PAGE A4 – January 2009 – The GTA Construction Report
Editor’s
Publisher’s
column
viewpoint
Matthew Desrosiers
By Chase
Welcome to 2009, a New Year with new tures (NHBA Newspaper) to the Renomark pro-
It seems all everyone is talking about these days is the economy. events for the Construction News and Report gram and renovating to help spread the word
I can’t blame them. Things are getting a little scary out there, and you can’t
Group to attend, starting with the Ontario about the value of using a Renomark certified
help but wonder where you’ll be and what you’ll be left with when the dust set-
Forum in Toronto and the Barrie Construction renovator and distribute to a large consumer au-
tles.
Association’s (BCA) Annual General Meeting dience across the Niagara Region.
We’re seeing shutdowns this month that make your eyes go wide. Chrysler,
and Dinner. A day after returning from Ontario Forum on
General Motors and Ford have all extended the durations of planned shutdowns
of their manufacturing plants over the holidays and into the New Y
Ontario Forum 2009 (hosted by the Ontario January 15 I will head up to Barrie to attend my
ear. In Sud-
bury, their once invincible economy has taken a hit as mining giant Vale Inco
Home Builders Association) takes place over first AGM and Dinner to continue to build a
shut down it’s Copper Cliff South mine in the city indefinitely. Even the popu-
two days at the Westin Prince Hotel in Toronto strong relationship with the BCA and its mem-
lar reality show, Canadian Idol, has been cancelled for this upcoming season.
on January 13 with the Industry Leaders’ Re- bers. While there I hope to connect with a few
We are facing serious challenges this year, and no one is sure we can count
ception & Dinner and on the 14
th
and offering potential clients for features and get some pho-
on our government to help us out effectively. With the coalition fiasco last an exciting mix of seminars designed to edu- tos for use in our community news section.
month, and Parliament set to resume later this month, it’s anyone’s guess what cate, speakers who will challenge your think- February is only a few weeks away, yet I
to expect. At least our finance minister has recently acknowledged there will be ing, and tool and product displays to stimulate need to start mapping out my trip to Quebec for
challenges, deficits and job losses. Now, we need to count on him to come to the
your sense of innovation. The event is in its 21
st
the Canadian Home Builders Association Con-
table when Parliament resumes with a plan to minimize these things.
year of bringing cutting-edge information and ference and a short trip to London to connect
The word we’re hearing from the industry is infrastructure. People want to
see infrastructure projects, or nation building projects as they are sometimes
exceptional networking opportunities to home- with the construction association there. 2009
called, to jumpstart the economy again. These will provide jobs, money for local
builders, renovators, architects, realtors and for me will be about new relationships and how
economies, and of course give us a stronger framework upon which to build
other industry professionals, in an atmosphere I can help promote associations and the con-
when this recession comes to an end. Will funding for infrastructure projects
of collective learning and fun. struction industry. There are a lot of interesting
solve all of our problems? Simply put, no. But I think it’s a step in the right di-
My goal for this event is to network with people who work in our field and I hope to gain
rection. Of course, no one ever accused me of being a brilliant economist.
members from across Ontario and develop new new insight and new friends.
Despite all of these economic woes, life goes on, and so does construction.
relationships to help me with my local Niagara Chase is the Director of Client Services for
As an industry, we don’t just stop and walk off job sites because of a little down- Home Builders Association as I start to take on the Construction News and Report Group as
turn. As such, we’ve got a number of interesting projects lined up to feature for a larger role on a committee for the Renomark well as the Associate Publisher for the GTA
you throughout the year. You’ll want to read through these and see what other
program. I also hope to gather more insight that Construction Report and Structures, the Niag-
companies are up to around the province. In most of these projects, builders
I can use for the program and ideas of rolling ara Home Builders Association Newspaper. If
have faced unique challenges and dealt with them in interesting ways. It’s always
out a publication similar to the Ottawa Reno- you have any recommendations or suggestions
exciting to see how innovative people can be in designing and building these
structures. Of course, it could also be useful to you to see how these builders are
vates magazine that is being launched in time on changes you would like to suggest for the
coping with the economy as well.
for the Greater Ottawa Home Builders Associ- papers please contact him toll free at 1-888-
Looking ahead this year, I can foresee a lot of stress and major headaches for
ation’s Renovation Home Show. My vision for 432-3555 ext 211 or email him chasemarket-
members of the industry
Niagara is to dedicate a whole issue of Struc- ing@sympatico.ca
. Things definitely won’t be easy, for you or your em-
ployees. My suggestion here is to keep in touch with your local associations.
