The WRLA office will be closed from December 24, 2018 - Jan 1, 2019. Thank you to all our members for a wonderful 2018 - we wish you a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

We have learned that the previous issue of the WRLA News was not delivered properly to many of our members; therefore, we are including this story from the previous newsletter to highlight our member acheivements!

Three Lowe's Canada banners won Outstanding Retailer Awards:

Best Large Surface Retailer: Lowe’s South, Windsor, Ontario.

Best Building Supply/Home Centre (under 15,000 square feet): Ace Building Centre, Kaslo, British Columbia.

Young Retailer Award: Tyler Dueck, owner of RONA Valley Enterprise in Rosenort, Manitoba. 

Home Hardware won two awards:

Best Hardware Store: Michel Robidoux, Dealer-Owner, Quincaillerie Sainte-Julie, Sainte-Julie, Québec.

Timber Mart won one award:

Notice is given to all Members of the Western Retail Lumber Association Inc. (WRLA). The Annual General Meeting of the WRLA will be held at 2PM, on Thursday, January 17, 2019 in Hall D at the BMO Stampede Park located in Calgary, Alberta.

The purpose of this meeting will be:

• Through an election, to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors for a Retail Member representing Manitoba.
• To approve the WRLA Audited Financial Statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018
• To appoint the auditor for the WRLA
• To adopt the Minutes of the 2018 Annual General Meeting
• To hear reports from the Chair of the Board, the President, and the Chairs of a number of Standing Committees.

Know someone who is looking for a fulfilling career? Want to introduce someone to the lumber and building materials industry? Please pass along this newsletter to those who are looking for a change or a chance at a new career. Taking an education course is a way to increase your skills as well as open up new career opportunities.

Important deadlines are coming up – register now for WRLA Education Courses:

Share this news - please forward this edition of the WRLA News to your contacts. Or click the "share" buttons below (for Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn).

For MRU course details and to register visit the MRU website.

Interested where these courses can take you? Have a look at the current job opportunities across Canada on the BMCC website.

The WRLA is pleased to announce new members:

• Durapro Adhesives
• The Dealers Choice

January 16, 17, and 18, 2019 – WRLA Buying Show, Calgary, AB
January 17, 2019 – Annual General Meeting, Calgary, AB

April 29 & 30: Level 1 (Manual Estimating, Decks & Garages), Winnipeg, MB
May 1 & 2: Level 2 (Manual Estimating, Residential Construction), Winnipeg, MB
May 3: Principles of Yard & Warehouse Operations, Winnipeg, MB

May 6 & 7: Level 1 (Manual Estimating, Decks & Garages), Saskatoon, SK
May 8 & 9: Level 2 (Manual Estimating, Residential Construction), Saskatoon, SK
MAY 10: Principles of Yard & Warehouse Operations, Saskatoon, SK

It’s free to sign up, there are no minimum shipping requirements, and the discounts can be applied to a new or existing UPS account. Put logistics to work for you and start saving today. Learn how UPS can help.

Home Hardware announced the appointment of Marianne Thompson to the company’s Leadership Team. Marianne has been appointed Vice-President, Merchandise LBM, effective January 7th, 2019. 

Home Hardware has strategically reorganized its merchandise department, creating two new dedicated merchandise teams responsible for all product sourcing. Current Vice-President, Joel Marks, will lead the Hardlines department as Vice-President, Merchandise Hardlines.

Marianne Thompson, Vice-President, Merchandise LBM
Most recently, Marianne was the Senior Vice President of North American Sales at Jeld-Wen Windows and Doors. Marianne has also held executive positions with Alexandria Moulding, Supplier Pipeline and Colonial Elegance Inc. Marianne began her career in retail at Lansing Buildall.

Joel Marks, Vice-President, Merchandise Hardlines
Joel has over 35 years of experience in home improvement retailing. Joel has been with Home Hardware since 1999, when the company purchased Beaver Lumber. Joel was first appointed to Vice-President of Home Hardware in 2015.

Read the full news release. 

Viance, a provider of wood treatment preservatives, has unveiled a completely redesigned and rebranded website at treatedwood.com. The new Viance logo characterizes the website’s colorful, but uncluttered, simplified design. The new website has new engagement tools that include the Wood Chat blog, the Deck Design Visualizer, project plans, educational videos, and the where-to-buy dealer locator. Visit the website: www.treatedwood.com. 

TIMBER MART extends their reach in Toronto by welcoming new lumber and building material (LBM) dealer, CTS Building Supplies Ltd. (CTS Building Supplies) to their group. Toronto-based, CTS Building Supplies joins TIMBER MART for better buying power in their key building material categories as well as access to Spancan vendor-direct programs.

“Not only will TIMBER MART provide us with the buying power and Spancan vendor-direct programs we need to compete, but also the group support we’ve been looking for,” says Ranjith Kones, owner of CTS Building Supplies. “We’re glad to be a part of something bigger and look forward to seeing our business grow as a result of the many competitive advantages we now have as a member.”

Read the news release. 

The Lowe’s network of stores in Canada is proud to announce that its annual toy drive campaign, executed in partnership with The Salvation Army, has collected more than 7,740 new, unopened toys for underprivileged children across Canada. The toys collected between November 19 and December 16 by 66 Canadian Lowe’s stores will be given to children in need through local chapters of The Salvation Army in multiple Canadian cities. To further support The Salvation Army, Lowe’s Canada announced yesterday a $15,000 cash donation to CTV Toronto’s Toy Mountain, a yearly toy drive in the Greater Toronto Area also in partnership with The Salvation Army.

Read the news release.

Cervus Equipment announced its new partnership with Baumann Canada. A first of its kind appointment, Baumann, the world’s market leader and largest sideloader manufacturer, has chosen Cervus as its official distributor across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. 

While the sideloader market remains relatively modest, Cervus recognized a growing need in various Canadian industries. From lumber to metals and extrusions, the sideloader’s capabilities offer numerous benefits in unique applications. 

"By handling long loads lengthways on a load bed, sideloader customers typically find major advantages in terms of productivity, access through doorways and space utilization." says Mark Milligan, General Manager, Materials Handling, Cervus Equipment. "Recently, increasing concerns over load safety, lift truck stability and the awareness of pedestrians has led to a resurgence in demand for equipment from the market leader." 

Read the full story. 

The Bosch Rexroth white paper "A practical roadmap for the implementation of Industry 4.0" argues that Industry 4.0 is an evolution, not a revolution, and includes practical suggestions for a three-step approach, supporting the steady implementation of connected manufacturing technologies, bolting sensors and hardware to existing production infrastructure. 

Read the full news release.

The Hillman Group, Inc., a leading solution provider to the retail hardware market, announced that it will relocate its Canadian National Distribution Centre and Head Office to a newly designed, 400,000 square foot facility in the Metro East Business Park in Toronto.

Read the full news release. 

Home Hardware Stores Limited is pleased to announce Tammy Wallace as the new Merchandise Manager of Housewares and Home Décor, effective this week. In her previous role, Tammy was Inventory Analyst for Home Hardware Stores Limited. She has close to 17 years of merchandise experience and brings a wealth of knowledge and business acumen to her new role.