CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
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CA N A DA’ S M AG A Z I N E F O R P R O F E S S I O N A L C O N T R AC T O R S
Special
th
Issue
Join us for a week of special events, savings, giveaways and promotions.
June 1-June 8, 2013 the and you could WIN
The Castle $50K Giveaway contest runs from May 1 to September 2, 2013. Enter in-store at a Participating Castle Building Centres Location No purchase necessary. For complete contest rules, visit castle.ca
LETTERS Letters / 05 Ken Jenkins, President of Castle Building Centres Group writes that 50 years of success does not happen by chance and that the Castle model has clearly been able to stand the test of time. Meanwhile, James Jones, the organization’s Vice President of National Marketing, pays homage to the Valued Vendor partners who have supported this 50th Anniversary Issue.
Castle 2013 AGM / 07 Delegates attending this year’s Annual General Meeting in March celebrated a milestone at the famous Hotel Del Coronado Resort.
About Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. is a Canadian member-owned, Lumber, Building Materials and Hardware buying group committed to the success of the independent. Our commitment is to drive this success to our over 290 member locations through Transparency, Freedom and Profitability. Our Business model focuses on accountability to our membership, member freedom of choice, and a commitment to their success, growth and profitability through strategic partnerships with key vendor partners and a winning hardware distribution solution. Publications Mail Agreement #40006677 Return undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: 100 Milverton Drive, Suite 400 Mississauga, Ont. L5R 4H1
Features / 12 We profile three loyal Castle dealers who have been with the organization for decades, discuss how standards for three critical building materials have evolved, and examine how the world of lumber has changed over the last 50 years.
Editorial Director Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. Jennifer Mercieca Managing Editor Paul Barker Art Director Mark Ryan
Timeline / 30 A five-decade timeline appears courtesy of KCG Marketing Services Inc. of Oakville, Ont. The firm designed and published a special 50th commemorative coffee table book for Castle Building Centres Group.
Vendor Partners / 45 This section contains a brief description of each of the vendors who helped to make this 50th Anniversary issue a reality.
Contributors Lawrence Cummer David Chilton Saggers John G. Smith Advertising Enquiries Vendors whose products are carried in Castle Building Centres stores have the opportunity to advertise in Contractor Advantage. For more information or to reserve space in the next issue, contact: Jennifer Mercieca Director of Communications Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. jmercieca@castle.ca 905-564-3307 ext 220
CA Tribute / 60 Like Castle, Contractor Advantage has come a long way since it was first launched in 1996.
The
Building of
Published and designed exclusively for Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. by Business Information Group Material Contact: Jessica Jubb 416-510-5194
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astle Building Centres Group came from humble beginnings in 1963. Today Castle is consider to be the industry’s premier national buying group. It was at the invitation of our first president, Mr. Larry Marshall, that a group of likeminded Building Material entrepreneurs should establish a consolidated method of purchasing. Upon incorporation in late 1963, the newly established Board of Directors set a clear mandate to which we still maintain today, “To be the best run buying group in the country at the lowest possible operating cost.” After five successful decades of growth, Castle is proud to represent independents in every province and territory across Canada while maintaining our commitment to simply be the best buying group in the country. Castle has focused on the principles of integrity, professionalism and transparency and offers our membership the freedom and buying power they need to make real-time decisions and be successful in their unique markets. We take great pride in the loyalty and fidelity of our members and our valued vendor partners. Working collectively, Castle has developed a position and reputation unparalleled in the industry today. The unique dynamic of Castle’s culture and outstanding service remains unmatched in our industry. Members and vendors continue to work together towards a business model that continues to be the foundation of success in our industry. Fifty years of success does not happen by chance; the Castle model has withstood the test of time. We take great pride in our collective accomplishments and sincerely thank our valued vendor partners who provide excellent products to the Canadian consumer and who have continued to support Contractor Advantage over the past decade. Ken Jenkins, President
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ur industry has witnessed it all from recession to record resource prices, global economic uncertainty and everything in between. Yet through it all; Castle and our loyal members alongside our Valued Vendor network; have continued to grow and prosper. Our Valued Vendor partners have been the backbone of Contractor Advantage and their continued support makes us proud to have delivered our message through Contractor Advantage for over a decade. In my seven years with Castle I have watched our members grow their volume, compete in their marketplaces and flourish. We are committed to evolving and improving our buying programs and services for Castle members while developing a stronger national Vendor Network. Our vendor partners continue to support Contractor Advantage and we thank the manufacturers, distributors, management teams and sales teams who help drive Castle’s success by supporting our membership nationwide. We thank you for your support of this Contractor Advantage 50th Anniversary Issue and look forward to the next 50 years! James Jones, Vice President, National Marketing
The
Building of
Excellence
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CASTLE AGM
Celebrating 50 years of Independence BY PAUL BARKER
Photography courtesy of Monica Reid from Emerge2 Digital Inc, Hotel Coronado
