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

Strategy an important tool for business development

A strategy of diversity and inclusion, strategies for adapting to technological innovations in the marketplace, strategies to better understand and adapt to changes within resource industries… this issue invites you to develop and reflect on strategies that can help us adapt to new markets and new economic realities. We also invite you to read about strategies put in place in the past to deal with the same challenges that are constantly renewing themselves in our industry and our economy. And more: important statistics on our economy to properly implement these strategies. Good reading!

Line Goyette, Managing Editor
linegoyette@kerrwil.com  

Changing Scene

Codes & Standards

Meeting New Competitive Market Demands: Keeping up with Rapid Change

By Bill Bryans
Electro-Federation Canada As I retire from my position as VP, Technical Services at Electro-Federation Canada, more than ever to meet new competitive market demands, I believe EFC and other manufacturing associations must create an advanced means for regionally applicable standards development collaboration. The Council for Harmonization of Electrotechnical Standards of the Nations of the Americas (CANENA) has served this purpose reasonably well for the past 25 years, but has too many inherent structural limitations to be capable of competing in the emerging world of rapid fire technology changes. Read More

Internet of Things

IoT: Hard to Change Old Habits

By Paul Eitmant
IP Group Internationnal I came across an article from Jim Lucy, Chief Editor, Electrical Wholesaling, concerning the Internet of Things (IoT) within the electrical industry. I was not totally surprised the survey conducted for the article still shows hesitation to accept IoT within our industry. Here is a summary of Jim Lucy's article. IoT-enabled electrical devices are still in the early days of mainstream adoption, but some distributors and their customers have already bought into the Internet of Things. Several end users who responded to a survey of subscribers to the Illumination Insider e-mail newsletter that EW publishes with Electrical Construction & Maintenance (EC&M) also had some interesting comments on where IoT fits in the lighting world. Read More

Millennials

Diversity and Inclusion (D&I): A Revolutionary Trend?

By Jean-François Bourqui
Southwire Diversity and inclusion (D&I) is a term that companies are starting to zero in on, and as a result, is quickly becoming a trend. Creating a diverse workforce and an inclusive work environment for employees is a priority for many forward thinking organizations, which are focused on sustaining successful and long-term multi-generational businesses. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “diversity” as the state of having people who are different races or who have different cultures in a group or organization. “Inclusion” is defined as the action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure. However, in a business sense, the meaning and need for D&I are so much more. D&I in some ways are like bacon and eggs. They are not the same, but together make up a winning combination. Read More

Looking Back

Modernizing Resource Industries: Maritimes

Harris and Roome Ltd. The resource-based industries of the Maritimes are looking to electronics to make their operations more productive. This trend, in concert with the tremendous amount of work offshore oil development will provide, suggests a glowing future for distributors in the region. Kip Roberts, President of Harris and Roome Ltd., Halifax, points out that several industries are modernizing and much of their new equipment will be purchased from electrical distributors. The fishing industry, for instance, is moving to new types of boats while fish processing plants want more efficient machinery. Old coal mines are being revitalized with new equipment, such as time switches, precision-type instruments, and all kinds of electronic devices. Read More

Economy

Q2 Non-residential Building Construction Investment Rises 0.3%

Statistique Canada Investment in non-residential building construction totalled $12.4 billion in the second quarter, up 0.3% from the previous quarter. This increase follows three consecutive declines. Nationally, the gain was the result of an increase in spending on the construction of industrial and commercial buildings. The institutional component declined for a second consecutive quarter. Overall, six provinces posted increases in the second quarter, with Ontario reporting the largest upturn, followed by British Columbia and New Brunswick. The largest decline occurred in Alberta, followed by Saskatchewan. In Alberta, the decrease resulted mainly from lower spending on both institutional and commercial building construction. Read More

Economy

New Housing Investment YOY Rises 4.1% in May

Statistique Canada New housing construction investment totalled $4.4 billion in May, up 4.1% from May 2016. This increase was mostly explained by higher investment in Ontario and, to a lesser extent, in British Columbia and Manitoba. Of the four provinces that posted a decline, Quebec's decrease was the largest. The 11.2% drop in Quebec was due primarily to a strike in the construction industry in the last week of the month. All types of housing construction declined in this province except row housing, which saw a slight increase. In Ontario, new housing construction investment totalled $1.8 billion in May, a 7.1% year-over-year increase. This gain was largely attributable to higher spending on single-family dwellings (+$81.5 million). However, apartment construction spending in the province fell by $14.4 million. Read More

Events Calendar

Training, networking and professional development opportunities for members of Canada’s electrical industry.

CanWEA Annual Conference
October 3-5
Ottawa, ON

Power of Water Canada Conference and Tradeshow
October 23-25
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

BCEA Link Conference 2017
November 1-2
Vancouver, BC

Solar Canada
December 4-5
Toronto, ON

View all Events

Canadian Electrical Wholesaler is published by Kerrwil Publications Limited with support from the EFC
Kerrwil Publications Limited, 538 Elizabeth Street Midland Ontario, L4R2A3