Not only can they keep you in touch with what’s going on and maybe make
your job a little easier in that area, they usually offer a series of events for their
members to attend as well. These can be a great stress relief. It’s an opportunity
to get away from the office for a little while and cut loose with your peers.
Maybe talk a little business, but all in all, just relax and have fun. It may not
sound like it will help that much, but it’s never a bad thing to step away from the
office every now and again, even if it’s just for a few hours. Take the employ-
ees with you, and it may pay off with a less tense atmosphere back at work.
The GTA Construction Report is published monthly by Mekomedia Enterprises Inc., Suite 202,
I’m not sure what else I can tell you. Keep your head up, and keep pushing
1 Cleopatra Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K2G 3M9. The GTA Construction Report is available free at
forward. Hopefully we can all support each other through these challenging
selected building supply dealers and at the Howard Johnson Inn and Suites Toronto East at the
times, and come out on the other end better for it. W
401/Warden Exit. You can subscribe to GTA Construction Report for $37.50 per year plus GST.
e need to count on govern-
To change your address or cancel a subscription, please email subscriptions@cnrgp.com or fax
ment support to limit the impact this recession is going to have on our industry,
your request to 888-370-8745. If you would like to request a new (paid) subscription, you can
but at the same time, we need to find ways to cope with and overcome these
e-mail or fax us, or if you prefer, phone toll free 888-432-3555.
challenges on our own.
Though I can’t promise anything, I can say that we at the Construction News
We welcome your news about upcoming projects, company anniversaries and special events.
and Report Group are dedicated to helping out, as well. We will do our best to
Fax your news releases to 613-224-1076. Daily update data on upcoming projects, including
provide insightful information, and bring to you news stories from around the
contact names and phone numbers, is available from F.W. Dodge. For more information, phone
province that are relevant to what you need. If you have something you want us
613-727-4900 ext 4902 or 493.
to look into, let me know. We’re here to offer our support as best we can, and
with your help, we can be that much better.
President: Mark Buckshon
I hope you all had a great holiday season, and wish you the best in 2009. Publisher: Chase
Editor: Matthew Desrosiers 888-432-3555 ext 111
Director of Sales and Advertising, GTA,
Chase 888-432-3555 ext 211
••
GTA Construction Report and our advertisers support
Production/Design: Raymond Leveille
environmentally responsible practices. We have
Finance-Cordinator: Sherri Herriot
GTA Construction Report
arranged with Tree Canada to plant a tree for every
Administration: Amanda Arthurs, Kathy O'Neil-Lepage
Mission Statement
advertisement in each issue of GTA – the net result
To subscribe to the GTA Construction Report,
of this initiative is that approximately eight trees are or to report changes in your subscription, please call
planted for each tree consumed in printing our news- toll free 888-432-3555 or send a fax to 613-224-1076.
The Construction News Group:
papers. Further information about Tree Canada is
Reader comments are invited.
Breaking new ground,
available at http://www.treecanada.ca
Call (613) 224-7926 / 888-432-3555, fax (613) 224-1076
or send e-mail to editor@gtaconstructionreport.com
Building new bonds
©2009 Mekomedia Enterprises Inc. All rights reserved.
Publications Mail Agreement #40035715 ISSN 1488500X
and
Copies of the GTA Construction Report and Ontario Construction Delivering news you can use
Report are available at the Howard Johnsons Toronto East, 22
Metropolitan Road (Highway 401 and Warden),
every day.
Toronto, ON
M1R 2T6. For more information see http://www.hojotoronto.com
•
•
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16