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oronado, Calif. -- The past, the present and the future all converged at Castle’s 2013 Annual General Meeting held at the deluxe Hotel Del Coronado Resort in early March, which is celebrating a milestone of its own this year The National Historic Landmark, referred to simply as The Del by residents of this affluent seaside town located across the bay from downtown San Diego, turned 125 the same year that Castle turned 50. The business component of the AGM, which took place in the resort’s famous Grand Ballroom began with a presentation from Toronto-based Internet strategist Jesse Hirsh, who like Neil Bearse — a social media expert and the associate director of marketing at the Queen’s School of Business, who spoke at last year’s edition in Marco Island, Fla. — zeroed in on the importance of dealers and suppliers alike being or becoming Web literate. Other speakers included noted economist Dr. Peter Andersen, Castle president Ken Jenkins, Castle national vice president James Jones and last, but not least, Rick Hansen, Canada’s Man In Motion, who delivered a rousing and emotional keynote address followed by a book signing. “Young people take for granted today that the smartphone is a super computer,” said Hirsh. “There is more computational power in this small little device than many of the desktop computers that you may still currently be using. “You combine that with Internet ubiquity and the rate of technological change is not only fast it is accelerating.” Hirsh urged his audience to seriously consider becoming part of the Twitter universe. “As a search engine it will tell you what is happening in real time and you can isolate it geographically. As an example, you could key in the word lumber and isolate it so it is just Prince Edward County, Ont. and see everyone who mentions the word lumber. It allows you to see who is actually using your product or talking about lumber in a general sense.” The need to be technology-savvy was echoed by Jenkins. “The reason you saw Neil Bearse at our convention last year and the reason you saw Jessie Hirsh this year is because this is real folks,” he said. “You have to pay attention to this segment of the business. As technology continues to ramp up, you have to look at the new reality. Who would have imagined 15 years ago that sitting in your home you could search the world for any product or item at the click of a mouse. “By 2017, the world’s largest retailer will be Amazon. At that
Above and below are three outside shots of the famed Hotel Del Coronado Resort, which played host to the 2013 Annual General Meeting of Castle Building Centres Group.
point, they will take over from Wal-Mart and bring the number one retailer in the world without single store front. “The Internet reality is something we have to pay attention to. I know we have a lot of our independent members who CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
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CASTLE AGM are a certain generation, but the best thing you can do is get involved. Understand the dynamics.” Castle, he added, plans to implement e-commerce offerings for members over the next few months that “will place us with the Canadian Tires, with Home Depot, with Lowes and it will leave our competitors lagging for many years in their ability to compete with us in an e-commerce environment.” ••• The remainder of Jenkins’ presentation zeroed in on how Castle has evolved since the spring of 1963 when six lumberyard proprietors met at a curling club in Newmarket, Ont. to discuss the possibility of creating a new buying group. The idea was so well received that within six months Bold Lumber Ltd. had been incorporated, 14 shareholders had signed on and Larry Marshall, the person who initiated the original meeting with the intent of “pooling purchases with other lumber yards,” was named its founding president and general manager. The name Bold was an acronym for the Buying Organization of Lumber Dealers. “The legacy of Bold was that it was a buying group,” said Jenkins. “Everything we do is predicated on our ability to make our members competitive across the country. The key is to do that with a high degree of integrity. You can only give integrity away once and once it is gone, it is gone. As an example, in the 50 years of being in business Castle has a tradition of paying its bills on time every time.” A key date in Castle’s history occurred 19 years after Bold was formed when the organization changed its name to Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. on the strength of a resolution presented and approved by the shareholders. “Those wonderful iconic colours of brown and gold found in the logo, which is pretty well what my father’s closet looks like today, became a symbol of Castle as it started to improve its footprint across the country,” said Jenkins. “Our growth began to accelerate. A lot of that growth for Castle in the 1980s was heavily focused in the Eastern Seaboard. Today, Castle by the number of locations is the largest buying group in Atlantic Canada. It is an important market for Castle and important piece of the puzzle.” Fast forwarding to 1994, a momentous occasion occurred with the start of the so-called Big Box invasion and more specifically the arrival of Home Depot, which many industry watchers believed at the time would put every small independent home improvement retailer out of business. “They were supposed to go away,” said Jenkins. “It was thought by many that there was no way an independent could compete with the mass merchandising or the pricing the Big Box could deliver and that became a mindset in our industry.” While conceding that the Box did kill off some “inefficient, poorly operated independents primarily in urban markets,” those that survived became stronger. A reversal of fortune has occurred for today, said Jenkins, the independent dominates as the Big Box struggles: “You are seeing that right now with a Quebec-based high profile, distribution-based hardware company collapsing under its
The hotel’s ballroom was the site of a spectacular banquet on the final night of the AGM. Following the meal, speeches and presentation of awards, Canada’s Burton Cummings of Guess Who fame took to the stage to sing all of his classics and more.
