WRLA News

What's Going On

Sandra Baldwin 1944-2011

SANDRA BALDWIN passed away on Monday, September 12, 2011. Sandy, aged 67 years of Arborg, passed away with her family at her side at the Health Sciences Centre. Sandy was WRLA’s Manager of Finance for many years and will be sadly missed.

Arrangements pending with MacKenzie Funeral Home, Arborg (204) 467-2525

2012 Prairie Showcase Exhibitors

Please sign and return your Exhibitor Contracts and Health & Safety Forms as soon as possible (if you haven't already).

Booth invoices are due no later than September 30, 2012!

All show information can be found by following this link http://www.wrla.org/prairieshowcase/exhibitor_guide.html

If you would like to cancel your booth, please send me an email to ckelly@wrla.org

Online Registration for your name badges and evening events will be available in early October - so watch www.wrla.org for links - don't assume someone else has registered you - check to make sure to avoid the line-up at the door!

Retail Business Management Studies Program (RBMSP)

This premium training program offers the tools and knowledge to be more effective in work and in life. This program is designed specifically for the lumber and building materials industry and combines regular classroom study, interaction with peers, and a final exam. It is based on a module system in which each level builds knowledge gained from previous levels.

Where? Edmonton, AB

REGISTER YOUR KEY PEOPLE NOW!

Module One	Management Skills	November 15 & 16, 2011
Module Two	Human Resources Management	November 17 & 18, 2011
Module Three	Financial Management	November 21-23, 2011
Module Four	Inventory Management	November 24 & 25, 2011
Module Five	Strategic Retail Marketing	November 30 & Dec 1, 2011
Module Six	Purchasing	November 28 & 29, 2011

CLICK HERE to view the RBMSP Brochure PDF

ONLINE REGISTRATION OPEN NOW!

WRLA Education Update

What's on tap for education this Fall?

Manual Estimating – Edmonton and Winnipeg
Plumbing and Electrical with Bob Sutherland – Calgary and Winnipeg
Retail Business Management Studies Program - Edmonton

CLICK HERE to view the full calendar and to register online

2011 WRLA Audit Report

The 2011 WRLA Audit Report is now available to WRLA Members.

If you would like to receive a PDF copy my email, please email us at wrla@wrla.org

Industry News

McMunn & Yates Announcement

Weber Construction Ltd. and McMunn & Yates Building Supplies Ltd. are pleased to announce that they have signed a purchase transaction agreement whereby McMunn & Yates will acquire the retail assets of Weber’s Building Centre and Weber Furniture and Appliance Centre in Yorkton and Kamsack, SK. The effective date of this transaction is September 19, 2011.

Weber Construction Ltd., owned and operated by Brent and Brian Weber and founded by Charles Weber, has successfully operated in Yorkton market since 1951. Speaking on behalf of the family, President Brent Weber stated: "We are very pleased to enter this transaction with McMunn & Yates. They are a dynamic company and have the people and resources in place that will benefit our staff and customers. Over the years it has been a true pleasure to serve our builders and retail customers in both Yorkton and Kamsack. It has also been a great experience to work with all of our dedicated staff members."

Jason Yates, President of McMunn & Yates, stated: "we are pleased to have this opportunity to enter these two growing markets. The Weber stores are well respected in the industry for their quality of staff and the service that they provide. We have similar cultures and are confident that the Weber stores will be a great fit with our existing operations."

"We are excited to be working with the current employee teams at both the Yorkton and Kamsack locations. We are also looking forward to becoming part of the communities," added Jason Yates.
According to Brent Weber the sale will signal the end of his and his brother’s venture in the building supply and furniture industry; however they will continue to operate their construction division, which has been in business for 60 years.

Changes to the storefronts will be made to incorporate the McMunn & Yates banner and additions to the merchandising mix and point-of-sales system will be made over time.

Owens Corning Again Named to Dow Jones Sustainability World Index

For the second year in a row, Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) has earned placement in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) in recognition of its sustainability initiatives.
Composed of global sustainability leaders, the DJSI World Index is an elite listing of the top 10 percent of the world's 2,500 largest companies based on long-term economic, environmental and social criteria.

