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Message From The Editor
Updating best practices
Meet Jeffrey Moyle. Like other leaders in our industry, his responsibilities have changed considerably with the arrival of the pandemic, except that in his case a major merger had just taken shape. Focus and move away from whiteboards are two tips he offers to those who join our resilient industry. Also, check out EFC’s new information portal on GUV devices and certification and registration requirements before they can be sold in Canada. Have electrical contractors gone digital, and what’s at stake? Finding the right human resource is more important than ever for many reasons, ranging from labour shortages at all levels of the supply chain to highly skilled positions. But to find the right person, update your job descriptions to reflect the qualifications you’re seeking. Good reading!
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Interview with a Leader
Rexel’s Jeffrey Moyle — Taking Strategy from a White Board to Reality
By Line Goyette
“The ongoing integration of Rexel Utility into our Canadian business platforms has underscored our responsibility as an organization to find creative solutions for today’s challenges, as well as to prepare for tomorrow’s opportunities.” This quote from Jeffrey caught my attention. Vice President, Supplier & Digital Strategy at Rexel Canada Electrical Inc., Jeffrey has extensive experience in the industry and is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario with a Master’s in Business Administration, focusing on internarial leadership. During the pandemic, Jeffrey embarked on a lifegoal of completing a Masters in international affairs and diplomacy, with a long-term vision of completing a PhD in the field. I had no doubt he would have much to say about the industry and the challenges we face.
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Electro-Federation Canada
Where Innovation and Safety Intersect: GUV Devices in Canada
By Swati Vora-Patel
The electrical market is at the helm of innovation — from robotics and automation products that support advanced manufacturing to smart technology in homes and businesses, our industry leads innovation and competitiveness in Canada. With advanced electrical and automation products shaping how we work, live and play, our industry is continually at the forefront of designing technologies that meet the needs of Canadians today. Over the past year, we have all been reminded that clean, hygienic spaces are critical to our health and well-being. To help keep public and shared spaces hygienic, leading manufacturers have developed innovative germicidal UV (GUV) devices to help prevent the spread of infectious bacteria and viruses. While innovation is imperative for the long-term health and prosperity of our country and for businesses and consumers alike, safety is also of paramount importance.
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Best Practices — Distribution
Digitizing Contractor Interaction
By David Gordon
Many talk about digitizing the channel and the emerging / present digitalization of the industry and then wonder why eCommerce as a percentage of distributor sales is not higher. One major reason is for many distributors their key customer is a contractor. Much is being invested into the space. Everything from product content to website development / eCommerce platforms (and CMG is involved in some of this in supporting clients as well as involved with ETIM North America). The issue, in many cases, is that 45% of industry revenues is generated from contractors, and they have widely varying capabilities. And from a purchasing viewpoint, 30-40% of the business is typically project oriented. Some contractors are very digitally savvy. Others are, shall we say, “challenged.”
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Human Resources
Hiring — Connecting the Dots
By Michelle Branigan
A career seeker looking for a job. An HR manager looking to hire. Both are looking to fill a need quickly, effectively and as cost efficiently as possible. The career seeker needs to pay their rent or mortgage, and the HR manager knows the cost to the business of the wrong hire. This is where the need for a well-written job description comes in. All too often job descriptions are outdated, listing requirements that are no longer valid, or failing to accurately portray a clear description of the role and employer expectations. Job descriptions serve an important organizational function and it is critical that they are kept up to date, or evergreen. This ensures that they take account of industry changes and the subsequent impact on skills requirements.
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The Internet of Things
Industry Must Transform. Here’s a Practical Way to Make It Happen
By Jean-Pascal Tricoire
The challenges facing industry at the moment are tough: supply chain disruptions, recurring lockdowns and lingering travel restrictions, to name just a few. We’re all trying to find the balance between overcoming these challenges while working to a future where we are more resilient, sustainable and efficient. But today’s efforts are not enough. We’re being too conservative. More of our collective energy needs to be spent on the practical “how” — the “how can we get there with immediate actions.” We have innovative technologies and solutions sitting on shelves, waiting to be deployed. McKinsey estimates that Europe operates at just 12% of its digital potential, with the U.S. only marginally better at 18%.