own weight. Not able to define its real strategy and real value to the market, its institutional shareholders are screaming. It is struggling to maintain its identity.” Castle, meanwhile, is so “well-weighted,” that sales volumes are split evenly in the Atlantic, Central and Western regions of Canada, he added. “Staying lean, staying efficient, staying well aligned with our manufacturers — not competing against our manufacturers — is what I believe is going to be a value for Castle for many years to come,” Jenkins said. “The 50th is all about celebrating independence. “We believe the next road we are going to travel down is brighter than the one we came from. We are extremely bullish.” ••• Within the confines of Castle financial results, there was certainly reason to be. According to Jones, overall sales among Castle dealers increased by 12% last year, lead by Gypsum sales that were up by an impressive 35% in 2012. Jones noted that there were several reasons for the increase including an overall price hike in the U.S. market, but also the “incredible support from vendors who manufacture gypsum in Canada across the country.” CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
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CASTLE AGM Other product categories to improve considerably included lumber and panels and insulation, all of which recorded double digit increases. There were other less positive numbers and theories for delegates to digest on the final day of the AGM when noted Canada economist Andersen made his annual address to Castle dealers and suppliers. The U.S. housing recovery is gaining momentum and it is going to be stronger than people expect, he said. What that means, added Andersen is there is going to be a real issue in the lumber and building materials (LBM) to be able to supply the demand from the United States. “We in Canada are going to look at supply issues and accelerating price increases for lumber and building materials. That is my bottom line.”
His projections included the following: • The Bank of Canada will not be increasing interest rates for quite some time. Inflation is one of their big target drivers. They will remain unchanged for all of this year and well into next year as well. • Hardware store sales on a national basis are not trending upward, but trending sideways. • Housing starts in Canada this year will be down by 21% compared to last year. • In terms of lumber prices, “the sky is the limit. “I think we are going to see a new high for lumber prices,” said Andersen. “The housing recovery in the United States is not slowing down, it is not going away. It is going to be a three or four or five year cycle.”
Photography courtesy of Monica Reid from Emerge2 Digital Inc
Man In Motion Hansen Delivers Stirring Speech Rick Hansen, the keynote speaker at this year’s Castle AGM, proved why he is one of the best when it comes to delivering an inspirational and motivational message. His is a story that captures every human emotion possible, starting with that fateful day on June 27, 1973 when he and his best friend Don Alder were thrown from the back of a pickup trip. “As a kid I grew up celebrating every day,” he told Castle AGM delegates. “I felt I was the luckiest child on the planet, surrounded by my grandparents, uncles and cousins. There was always an adventure — hiking, camping and fishing. “My whole life revolved around physical activity and the use of my legs. Ultimately, I wanted to be one of those kids who were lucky enough to represent his country at the Olympic Games.” He recalled being loaded into a stretcher and then taken by ambulance to a hospital in Williams Lake, a small rural town in British Columbia. “The doctor X-rayed me and came into the room about an hour later and said, ‘Rick you have had a very serious injury. You’ve broken your back, you have damaged your spinal cord and you will never walk again.’ “You want to talk about the meaning of panic and absolute devastation. All my hopes and dreams seemed to be shattered along with that spine.” Soon after, the healing began. He
Rick Hansen poses with Jim O”Neill of KPM Industries and wife Judy O”Neill following his keynote address.
