Greetings from Jasper, AB where more than 275 delegates gathered at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge for the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating’s (CIPH) Annual Business Conference (ABC). Some attendees at the sold-out event arrived ahead of June 19, the opening day, to enjoy the many activities available in Jasper Park and surrounding area.
CIPH opened the ABC with the New Delegates’ Reception, where 90-plus delegates and companions were welcomed to their first CIPH conference. It provided the opportunity for them to meet and network with the board, other senior CIPH VIPs, and allied association attendees.
Monday’s agenda included a captivating historic perspective on the area with a talk and slide show about the early days of travel in Jasper National Park by Karen Byers, manager with Jasper-Yellowhead Museum & Archives.
Distribution strategy expert Ian Heller brought delegates back to the present with his presentation Shift from Defence to Offence: eCommerce, Marketplaces, Sales Structure and Services. “Manufacturers, distributors, and their end customers face a dizzying array of forces threatening to upend relationships, and change the value equations for channel players,” said Heller. “This requires B2B companies to rewrite strategies and overhaul their business models.”
He addressed a number of issues of concern in the current business climate, including AI, the relevance of sales reps, manufacturers and distributor partnerships, and adding value to differentiate from pure product sellers. In the breakout sessions that followed, Heller asked attendees “How should you respond and adapt your company’s strategy to succeed in a fast changing and often bewildering business environment?”
On Tuesday, breakfast speaker Matricia Bauer noted that the majority of work theories and workplace approaches across North America are based on Western paradigms that are not relevant to Indigenous values, beliefs, culture, and rights. “Decolonizing our workplaces means going beyond tokenism or the mantra of ‘treating everyone the same,’ to one where we actively acknowledge and support the self-determination of Indigenous people, including cultural, spiritual, and land connections,” said Bauer. She went on to describe practices that would help guide managers and business owners in this endeavour.
Later at the 90th Annual General Meeting, Matt Robinson, vice president, showroom group, with Robinson (A Division of B.A. Robinson) in Winnipeg, MB was elected 2022/2023 chair.
As is the tradition, the ABC concluded with a formal dinner and entertainment. The operatic, pop and comedy-packed performance by Opera on The Rocks! was a fitting end to the event.
The 2023 ABC 2023 will be held June 18 to 20 at the Delta St. John’s in St. John’s, NL.
Understanding the proper application of hydronic systems
Sidney Manning, provincial plumbing and gas administrator, municipal affairs – Government of Alberta addressed CIPH hydronics members at the Canadian Hydronics Council (CHC) luncheon on June 21. With the theme
Shift to Celebrate – The Value of Collaboration, his session focused on regulatory application of CSA B214 installation code for hydronic heating systems and other items relative to the provincial and national application of hydronic heating systems.
More photos and detail coming here and in the next issue of Mechanical Business.