Canadian Electrical Wholesaler
Canadian Electrical Wholesaler is published by Kerrwil Publications Limited with support from the EFC
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Message From The Editor

Is our industry ready for the challenges of tomorrow?

The new industrial revolution is upon us and it's all about diversity. This is certainly one of the conclusions reached at the ABB Customer World conference I attended two weeks ago, which brought 8,000 people together to learn about 180 business solutions and attend some of the 400 related technical workshops. It's in tune with the times, as you'll see in this issue. We profile Tim Horsman, who tells us that the strength of our industry is precisely its ability to continuously adapt to a changing environment. Taylor Gerrie makes a similar point in his article on building relationships with clients based on expertise rather than price. Also, Michelle Branigan offers a solution for achieving diversity. Our regular contributors Jim Taggart and Paul Eitmant point out each in their own way the importance of promoting Canadian expertise and quality jobs. Good reading!

Line Goyette, Managing Editor
linegoyette@kerrwil.com  
Tools For The Trade

Changing Scene

Changing Scene Standard Products Named E.B. Horsman & Son's Supplier of the Year
After an extensive annual review of its supplier relationships, E.B. Horsman & Son has honoured Standard with the company's 2016 Supplier of the Year award…
Gordon Marshall Good-bye to Chromalox's Gordon Marshall
The electrical industry lost a dear friend and colleague in the passing of Gordon Marshall on March 27, 2017…
Changing Scene Bill Smith, Electrozad to Receive Industry Recognition Award at EFC's AGM
Bill Smith from Electrozad Supply Company Limited has been selected as this year's recipient of Electro-Federation Canada (EFC)'s Industry Recognition Award…

Opinion

Preserving Canadian technical Resources

By Jim Taggart
Editorial I firmly believe that the Canadian electrical industry is an attractive, long-term growth market. Yet despite the abundance of natural resources and well-educated, business oriented members and associates, I find many U.S. and European firms cutting or eliminating their technical, engineering resources in their Canadian subsidiaries. Getting seats filled on standards development organizations' technical committees and EFC product sections is becoming more challenging. In addition to sales and marketing resources, the industry needs local technical expertise. Here are six reasons why. Read More

Market opportunities

A Good Day for Canada: Trump Administration Approves Keystone XL Pipeline

By Paul Eitmant
Editorial Canada's hotly debated, long-delayed Keystone XL pipeline received its elusive U.S. presidential permit from Donald Trump last month, eight years and six months after the initial application for it to cross the American border. The president made the announcement at the White House. "You've been waiting for a long, long time," Trump said to TransCanada's Russ Girling, the president of TransCanada Corp. "It's a great day for American and Canadian jobs and a historic moment for North America and energy independence." Read More

Millenials

Value Selling

By Taylor Gerrie
Editorial How can we make a customer successful and continue to grow? What can we do to help them win orders in their respective industries against their competition? Why should they do business with us? For suppliers and distributors, these are very difficult questions because often customers believe that the answers to these questions can be "I need a better price." One of the most challenging concepts in business is to influence a customer away from the concept of "price negotiating" towards "selling on value." Read More

Peers & Profiles

Tim Horsman: The Pragmatic Philosopher

By Line Goyette
Peers & Profiles A few months ago, I had lunch with industry colleagues who are members of CEW’s editorial advisory board. When I told them I would soon be in Vancouver, they all said, “You have to meet Tim Horsman.” I needed no prompting because I was already curious about Tim and the family business — E.B. Horsman & Son. Tim is the fifth generation Horsman to lead the company. He sits on the Affiliated Distributors (AD) Executive Board. He’s also Past Chairman of Electro Federation Canada’s Board of Directors, Past Chairman of EFC’s Supply & Distribution Council of Canada, Past Chair of Canada's Best Managed Companies… the list goes on Read More

Editorial

Building a Truly Representative Workforce

By Michelle Branigan
Editorial On March 8 — International Women's Day — Electricity Human Resources Canada announced EHRC's newest initiative to support greater representation of women as skilled workers in the electricity sector. The Leadership Accord on Gender Diversity for the Electricity Industry is a public commitment by employers, labour and educational institutions to promote diversity, equality and inclusion, and increase the representation of women in their programs, organizations and the sector. Read More

Looking Back

Saskatchewan in the 1980s: A Prosperous Future Ahead

Editorial Even in a principally agricultural province like Saskatchewan, the impact of electronics on the electrical distribution industry will be "very big," forecasted Ward Johnson, President of Ward Johnson Electric Ltd., Regina. However, the economy of the province is in a dismal state and "It's a matter of hanging in until things improve." The future is very bright, however, because of the province's mineral wealth, potash in particular, and reserves of oil. When these industries begin to boom in three to four years time, distributors will prosper for years to come. Read More

Economy

New Housing Construction Spending Up 8.7% YOY in January

Editorial Total spending on new housing construction increased 8.7% year over year to $4.0 billion in January. Six provinces posted increases, led by Ontario and British Columbia. Nationally, investment increased for every dwelling type. January was the fourth consecutive month with all dwelling types showing a year-over-year rise. Nationally, the increase resulted mostly from greater spending on single-family homes, followed distantly by apartment and apartment-condominium buildings, row houses and semi-detached homes. Read More

Economy

GDP Rose 0.6% YOY in Q4 2016

Editorial Real gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.6% in the fourth quarter, following a 0.9% increase in the third quarter. Final domestic demand continued to decelerate (+0.1%), with ongoing weakness in business investment. Investment in housing increased 1.2%. Businesses reduced their inventories by $5.0 billion in the fourth quarter, after accumulating $7.4 billion in the third quarter. Manufacturing inventories were drawn down by $6.9 billion. Read More

SURVEY SAYS

How Much American and Canadian Contractors Earn


In each of five categories, Americans earn more. See how much more. Read More

Canadian Electrical Wholesaler is published by Kerrwil Publications Limited with support from the EFC
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