returned home to join his family and friends, graduated from high school and went on to university, and played sports including wheelchair basketball with another legend named Terry Fox. “I feel so privileged to have had time with him on my team,” said Hansen. “We trained together, we roomed together, we traveled together, we competed together and we were friends. What I remember mostly about Terry is what he responded to in our journey, which was that spirit that some of the greatest dreams in the world can be killed because of the fear of failure, but if we have the courage to try amazing things can happen.” Following Fox’s death to cancer in 1981, Hansen and a team of friends and supporters began laying the plans for what would become the Man In Motion
World Tour. It was hugely successful in so many ways. “Back then when I first had my injury I would have sold my soul for the use of my legs. I would have done anything to get the feeling back,” he said. “All these years later, I have come to realize that life is not determined by whether or not you can use your legs or not or what happens to you. It’s what you do with it that counts. “It’s about experiencing love. Being surrounded by family, friends and community and having a sense of meaning and purpose and waking up in the morning with a fire in your belly and believing your best work is in front. I have come to realize that I do not need to be cured in order to be whole as a human being. I am one of the luckiest guys on the planet.” — Paul Barker
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FEATURE
Building A History Families of hardware retailers have seen plenty of changes over the decades, but service remains king. BY JOHN G. SMITH
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he inspiration for successful hardware stores can have humble beginnings. After deciding in 1980 to open a lumber yard in McLean, Sask., Grant Wilson asked his three sons to come up with potential business names during a family road trip to British Columbia. Nine-year-old Leigh, now the company’s general manager, came up with the name Wood Country less than two miles out of town. (His first vote for Leigh’s Lumber failed to gain any support.) “All the way to the Okanagan, and all the way back, we never came up with a name that topped it,” Wilson says. His lawyer, Gary Lane, who later went on to become the province’s attorney general, recommended the 12
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addition of a descriptive phrase, eventually leading to the Wood Country Building Services Ltd. brand. Soon they were pouring 100 truckloads of fill onto a family property, enclosing the area with a fence and gate, buying a $13,000 forklift, and ordering the first load of lumber. The first flyers to advertise the business were produced on a hand-cranked Gestetner, featuring some of Wilson’s own isometric drawings. After just two weeks in business they had sold material for 15 buildings. The business continued to grow. The family purchased a bankrupt lumber yard and in the mid-1990s moved closer to the Trans-Canada Highway. A second location followed in Tisdale, Sask., and then a third came in Estevan. The central McLean store has expanded to 12,000 square ft. with three outbuildings, a greenhouse and a two-storey office complex. Some of the property is also dedicated to building ready-to-move homes, produced under Leigh’s watchful eye. Advertising campaigns have expanded well beyond the early flyers, and are monitored by his brother Ryan who is responsible for a variety of roles. It is undeniably a family affair, yet other
FEATURE
Castle dealers could say that sawdust has been running through their veins for even longer. Kendra Robin can trace the history of JA Brisson and Sons back to 1932, when her grandfather Albert Brisson opened Cochrane Sash and Door. That evolved into a 1950s storefront which offered fasteners and other related goods in the growing town. The store in downtown Cochrane, Ont. opened in the early 1970s, complete with the full line of plumbing, electrical and other building supplies. That eventually moved to the site of the company’s lumber yard, where this year they will add a 20,000-square ft. warehouse, combining all the related building supplies in a single location. She and her brother Danny bought the business from their dad, Alain, and then Kendra bought out her brother in 1996. Some of her earliest memories involve the store. As a teenager, she would arrive after school to type out the invoices required by corporate clients. Kendra did explore other jobs at a grocery store, bank and local optometrist, but always came back. “We just grew up in the business,”
she says. “It was just like a second home.” Tom Clement’s family links to the industry go back even further than that. The owner of Mission Building Supplies in Edmonton is the fourth generation of his family to sell lumber. He even remembers making 25 cents a day at the age of five for picking up strings and lathe from a Humboldt, Sask. yard. Perhaps there should be little surprise that he and his wife Karen sold everything they had and bought a lumber yard and 3,000-square foot retail store of their own in 1985. “A tiny little store,” he recalls. “That was the warehouse and the whole nine yards.” That retail storefront was
Sandra Wilson (centre) of Wood Country holds a plaque commemorating longstanding membership in Castle that she and other family members received at the AGM. With her, from l. to r., are Ken Jenkins, Grant Wilson, Tanja and Ryan Wilson and Vicki Hagel, the new Chairman of the Castle Board of Directors.
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FEATURE closed in 1990, when the owner of the leased property decided to sell to Safeway, but the contractor focus remained. Today’s Mission Building Supplies, now a full contractor yard, includes a 46,000-square feet office and warehouse on six acres of land, and the business will open new offices in July. Ask any of these long-term Castle dealers about the biggest changes to their business, and they all refer to the impact of computerization. The first computer to arrive at JA Brisson and Sons came in the form of a Commodore 64, which was dedicated to accounts receivables. “It took my brother a few years to convince my father to bring it in,” Robin says. “We were taking computers in school, so it was not something new to us, but it was definitely new to our father ... he could not believe what it could do and the time it saved.” Soon computers were used to track inventories and then handle general ledgers. An even bigger change has come with the way the Internet has affected discussions with customers. At one time, those who came into the store were satisfied with the stock on the showroom floor, Robin says. “Today, you are always sourcing (goods) online, or using catalogues. They are always looking for something different.” Employees, meanwhile, are using the store’s computer system to access training material. A similar evolution was seen at Wood Country. There, early hand-written invoices evolved into computerized systems, scanners and bar codes. “We have very little hand-written stuff, if ever,” Wilson says. He is also in the midst of designing an inventory system that will guide employees through different colour-coded product categories, making it easier to identify the parts required for any job. The days when he could calculate the value of the store’s inventory in his head are long gone. The products lining store shelves have changed as well. Robin suggests they evolve more quickly than ever, meaning a bigger challenge for store staff members who need to educate themselves about the ever-expanding categories. There are some fundamentals which remain unchanged from one decade to the next. Clement, for example, refers to how he earned his lumber grading certificate in 1976, and how there have been few related
Kendra Robin can trace the history of JA Brisson and Sons back to 1932, when her grandfather Albert Brisson opened Cochrane Sash and Door. That evolved into a 1950s storefront which offered fasteners and other related goods in the growing town. changes to consider ever since. “It is a significant business, and we are a significant player in the business, but it is not a revolutionary type of business,” he says of the products favored by contractors. “Guys are still banging 2x4’s with nails, and standing up walls and putting down floors.” Still, he can identify differences. Pine moulding has generally been displaced by MDF products. Decorating trends have certainly caused shifts as customers move from oak to maple and cherry, or from brass finishes to brushed aluminum. Engineered wood systems have represented the biggest change of all. “We were on the ground level in the new era of joist systems,” Clement recalls. “Some of the engineering has definitely improved because of the different computer systems for designing roof trusses and engineered floor systems.” Changes like these make Castle’s buying power and product research more important than ever. Wilson joined the Castle network on the recommendation of several major vendors, and
CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
Katy and Alain Brisson of J.A. Brisson & Sons Ltd. in Cochrane, Ont. are pictured prior to receiving a 25-Year Achievement Award from Castle at the AGM. Meanwhile, the photo below was taken at a Wood Country Building Services Ltd. location in Saskatchewan.