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Looking Back
The Association Grows — 1978
By the year 1978, CEDA had grown to represent 70 Canadian companies, with a total of more than 400 branches and annual sales of $1.4 billion. In concert with this growth, the structure of the Association was expanded. The divisions increased from five to eight, geographically defined as British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Maritime (PEI, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia), and Newfoundland.
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Economy
Investment in Building Construction Rose 5.9% in March
Total investment in building construction increased 5.9% to $18.6 billion in March, led by the residential sector. On a constant dollar basis (2012=100), investment in building construction was up 5.2% to $14.3 billion in March. Residential investment continues to set records. Residential construction investment increased for the eleventh consecutive month, up 7.6% to $14.0 billion in March. Investment in single units jumped 10.7% to $7.8 billion. Quebec led the way with an increase of 30.4%, bringing investment in single homes to $1.9 billion for the province. Investment in Ontario was up 9.8% to $3.3 billion, driven by renovations to single family homes in the census metropolitan area of Toronto. Growth in multi-unit construction continued, up 3.9% to $6.2 billion. Gains in Quebec and Ontario led the overall increase in this component, as six provinces reported declines. Both new construction and renovations of condominiums and apartments in the cities of Toronto and Montréal accounted for most of the growth.
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Economy
Wholesale Sales Rose 2.8% in March
Sales by Canadian wholesalers rose 2.8% in March, the second increase in three months. The growth in March was due to increases in the building material and supplies subsector and the miscellaneous subsector. Wholesale sales volumes were up 1.9% to $61.9 billion. March was the eighth consecutive month where wholesale sales volumes were higher than the $59.7 billion recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic, in February 2020. Wholesale sales volumes were 3.7% higher in March 2021 than February 2020. Sales of building materials and supplies rose for the 10th time in 11 months, up 11.3% to $12.2 billion, an all-time high for the subsector. This subsector has been the strongest component of wholesale trade in Canada since the beginning of the pandemic, as demand for new homes and home improvements has increased.
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Survey Says
Salary by Position: Industrial Lighting Fixture Manufacturing
Top of the heap: technical product managers at $110,000. Down at the bottom: industrial designers, at $49,000. See where six other positions fit.
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Changing Scene – The People
- Electro-Federation Canada Announces New Chair and Board of Directors for 2021-22
Electro-Federation Canada (EFC) once again held its Annual General Meeting virtually this year on May 11, 2021, which saw an update on key initiatives and the welcoming of a new Chair and election of the 2021-2022 Board of Directors. Carol McGlogan, President & CEO, EFC shared key highlights from the past year and provided a summary of the programs available for members. EFC also announced its 2021-22 Board of Directors, including the appointment of David Nathaniel, CEO, Ascot Capital Group, as EFC’s Chair…
- Ideal Supply Announces Tim MacDonald's Retirement and Promotes Howie Pruden
After 40 years of combined service and leadership of Ideal Supply, the company has announced Tim MacDonald, President, will be retiring as of June 30, 2021. Starting his Ideal Supply career in 1981, Tim worked in several different capacities within the company in his early days and succeeded his father John, as President in 1995 and CEO in 2000. This year, Ideal Supply is celebrating its 95th year of operation. Tim has provided visionary leadership to the company throughout his many years…
- Grant Iwasa Joins Roney Marketing to Grow Datacom Business
