-certified appliances by 2010. The following is
wording from the bylaw, to view the complete document please
go to the Trade section of hpbacanada.org ...
Non-certified Wood burning Appliance Removal
2.41 The District of Houston is hereby authorized to
establish a removal program for non-certified wood burning
appliances that may incorporate incentives for energy
conservation and air quality improvement including, but not
limited to, household insulation, insulating products,
non-certified wood stove replacement and substitution of
heating methods and appliances, including certified wood
burning appliances.
2.42 Any non-certified wood burning appliance removed under
this section shall be rendered permanently inoperable.
2.43 All non-certified wood burning appliances within the
District of Houston shall be removed from all properties by
Dec. 31, 2010 or rendered permanently inoperable by Dec. 31,
2010.
2.4.4 It shall be a violation of this section for any person
on or after Dec. 31, 2010 to possess or operate a wood
burning appliance within the District of Houston unless it
is certified or it has been rendered permanently inoperable.
2.45 Prior to the completion or consummation of a sale or
transfer of any real property on or after Dec. 31, 2010 all
existing non-certified wood burning appliances shall be
replaced, removed, or rendered permanently inoperable.
Focus on Gas
CSA reconvenes P.4 Committee - With funding provided
by BC Hydro, Manitoba Hydro and NRCan the P4
committee was reconvened on May 24th. Some
of the issues discussed at this meeting were the energy
equations, standards for gas logs, minimum efficiency,
radiant energy, pilot lights and turn downs etc. The
committee has tentatively agreed to a two day meeting to
be held the end of September or early October. In regards to
minimum efficiency, HPBAC‛s position was that it was not within the scope of the P.4 Committee to
establish minimum efficiencies. In the coming months
HPBAC will be working to create a distinction between
decorative fireplaces and
"supplementary heating"
fireplaces - further discussion is required but
consideration is being given to accepting minimum
efficiencies for heating appliances. Contact Tex McLeod
for further info.
Gas
Fireplace Safety
Incidents have been brought to our
attention regarding burns received from gas fireplaces.
This has served to remind us that we all need to do a
better job reminding the public of the potential danger
around all stoves and fireplaces. At a recent
Manufacturers Caucus meeting, there was general
agreement that industry members must take a proactive
approach to safety. Items under consideration include: a
review of the standards, moving safety warnings within
manuals so they are more prominent, POS warnings to
consumers and promoting the availability of optional
safety screens. The
HPBAC communications committee has been charged with
preparing materials for placement on our web-site.
Focus on Wood
In all parts of the country there is a growing
recognition that we all need to work together to reduce
woodsmoke, which explains HPBAC‛s ongoing support of the
Burn it Smart efforts. Woodsmoke is potentially more
problematic with additional woodburning coming on stream
as a response to rising energy costs, some of which may not be EPA appliances. The stark
reality is that the Canadian Environmental Protection
Act (CEPA) cannot currently regulate wood burning
appliances under its current form, that said, the act is
currently under review. Environment Canada hopes to have
a wood stove standard in place as soon as CEPA will
permit but that could take anywhere from 3 - 8
years. Provinces such as Nova Scotia and Newfoundland
have decided not to wait and are following BC‛s lead to
adopt EPA regulations in the coming years and in some
cases, provinces like Quebec and NS are funding great
stove changeouts.
As part of HPBAC‛s ongoing
commitment to working with government agencies to solve
these problem Mr. John Crouch of HPBA and Mr. Marc-Antoine Cantin, HPBAC‛s
Treasurer and president of SBI, attended an inter-governmental stakeholders meeting in
Quebec City in June. In addition to issues surrounding
wood stoves, outdoor boilers were very much on the hot
seat - the good news is that manufacturers are working
with ASTM to develop a suitable testing protocol to
ensure they burn cleaner.
Focus on BBQ
The following article appeared in the Toronto Star this
spring...
TORONTO (CP) - The Conservative
government said Monday it has rejected a recommendation
to impose additional surtaxes on bicycle and barbecue
imports, a decision the Retail Council of Canada said it
fully supports.
The announcement was made Monday by
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and International Trade
Minister David Emerson.
"On behalf of all retailers across Canada
who sell bicycles and barbecues this is a huge victory
for their customers and their businesses," Diane
Brisebois, president and CEO of the industry
association, said in a release.
"The Harper government deserves credit
for recognizing that increasing import surtaxes only
drives up costs and drives down product selection for
Canadian consumers."
The council said it had appeared before
the Canadian International Trade Tribunal to fight the
case on behalf of retailers who sell bikes and
barbecues.
However, the tribunal recommended last
fall that the federal government impose surtaxes on bike
and barbecue imports as a way to counter the effects of
increased imports of those products.