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FEATURE was quickly impressed by everything from rebate programs to a sense of loyalty among Castle retailers. Most of all, he was comforted by the fact that the business could continue to operate independently. “There are some things that work in the West, and others that work in Newfoundland,” he says. “We can respond to local needs.” The same capabilities attracted Mission Building Supplies. “We interviewed several buying groups and ultimately Castle presented the best fit,” Clement says. Its flexibility was vital. “We cooperate. We work together.” As much as the products and technology may have changed, commitments to customer service continue to define each business. “We have got the best possible staff we can get in the Alberta market, and we commit to our builders to get their products there on time,” Clement says. “We have never swayed from that.” Quick deliveries are particularly important in the province, where tradespeople like framers are hard to find. Once these workers are available, builders need to begin their projects right away. “When we commit, we are going to be there,” Clement says, referring to days when the store’s 10 delivery trucks are on the road from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. “They are just going, going, going.” Of course, speed is just one factor. Mission is also committed to selling highquality lumber. It was why Clement was surprised when a new customer sent back a truckload of lumber after ordering the material for just six houses. “Ever since we started dealing with Mission Building Supplies, we are using considerably less wood,” the buyer admitted. Less of the material had to be thrown on a scrap pile. “There is value in quality,” Clement says. “Most of our customers have that pride level. They want to build a good home.” Robin points out that customers continue to look to her staff members for information about products. In fact, staff might play a bigger role than ever. When Wood Country first opened its doors, Wilson found himself working with people who preferred do-ityourself projects. “Customers were more independent,” he says. “Today, people are
looking to get more done for them.” In some cases, that requires trained employees to offer more guidance through different projects. In others, the business actually recommends local contractors who can complete the work. With his son now in the business, Clement admits he wonders how the next generation will buy its products. “You have to be prepared for change, and we know there’s going to be changes coming down the line,” he says, referring to modular building systems that may change the way builders work. Castle will be with them all the way. “We know they are working for us,” Robin says. “We (all) just care about the customer and we just love what we do.”
The Brisson family are shown at an AGM social event held on the Thursday night on the USS Midway, the retired aircraft carrier of the United States Navy.
Above, Tom and Karen Clement of Mission Building Supplies receive their 25-Year Achievement Award from Ken Jenkins and Vicki Hagel at the Hotel Del Coronado. Grant Wilson (below) recalls asking his three sons to come up with a name for his company on a road trip to B.C. Wood Country won out.
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FEATURE
Changing Of The Building Codes Below we examine how standards for three critical building materials -- insulation, lumber and windows – have evolved BY DAVID CHILTON SAGGERS
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f there is one product that demonstrates how the National Building Code of Canada has changed over the last 50 years surely it is insulation. Of course, five decades ago there was insulation but its effectiveness was a fraction of what is on the market today. The changes in the National Building Code have been driven by the environment, says Salvatore Ciarlo, a civil engineer and technical solutions and architectural services manager at Owens Corning Canada. 18
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Looking to the past, Ciarlo says that the energy crisis of the early 1970s, or about 40 years ago, saw a spike in the levels of insulation mandated in the Code, but once that crisis was over there was a tendency for an easing off in what was required. Still, even allowing for the ebb and flow of Code change when it comes to insulation, Ciarlo says he does not think it has become necessarily more complex over time. From his perspective, he explains, it has been more a matter of additions to the Code as they relate to a building’s envelope. “The challenge with these new R value requirements was what was the best way to (achieve them). Was it a combination of, let’s say, exterior sheeting and just insulation in the cavity?” The Code, the newest version of which was introduced in November 2010, is relatively simple and well-stated, says Ciarlo; it is more a matter of the industry providing, products, systems and training that are the most cost effective and which do not disrupt construction and thus enhance their chances of being adopted.
