All exhibitors from 2011 Show should have received your Booth Renewal Form – please complete and return to Caren as soon as possible in order to reserve your space at the 2012 Prairie Showcase! If you have already sent in – thank you.

Email: ckelly@wrla.org or fax to: 204-947-5195

If you have requested any changes I will get back to you mid-June if I can accommodate you.If you are cancelling your booth space I will require written notice on theform and return to me.

Exhibitor Contracts with invoice will be out end of August!

Watch www.wrla.org/prairieshowcase/index.html for all your show information.

Thank you!

 

Bank of Canada maintains overnight rate target at 1 per cent OTTAWA – The Bank of Canada today announced that it is maintaining its target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent.  The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 3/4 per cent.

As anticipated in the January Monetary Policy Report (MPR), the global economic recovery is becoming more firmly entrenched and is expected to continue at a steady pace. In the United States, growth is solidifying, although consolidation of household and ultimately government balance sheets will limit the pace of the expansion. European growth has strengthened, despite ongoing sovereign debt and banking challenges in the periphery. The disasters that struck Japan in March will severely affect its economic activity in the first half of this year and create short-term disruptions to supply chains in advanced economies. Robust demand from emerging-market economies is driving the underlying strength in commodity prices, which is being further reinforced by supply shocks arising from recent geopolitical events. These price increases, combined with persistent excess demand conditions in major emerging-market economies, are contributing to the emergence of broader global inflationary pressures. Despite the significant challenges that weigh on the global outlook, global financial conditions remain very stimulative and investors have become noticeably less risk averse.

Although recent economic activity in Canada has been stronger than the Bank had anticipated, the profile is largely consistent with the underlying dynamics outlined in the January MPR. Aggregate demand is rebalancing toward business investment and net exports, and away from government and household expenditures. As in January, the Bank expects business investment to continue to rise rapidly and the growth of consumer spending to evolve broadly in line with that of personal disposable income, although higher terms of trade and wealth are likely to support a slightly stronger profile for household expenditures than previously projected. In contrast, the improvement in net exports is expected to be further restrained by ongoing competitiveness challenges, which have been reinforced by the recent strength of the Canadian dollar.

Overall, the Bank projects that the economy will expand by 2.9 per cent in 2011 and 2.6 per cent in 2012. Growth in 2013 is expected to equal that of potential output, at 2.1 per cent. The Bank expects that the economy will return to capacity in the middle of 2012, two quarters earlier than had been projected in the January MPR. While underlying inflation is subdued, a number of temporary factors will boost total CPI inflation to around 3 per cent in the second quarter of 2011 before total CPI inflation converges to the 2 per cent target by the middle of 2012. This short-term volatility reflects the impact of recent sharp increases in energy prices and the ongoing boost from changes in provincial indirect taxes. Core inflation has fallen further in recent months, in part due to temporary factors. It is expected to rise gradually to 2 per cent by the middle of 2012 as excess supply in the economy is slowly absorbed, labour compensation growth stays modest, productivity recovers and inflation expectations remain well-anchored.

The persistent strength of the Canadian dollar could create even greater headwinds for the Canadian economy, putting additional downward pressure on inflation through weaker-than-expected net exports and larger declines in import prices. Reflecting all of these factors, the Bank has decided to maintain the target for the overnight rate at 1 per cent. This leaves considerable monetary stimulus in place, consistent with achieving the 2 per cent inflation target in an environment of material excess supply in Canada. Any further reduction in monetary policy stimulus would need to be carefully considered. Information note: A full update of the Bank’s outlook for the economy and inflation, including risks to the projection, will be published in the MPR on 13 April 2011. The next scheduled date for announcing the overnight rate target is 31 May 2011.

This press release is now available on the Bank of Canada’s website at: www.bankofcanada.ca/en/fixed-dates/2011/rate_120411.html

 

STRATA Business Solutions is a team of business professionals who possess extensive experince in Business Strategy Development and Human Resource Management.

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Ken Jenkins, President of Castle Building Centres Group Ltd., is pleased to announce five new members, representing eight locations, to an expanding network of successful independent dealers across Canada:

Matériaux à Bas Prix - St. Antonin, Lachute, Gatineau, Quebec and St. Isidore de Prescott, Ontario - Castle
Today, Matériaux à Bas Prix operates four locations, three positioned in the Quebec market and one in Ontario. In 2008, Sylvie Pomerleau became the owner and President of the company. Matériaux à Bas Prix offer exceptional service to the customers in their respective regions and have aligned with Castle to strengthen their buying position.

Notre Dame Roof Truss - Grand Falls, Windsor, Newfoundland - Castle
Notre Dame Agencies announces the opening of a Truss facility in Newfoundland. This becomes the 10th location operating under the Notre Dame Agencies business structure. Notre Dame Agencies are a long standing Castle member, with owner Cluny Sheppard currently serving on the Castle Board.