"After considering all of the
information, it was determined that temporary protective
tariffs simply wouldn't provide a competitive long-term
solution in these two cases," Flaherty said in a release
Monday.
"We want to grow and strengthen our
economy, and imposing these surtaxes would have
increased costs for both Canadian retailers and
consumers."
Bicycles are already subject to a high
rate of tariff protection, and in the case of barbecues,
the surtax would likely result in low-cost products
being imported from countries other than China, the
government release stated.
"For the hundreds of our smaller store
owners in these product categories, this is particularly
good news," said Brisebois.
"It will protect their rights to
responsibly source the range of products their consumers
are demanding - at the price levels their customers are
willing or able to pay."
Press Release on
Barbecue Safety
From TSSA
Springing into the Barbecue Season
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Toronto, ON)
- Longer days,
clocks moving one hour ahead and warmer temperatures all
are signs that spring is in the air and with that the
beginning of the main barbecue season. Few things can
match the enjoyment of a barbecue with family and
friends. Practising sensible and safe barbecuing will
help ensure that your get-together is a sizzling
success.
While many
people barbecue throughout the year, safety experts with
the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA)
recognize rolling out the barbecue is a sure sign that
spring has arrived in Ontario. Similar to other spring
rituals, the BBQ
"season opener" should include a
three-step safety check:
1. Clean: use
a pipe cleaner or wire to make sure the burner ports are
free of rust, dust, dirt, spider webs or other debris.
2. Check:
examine the hose leading from the fuel supply to the
burners. Replace if cracked or damaged.
3. Test: find
leaks by applying a 50/50 solution of water and dish
soap to all fuel and hose connections. If bubbles
appear, tighten the connections and/or replace the
damaged parts and always re-test.
In addition
to these opening season safety checks, BBQ enthusiasts
are reminded that barbecues are approved for outdoor use
only. They emit carbon monoxide, an odourless,
colourless poisonous gas that can lead to serious health
affects even death.
Propane
cylinders must also be safely stored and transported. Do
not use or store your cylinders inside any structure.
When transporting the cylinder always keep it upright
and do not put the cylinder in a closed vehicle or in
the trunk. It is preferable to transport the cylinder on
the floor of the passenger compartment.
Using propane
BBQs on the Balcony: Yes or No?
Many Ontarians
live in apartments and condominiums and should be aware
of additional safety issues and restrictions regarding
the use of barbecues on balconies. Barbecue use may be
prohibited by the Condominium Act of your
building or prohibited by the building owner or property
manager, so ensure you have determined what restrictions
are in place for your building. If barbecues are
permitted in your building, there are still some
regulations governing the storage and use of propane in
Ontario on balconies:
• the
balcony is open (no closures or walls have been erected);
•
cylinders are transported in a service elevator or when
there are no service elevators, the person must use the
passenger elevator alone to transport the cylinder;
•
cylinders are kept outdoors;
• the
barbecue is kept clear of all combustible materials listed
on its rating plate or in the certified instructions; and
• the
cylinder relief valve is at least one metre horizontally
from any building opening below it, and three metres from a
building air intake.
Remember
once again that barbecues are only approved for outdoor use.
It is always better to be safe, so if you are uncertain
about the condition or any part of your barbecue, including
your propane cylinder, replace it with a new component.
Parts are readily available at most hardware stores and
building centres. If you are uncomfortable performing safety
checks and repairs on your propane or natural gas barbecue
yourself, please contact a certified fuel-appliance
technician. All technicians must be certified by TSSA. If
you are unsure if your contractor is registered you can
contact TSSA at 1-800-682-8772 www.tssa.org .
More
information on barbecue safety and many other topics is
available at TSSA’s safety website,
www.safetyinfo.ca
Industry News
According to a new study by the
Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI), key motivations
among consumers to move and purchase a home have declined
over the past two years.
In 2006, 22 percent of new homeowners said their desire to
own a home of their own, as opposed to renting, was a basic
motivating factor. That is down from 24 percent in 2004.
Likewise, 16 percent attributed their decision to move into
a new house to small living quarters. Two years ago, 19
percent gave that reason. In fact, the study noted that a
"growing segment" of new homeowners cite the desire to
downsize as their reason for moving. A job requirement to
relocate, however, remained steady at 18 percent.
Other findings show that women have taken second place
behind men in initiating projects for a home being sold,
although they retain the lead for projects in their current
homes.
But whereas men used to lead in initiating future projects,
their role has
"declined as more decisions are joint."
Link to the following at hpbacanada.org . . .
Affinity Programs
Coming Events
If you've been forwarded this newsletter, you can sign up to get your own copy here.
Sincerely,
Kim Rodgers, HPBAC President
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