Roney Marketing is pleased to announce they have hired Grant Iwasa to help us grow their business in Ontario. His sole focus will be to help grow and develop the datacom side of Roney Marketing's business. He comes with an extensive background and understanding of the datacom and fibre field that will only continue to require more resources and understanding…
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Changing Scene – The People
- Jerry Evans joins Gescan as Director of Business Intelligence and Pricing
Gescan has added Jerry Evans as the new Director of Business Intelligence and Pricing. "Jerry brings over 20 years of e-commerce experience in the electrical industry implementing full-service eCommerce marketing solutions. Jerry graduated from Kwantlen Polytechnic University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance…
- LEDVANCE Names Charles Harte VP of Marketing & Customer Experience for US & Canada Region
LEDVANCE LLC, the maker of SYLVANIA general lighting in the US and Canada, announced Charlie Harte as the company’s VP of Marketing & Customer Experience. This is an addition to Harte’s role as Canada President & CEO for LEDVANCE LLC which he took over in February 2020. For over 30 years, Harte has been generating demand across multiple channels for brands in the building materials industry including Uponor, Milwaukee Tools, Irwin Industrial Tools, DeWalt and Black & Decker…
- Ouellet Canada adds Territory Sales Manager for Ontario Market
Ouellet Canada inc. continues to grow in the Ontario Market and is adding to its sales team. Chase Thompson has been appointed Territory Sales Manager for the province of Ontario. Thompson has more than 15 years of experience in the electrical market with remarkable job stability. He has extensive knowledge of the electrical market and brings a high level of service…
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Changing Scene – The People
- Electrozad Welcomes Dan Deneau as Chatham Branch Manager
Electrozad welcomes Dan Deneau back to their team in the position of Branch Manager at their Chatham location. Deneau will be providing strategic leadership, direction, and oversight for the sales and operations resources within the Chatham branch. He will be responsible for aligning the local market needs with the relevant Electrozad capabilities to drive sales growth and profitability…
- BJ Take Signs New Specification Agency in GTA
In response to a growing demand for BJ Take’s energy-efficient total lighting automation solutions, BJ Take is pleased to announce Metrix Lighting & Controls as its new specification agent for the Greater Toronto Area. Doug Wilson, Vice President of Sales for BJ Take explains that “Metrix Lighting & Controls embodies what we are offering to our customer base and we are pleased that they will be able to draw from their expertise and our vast product offering to serve the GTA.”…
- Leviton Launches New Business-to-Business Portal in Canada
Second generation eBusiness ordering platform designed to increase productivity for distribution partners. Leviton Canada announced the availability of its second generation eBusiness platform, Leviton B2B. The new online ordering system is designed with several enhanced features to simplify the critical needs of distributor procurement and sales professionals.“We have designed our eBusiness platform with our distribution partners’ operational needs in mind,” said Jason Prevost, President and Chief Operating Officer at Leviton Canada. “We have improved the user experience on our new B2B portal allowing them to be more efficient.”
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Changing Scene – The Industry
- Multiple Luminaires from Acuity Brands Recognized for Outstanding Design and Performance
The Red Dot Awards, one of the world’s largest and most distinguished design competitions, recently recognized the Align and Aloft luminaires from A-Light™, and the Outline, Knit, Expo and Mill luminaires from Eureka® for outstanding product design. Red Dot receives more than 18,000 entries each year. The jury is comprised of 50 international experts who scrutinize a product’s formal quality, ergonomics, and longevity...