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As for the evolving Code, Ciarlo suggests that now, and in the past by implication, progressive builders have seen it as an opportunity to provide durability, optimum occupant comfort and a value proposition for purchasers. There has to be a valid reason for any new change to the Code, says Ciarlo. Recently that change has come from an environmental perspective, with insulation being the most cost effective way to help offset energy consumption. Reduction of the carbon footprint is what is driving change now, he continues. “As a matter of fact, for the first time in history, energy efficiency is now a core objective of the Building Code. Before, it didn’t include energy efficiency; it only included the safety, fire (and) structural (concerns).” These days Canadians are more energy conscious, he says, and want to promote a sustainable environment. Net zero performance is the aim, and the way to get there is through legislation, Ciarlo
maintains. Canada has a goal and that goal is net zero performance by 2030. “The only way to do that is to minimize the energy uptake of buildings, and the only way to get that done is through codes,” he says. “Unless it’s mandated it doesn’t get done. It doesn’t get done on a scale
that will have an impact.” Net zero performance is a standard that sees buildings produce more energy than they consume. Fifty years ago no one had thought of such an idea. Fifty years on, thanks to the Building Code, no one thinks it will not happen.
If there is one product that demonstrates how the Code has changed over the last 50 years it is definitely insulation. CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
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FEATURE
LUMBER: There are some parts of the National Building Code that have remained the same for years, says Steve McManus, regional engineer – Eastern Canada for Weyerhaeuser, the wood products company. Nevertheless, other aspects of the Code are constantly evolving and require ever more elaborate standards in construction. One such example is the increased use of wood. In the 1980s, says McManus, there was a shift from three-story limits on wood frame construction to four; now the Code is moving towards allowing six-story wood frame construction. What has been driving this change? McManus sees three sources of locomotion, the first of them being an expanded knowledge base of how buildings will perform over time. “Looking back, before we had some of the building codes that we have now, people were building out of wood but not really asking some of the same questions or really having the same restrictions that there are around building today,” he says. Secondly, the houses being built now are different from what they were 40 or 50 years ago when, in large part, the Code was written, says McManus. Yet the prescriptive part of the Code, known as Part Nine, is at least partly based on building standards that are five decades old. “As people are looking to have, for example, wider open spaces, things like removing beams and walls in the basement, opening up that structure, there’s a more of a technical demand on how those buildings are framed. People are trying to push those boundaries to make the best use of the material.”
The third driver is the environment, says McManus. Wood is a sustainable resource, and with an increased focus on green building wood’s carbon footprint can be quite favourable compared to some of the nonrenewable materials available. As for cost being a promoter of change to the Code, McManus thinks that it is indirect. He says the Code is there to ensure performance standards are in place; to make sure everything works properly. He does not think that the Code can grow beyond the ability of those in the industry to interpret it; that its reach should be endless. “The one thing I would say is that the evolution of the Code tends to be a fairly slow process. Like I say there are parts of the Code that we’ve been using for many, many years that have not changed in my career here (at Weyerhaeuser). Keeping matters simple and explainable to the average person I think is an important thing.” It helps, says McManus, that there are illustrated guides for certain parts of the Code to help with its interpretation. Slow or not, changes to the Code are not predictable, he continues, since in addition to technical considerations there is a political dimension to them. He cites British Columbia’s provincial code and that province’s wood-first and six-story framing policies as an example. “The politics can be the catalyst in the pace of change. I’m not convinced that’s always a bad thing,” says McManus. CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
Some aspects of the Code have remained the same for years, while other aspects are constantly evolving and require ever more elaborate standards in construction, says Steven McManus, regional engineer — Eastern Canada with wood products company Weyerhauser.
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A half-century of
commitment to the industry. Join us in congratulating Castle
on their 50 years in business. At JELD-WEN, we know a thing or two about longevity in the building supply industry. That’s why we’re proud to recognize Castle on their 50th year as a trusted building and hardware supply centre. Their commitment to service, selection and their membership is what has paved the way to this exceptional milestone.
JELD-WEN Canada is proud to be a Castle Building Centre supplier and we look forward to another 50 years of business together. Congratulations!