Sauve Lumber and Storage Inc. - Timmins, Ontario - Castle
Sauve Lumber and Storage Inc. commenced operations in Timmins in 1985, with a primary focus on the supply of commercial / industrial accounts and residential contractors. Their decision to join Castle provides greater opportunity for growth within their current business model while expanding their retail presence.

C.D.S. Building Supply - Winnipeg, Manitoba - Castle
C.D.S. Building Supply is a new business that opened in the very competitive Winnipeg marketplace in 2010. Owner, Dave Dobie has developed a unique business model supplying a complete line of building materials and focusing on the local contractor base. The business has grown rapidly and C.D.S. Building Supply is planning a move to a new, larger location in August 2011.

P.R. Service - La Loche, Saskatchewan - Castle
Ron & Darney Kisslinger have operated a hardware store in La Loche, SK since 2000. They have recently expanded into a full line of hardware and building material products to better serve the La Loche and area marketplace. The Kisslinger’s joined Castle to broaden their supplier base to support their growing business.

With members in every region of the country, Castle is committed to providing Independent lumber and building supply, commercial and Specialty dealers with the strongest buying model in the industry. Castle employs experienced Business Development Managers and the industry’s leading management team.

 

Canada’s Work Wear Leader Richlu Manufacturing, Signs Sock License Deal Tough Duck and Work King Brands now offer Head to Toe Coverage!

Winnipeg – April 13, 2011, Richlu Manufacturing, Canada’s leading work wear company, is pleased to announce it has signed a license agreement with Renfro Corporation to manufacture and market Work King and Tough Duck socks.

Renfro Corporation, one of the world’s largest sock makers, has operations in North America, Europe and Asia, and manufactures and markets socks under various major brands.

Gavin Rich, Vice President of Richlu, said his company is excited to extend the product lines of their popular Tough Duck and Work King work wear apparel brands. "We will now be able to provide Canadian workers complete headto- toe coverage for our Tough Duck and Work King apparel brands of work wear. "Our agreement with Renfro will ensure our customers will benefit from the same high quality in their work wear socks, as they have come to expect from our highly popular Tough Duck and Work King brands."

Rich added that this agreement and licensing partnership is a great fit with Renfro, who share similar commitments to research, styling and quality in the manufacturing of their sock apparel products.

Brian Grant, General Manager of Renfro Canada, said "we are pleased to add the Tough Duck and Work King brands to our stable of world class sock products that we manufacture and market to retailers. "Tough Duck and Work King are highly respected brands in the work wear marketplace and we look forward to working with Richlu Manufacturing to deliver our world-class styling and quality to a new brand of socks for Canadian retailers." Work King and Tough Duck socks are expected to be on retailer shelves by fall 2011

About Richlu:
Richlu Manufacturing is a family-owned Canadian company founded in 1939 as a maker of pants and winter garments. The company has evolved over the years and has become the largest maker of work wear in Canada and enjoys a reputation for quality, fit and competitive pricing. Today, Richlu manufactures all over the world and operates a major manufacturing facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Warehousing and distribution is done from four locations in Winnipeg with product being shipped to the United States, Europe, and Japan and from coast to coast in Canada. The company manufactures product under brand labels such as TOUGH DUCK, WORK KING, NATURAL HABITAT, TUNDRA and many private brand labels.

About Renfro:
Renfro Hosiery Mills, based in Mount Airy, North Carolina, was founded in 1921 with 25 employees. Today, Renfro employs more than 5,000 people with operations worldwide. Renfro has manufacturing and distribution facilities in the U.S. as well as abroad in India, China, Canada and Mexico. The company has Sales Offices in North Carolina, New York, California, Canada, Mexico and Hong Kong.

For more information: Mr. Gavin Rich,
Richlu Manufacturing
W. (204) 942-3494 M. (204) 228-1873
grich@richlu.co 

 

April 16-18, 2011
TRUSERV CANADA Spring Buying Market
Winnipeg Convention Center
Winnipeg, MB
www.truserv.com 

May 4-6, 2011
2011 Westcoast Building & Hardware Show - Spirit of the Westcoast
Victoria, BC
www.bsiabc.ca
Email: Marijoel@bsiabc.ca

June 2. 2011
Join the WRLA Board of Directors for Dinner in Calgary 
Contact: slabossier@wrla.org

August. 12. 2011
WRLA Bursary Application deadline
www.wrla.org 

August 18 - 20, 2011
The Orgill 2011 Fall Dealer Market
Boston, MA
www.orgill.com 

August. 23. 2011
WRLA Terry Yates Memorial Golf Tournament
Quarry Oaks Golf Club, Steinbach, MB
www.wrla.org