- ABB and BEQ Technology to Accelerate E-Mobility Adoption
ABB and BEQ Technology, which specializes in the installation of EV charging stations, have entered into an agreement to provide BEQ Technology customers access to ABB’s world-class charging solutions and accelerate the adoption of e-mobility in Quebec. Quebec's 2030 Plan for a Green Economy, which includes initiatives on the electrification of transport, the importance of e-mobility is being pushed up the public agenda…
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Changing Scene – The Industry
- Gerrie Electric Burlington Distribution Centre Nearing Completion
Gerrie recently provided an update on their new Burlington Distribution Centre is almost complete: "We are excited to share updated progress photos of our new 76,000 sq foot Distribution Centre in Burlington! We have invested in an innovative automated storage and retrieval system, conveyors and streamlined processes to quickly and efficiently get products to market. This technology will be driving even greater productivity to support new and growing sales while enhancing job satisfaction, and increased skills and technical capabilities."…
- E.B. Horsman & Son Terrace is Relocating July 2021
E.B. Horsman & Son is excited to announce their Terrace branch will be moving down the street to a new building located on 2915 Molitor Street, Terrace on July 12th, 2021. The newly constructed 20,000 square foot building was custom-built to replace our current 7,200 square foot location on 5000 Pohle Avenue that has served Terrace and the surrounding area since 1961! The building will also offer three commercial spaces for lease to local businesses…
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Changing Scene – The Industry
- The Zigbee Alliance Rebrands as Connectivity Standards Alliance
The Zigbee Alliance, an organization of hundreds of companies creating, maintaining, and delivering open global standards for the Internet of Things (IoT), announced an organizational rebrand to the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA). The organization announced a second brand, Matter, formerly known to the industry as Project Connected Home over IP (CHIP). The newly developed Matter mark will serve as a seal of approval, assuring that any object built on this standard is reliable by nature…
- Lumenpulse Group Rebrands as LMPG
The Lumenpulse Group is announcing a rebranding of its corporate identity. At the centre of this rebrand is a name change to LMPG Inc. and a new visual identity for the Montreal-headquartered company. Founded in 2006, LMPG Inc. is the parent company which grew from a singular brand, Lumenpulse, to a group of brands encompassing a broader product portfolio, establishing itself as a market leader in smart LED specification-grade solutions…
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Changing Scene – The Industry
- EFC Scholarship Program Application Deadline: May 31, 2020
Electro-Federation Canada (EFC) and its members are proud to support the next generation of leaders who will power a changing world in the Canadian Electrical industry. This industry is made up of inventors, creators and visionaries who are creating new approaches to how electrical products are used by Canadians at home, work and play…
- BCEA PowerUp Podcast: Construction Outlook — 2021 Edition
At BCEA's 2021 Construction Outlook event included a sit down with the President and founder of ETRO Construction, Mike Maierle. Since opening in 2015, ETRO has quickly become one of the fastest growing construction companies in BC and Mike offers a number of his insights on a wide variety of topics. From the struggles of 2020 to the opportunities that will come in 2021 and beyond, this is an intriguing conversation you won’t want to miss…
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Changing Scene – Financial Reports
- WESCO International, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2021 Results
“We’re off to a great start to the year and delivered excellent results across the board that exceeded our expectations. I am very proud of our team and the work that they are doing in executing our integration plan, delivering the synergies, and capturing the value of the transformational combination of WESCO and Anixter,” said John Engel, Chairman, President and CEO…
- AMS Reports Robust First Quarter Group Results
AMS reports robust first quarter 2021 group results with revenues of USD 1,549 million and an adjusted operating (EBIT) margin of 11%. This attractive performance was driven by healthy overall demand including strong demand in the automotive market, despite typical seasonality in the consumer market. Referring to the final published expectations for the historical ams business…
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Changing Scene
- Eaton Reports Strong First Quarter 2021 Results, Raises 2021 Outlook
Eaton announced that earnings per share were $1.14 for the first quarter of 2021. Excluding charges of $0.18 per share related to intangible amortization, $0.09 per share related to acquisitions and divestitures, and $0.03 per share related to a multi-year restructuring program, adjusted earnings per share were a first quarter record of $1.44, up 15 percent over the first quarter of 2020…
- Legrand 2021 First-Quarter Results
“In the first quarter of 2021, our revenues showed a steep rise in all regions. At constant scope of consolidation and exchange rates, sales were up +13.1% from the first quarter of 2020, which represents a +4.9% increase over two years2 and reflects Legrand’s stronger positions in our markets…
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