FEATURE
Photography courtesy of Jeldwen
WINDOWS: Historically building codes were safetyfirst legislation. It was their main mandate down the years and it has been only recently, as recently as 2005 in fact, that references to the performance of materials and systems were introduced, says Gord Gabert, vice president of sales and marketing at All Weather Windows. The provinces started the ball rolling when it came to performance, Gabert says, and it was just in 2010 that performance appeared in the latest version of the National Building Code. The introduction of performance is recognition that the world is getting smaller, he adds. Instead of the Canadian Standards Association setting out in the Code the various levels required for windows there is now a North American standard, known as NAFS or North American Fenestration Standard. That standard means that All Weather Windows and others in the industry can sell to the U.S. market based on their own testing, Gabert explains. “I think that’s the evolution (of the Code). More performance based and
more of an understanding that we’re becoming a global economy.” It is not any energy crisis that has driven Code change, but the costs of energy and an environmental awareness, he says. At the provincial level there have been various changes to their respective codes, but it is the national changes on energy performance and other matters that are noteworthy, says Gabert. Certain areas will get more wind and others will get more water penetration, so standards must be specified regionally. “A window in Vancouver will probably have a higher specification in terms of its resistance to water penetration. But you also get a lot of (other) areas where you’re not going to get a lot of water penetration. There is some air (requirement), but it’s very minimal. The actual Building Code (mandate) is around structure and water.” All of these changes mean increasing complexity, says Gabert. Before 2005 there was very little of it, and standards were simple. Now, however, windows have changed with their being single units, multiple units, fixed parts and operat-
ing parts. At one time if window A had a certain performance rating and window B had a certain performance rating if they were married together in some fashion the assumption was that both would still carry their respective ratings. That is not necessarily the case anymore. “It’s a lot more focused on the multiple combinations (of windows), and the structure and performance ratings,” says Gabert. The standard for windows in the new Code has four classes, he says. They are residential, light commercial, commercial and architectural, and each has a minimum performance grade for its particular class with the prime contractor responsible for selecting the right product. As for more change to the National Code, Gabert says there are still some opportunities for additional performance criteria, something that is being addressed by codes in Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario. “In terms of (the) National (Code), I think that would be an opportunity and something that probably will come in the window and door business.”
CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
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FEATURE
The
Morphing Of An Industry So much has changed in the world of lumber over the past 50 years. BY LAWRENCE CUMMER
S
ince the 1963 founding of Bold Lumber Ltd., the original name of Castle Building Centres Ltd., Canada’s lumber industry has seen a ‘greening’ of forestry and production, been impacted by the telecom age and gone through immense product diversification. In fact, some of that diversification for lumber dealers started even earlier, but certainly continued to expand with Bold, which stood for Buying Organization of Lumber Dealers, and later Castle when the name change was implemented in 1982. “I remember one of the big decisions my father said that he and my grandfather had to make, I believe in the late 1940s, was 24
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whether or not to even carry nails,” says Bob Evans, president and co-owner of C.F. Evans Lumber Co. Ltd. in Picton, Ont. One of Bold’s founding lumber dealers, C.F. Evans Lumber has over the decades expanded far beyond offering lumber and nails to include hardware and building materials of all kinds, but Evans notes lumber, plywood, roofing and drywall remain its primary focus. It is an experience shared with Bulkley Valley Home Centre Ltd., a Castle Building Centres member since 1984. The Telkwa, B.C.-based lumber dealer has grown exponentially in terms of product selection in the last three decades. “Our store was basically selling only lumber and plywood,” says Travis Nanninga, general manager at Bulkley Valley Home Centre. “We were not even selling nails, but then we started selling product related to our yard, and we grew as Castle grew. They found a path for us to improve our yard and to bring in other products related to our building materials and that enhanced our store.”
FEATURE
It is still primarily about selling lumber products, but the diversification has helped lumber yards such as Bulkley Valley Home Centre and others compete with Big Box stores and thrive. Nanninga credits Castle programs over the past decades for helping redesign the look and feel of its member lumber dealers to one of a modern building supply outlet. Dimensional lumber products available in Canada have been diversifying over the decades too, notes Helen Griffin, vice-president of codes and engineering at the Canadian Wood Council. In part this is a result of new standards that have been developed for products such as finger-jointed lumber and engineered wood. Griffin points to 1971, the year the National Lumber Grades Authority (NLGA) was established, as a lumber industry milestone. Requirements for grade stamps had come about in the late 1950s and 1960s in the U.S., and soon after similar systems were adopted in Canada. At least 15 different grading organizations existed from coast to coast, according to Al Rozek, executive director of the NLGA.
The NLGA’s board originally consisted of representatives of those 15 grade-stamping agencies and went on to create standard grading rules and interpretations for Canadian softwood lumber. “It was very significant to the lumber user as well as the producer,” Rozek says. This Canadian standardization came on the heels of requirements by the American Lumber Standards Committee (ALSC) for lumber producers to grade-stamp under the U.S. National Grade Rules (NGR) system. The creation of the NLGA amalgamated grading rules from across Canada and by incorporating the NGR system gave Canadian organizations a say in, and better access to, those rules, Rozek says. “It created a more transparent system,” he says. “It also created traceability of the grade stamp back to a standard, to the organization that oversaw the grading, and the mill that produced the lumber. It created awareness for the consumer.” Since its incorporation the NLGA has developed special product standards for finger-joined structural lumber (SPS 1), CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
What is MSR graded lumber? Introduced in the 1970s, machine grading allows engineers to push closer to the limits of woods design capabilities. Characteristics such as stiffness and density are tested by feeding the lumber through mechanical evaluating equipment, and recorded onto a computer. The result is a more precise understanding of the strength of each piece of machine-stress rated (MSR) lumber, according to the Canadian Wood Council. MSR grading can be performed at speeds of up to 1000’ per minute, including the application of the grade stamp.
