Canadian Glass Association Announces Newly Elected Board Members
January 6, 2010

The Canadian Glass Association (CGA) announced its newly appointed board of directors for 2010 during its annual general meeting, which was held recently in Pickering, Ontario. The board members will hold their positions for two-year terms. The following were elected:

• President: Richard Verdon, RSVP Agency Inc., Ottawa, Ontario;
• First vice president: David Langton, Competition Glass Ltd., Kelowna, B.C.;
• Second vice president: Fred Fulton, Glassopolis, Toronto;
• Past president: David Husson, DH Glass Solutions Inc, Langley, B.C.;
• Treasurer: Stephen Hargrove, Wescom Glass & Aluminum Ltd., Calgary, Alberta;
• Technical committee chair: Leonard Pianalto, Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd., Vancouver, B.C.; and
• Membership Committee: Steve Peterson, Automated Entrances, Calgary, Alberta.

"Our new board has more than 60 years of combined experience in the glass industry and their knowledge and skills will be a tremendous asset to the association," says Zana Gordon, CGA executive director. "These people are business owners or employees of companies in the glass industry who volunteer their time because they believe in giving back to the industry," she says. "We are all working together for the betterment of the Canadian glass industry."

Also during the board meeting, the CGA decided to help set up local associations for glass companies in provinces and territories that currently do not have an association representing them.

According to an association announcement, Gordon told the group that she has spoken to several glass shop owners in these areas who want to join but do not have the resources to establish an association for themselves. She says that the CGA bylaws dictate the membership to the CGA is through affiliated glass industry associations. Joining a glass association in any province automatically entitles individual companies to a membership in the national association.

"These companies are interested in apprenticeship training and other resources that the CGA offers so we needed to amend our bylaws so we can reach out to all of the people who don't have access to a provincial association," says Gordon. Presently, only British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario have glass associations that are recognized members of the CGA.

During the meeting the directors passed a motion to take the initiative and set up chapter associations in Manitoba, Quebec, the Atlantic Provinces, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The CGA will cover the costs, of about $200, to register each association and develop their constitution, set budgets and write their bylaws.

CGA president Richard Verdon says he will personally travel to many of these locations to assist them with their start-ups.

"It's very important that we have representation from all provinces and territories in Canada and I am looking forward to visiting them to let them know that we can all work together toward the betterment of our industry," he says.

The CGA plans to convene a special resolution meeting in April to vote on changes to the bylaw that will allow individual members to join until an association is established in their area, including the United States.

"That will allow glass shops to benefit from the resources and programs we now offer immediately," says Verdon. "This is the ultimate goal of CGA. To reach out and help all glass professionals across the country.

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