"We are extremely proud to have again earned placement in the DJSI World Index," said Owens Corning Chief Sustainability Officer Frank O'Brien-Bernini. "Owens Corning is committed to balancing economic growth with social progress and environmental stewardship as we deliver sustainable solutions to our building materials and composites customers around the world.
"To this end, we have adopted an increasingly holistic approach that impacts our operations, our products, and how we work with our customers and suppliers to deliver sustainable solutions," he added.

Owens Corning is devoted to delivering sustainable solutions in both of its primary business segments: Building Materials and Composites. A leading manufacturer of energy-saving insulation, Owens Corning recently introduced its revolutionary EcoTouch™ insulation. EcoTouch™ is a new class of high-performance residential and commercial insulation made with a minimum of 99 percent minerals and plant-based compounds and is third-party certified to be a minimum 50 percent recycled content and formaldehyde-free. The company's glass fiber reinforcements, fabrics and non-wovens are used in a wide variety of composite applications. Owens Corning glass reinforcements are used to reduce the weight of vehicle components to improve fuel efficiency, to increase infrastructure durability, and to make wind turbine blades that support the growing global demand for low-carbon, renewable energy.

The DJSI follows a best-in-class approach and includes sustainability leaders from industries worldwide, serving as an important guide for investors to assess a company's sustainability portfolio. Selection to the DJSI is based on an in-depth analysis of a company's economic, environmental and social aspects with a focus on long-term development of corporate value. Listed companies are considered to demonstrate continuous improvement every year with regard to sustainability and are assessed by analysts from the Sustainable Asset Management Group (SAM).

An in-depth look at Owens Corning's sustainability efforts can be found in the company's 2010 Sustainability Report and on the following website:
www.sustainability.owenscorning.com

TIM-BR MART’s Award-winning Contest Returns for the Third Year

MINOR LEAGUE HOCKEY TEAMS WILL TAKE ANOTHER SHOT AT BEING RINKSIDE FOR THE WORLD JUNIORS

The return of the award-winning TIM-BR MART World Junior Hockey Video Challenge will give Canadians a chance to vote for their favourite team spirit video and put another minor league hockey team rink-side at the World Junior Hockey Championship this December in Edmonton, AB.
An eligible team can video their team spirit, upload it to timbrtube.ca and Canadians will vote for their favourite for just 15 days starting from November 13 (12:00:01EST) to November 27 (11:59:59EST). The team with the winning entry (including parents/guardians and coaches) will enjoy roundtrip transportation to Edmonton, AB, accommodations, meals and tickets to World Juniors games over December 27 – 30, 2011; it’s a prize worth up to $60,000, if won by a Nova Scotia team, for example.

Up for grabs as well are Source for Sports gift cards as second, third and wildcard prizes ($5,000, $2,500 and $2,500 respectively).

The Video Challenge is part of TIM-BR MART’s ongoing sponsorship of Hockey Canada and the World Juniors, a partnership that provides the group with high-profile exposure at the World Junior tournament and access to other tournaments in the Hockey Canada franchise. Returning as official vendor sponsors of the World Junior Hockey Video Challenge are CGC, Henkel/Lepage, PPG and Roxul; Regal Ideas, the newest supplier on board, rounds out the vendor roster.

"We expect this to be our best year yet with submissions and Dealer support. Canada loves hockey. No two ways about it, so the contest is a great way for store owners to talk to their customers and their community about something a little different than they usually do," commented Steve Stremecki VP of Corporate Development at TIM-BR MARTS Ltd. He continued to add that the contest has become a unifying force in towns and cities across the country: "Entire communities will rally around their local team. That’s the kind of connection we hoped for when we created this contest."

TIM-BR MART Dealers across Canada will be supporting the contest with in-store signage, ongoing promotions in their flyers as well as their community outreach efforts to customers, hockey parents, coaches and teams. Social media will once more play a big role in the success of the Video Challenge with things like a facebook fanpage, a youtube page plus regular tweets from the Challenge’s ‘Ref’ on twitter (@timbrref).

As a major sponsor of the World Juniors, TIM-BR MART will receive high exposure throughout the 31-game tournament on places like rink boards, power ribbons at the Rexall Place in Edmonton and Saddledome in Calgary and the official Alberta tournament website, for example.

For more on the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship go online to www.hockeycanada.ca