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FEATURE
Lumber buying at Internet speeds
O
machine-graded lumber (SPS 2), fingerjoined lumber for vertical stud use (SPS3), finger-joined machine-graded lumber (SPS 4), face-glued lumber for vertical use (SPS 5), and structural face-glued lumber (SPS 6). The NLGA development of a machinestress rated (MSR) lumber standard in 1978, for using mechanically means to evaluate lumber, represented another milestone in providing builders and engineers with greater options, according to Griffin. Of course, another significant change in the lumber industry, especially in the past three decades, has been the development and prevalence of engineered wood products. While not “purely lumber,” these wood-based options are filling many of the roles traditional dimensional lumber would, Griffin says. “Now you can find I-Joists produced in different combinations of Oriented Strand Board (OSB) and plywood with either solid lumber or LVL (laminated veneer lumber),” she says. Engineered-wood products, such as IJoist, have allowed the production of deeper joists in greater quantity. Generally speaking they are more dimensionally stable. “They are not necessarily better than dimensional lumber, just different.” It is all about providing builders with more wood-based options. In the last 20 years, LVL and laminated strand lumber (LSL) have become an option for builders looking for applications that require high strength and stiffness. The growing availability of engineered wood has resulted in
more options for structures being built, and in the residential market homes being built that optimize the technology, for example with larger-sized, open-concept rooms. Outside of residential applications, crosslaminated timber (CLT), developed in Europe in the 1990s but introduced into Canada in the past three to four years, is a huge advantage for those constructing tall wood buildings, Griffin says. The dimensional strength builders can get from engineered wood options has made them a major part of a lumber dealer’s business. “For our customers OSB has almost completely replaced asphalt-impregnated tentest for exterior walls,” Evans says. “It is partly the techniques being used today, but also you can make a stronger wall than with tentest, which is pretty soft.” “All of them are great products,” says Kelvin Johnston, commodity lumber and panel buyer at Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. “When lumber prices are up, builders have a choice of going to engineered wood, but when prices are down, many tend to go with traditional options. The last 50 years have also seen significant changes in the way forests are managed. Isabelle Des Chênes, vice-president of market relations and international trade at the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), says “the science becomes much more precise from year to year, and forestry engineers have seen significant improveCONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
ne of the biggest changes around lumber in the past 50 years has nothing to do with wood, but technology, notes Kelvin Johnston, newly appointed commodity lumber and panel buyer at Castle Building Centres. “This is going back to even before my time, but there was a time when lumber price lists were mailed out, and they would be good for six months,” says the industry veteran of more than two decades, and specialist in lumber buying. “You would call and place an order, and you knew the price.” He adds, “We moved from that to teletype, then fax, and now everything is scanned and e-mailed. Prices used to change every six months, now they can change on a call. How long is a price good for? Until the dial tone.” That immediacy of information creates price fluctuation, but is also a huge advantage. “I am going on the road tomorrow, and thanks to mobile technology I can monitor lumber futures out of Chicago,” he says. Philippe Riopel, SPF sales representative at softwood company The Crête Group (Groupe Crête Inc.) agrees that communications technology is the biggest shift he has seen in the lumber industry in the past 20 years. “We are communicating more and more over e-mail and less and less by phone,” he says. “It has changed my experience, but at the same time we are doing the same thing we always did: making personal contact and developing relationships.”
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Congratulations on your 50th Anniversary Milestone! From your proud supplier of: Mouldings • Stair Parts • Boards • Post Covers • Columns • Wall Coverings • Pocket Doors
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FEATURE
Can you take it higher?
I
ment in the understanding of the eco-system; which is something that 100 years ago we were not even thinking about.”
The expectation level of consumers has also risen. “Canadians are expecting more from the industries that serve them, and certainly forestry is one of them,” Des Chênes says. As such, she says the speed of change in the past two decades has been dizzying. In 1993, the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) was established in Germany to promote sustainable forestry through standard setting, certification and labeling of forest products. It arose to handle issues around deforestation and illegal logging, especially in developing nations, according to Des Chênes. “What we found in North America and Canada in particular, was that certification is an interesting and important way to provide additional assurances to consumers,” she says. In Canada, FSC-certification is voluntary, but Des Chênes says this country already has some of the most rigorous forest management practices when compared globally, and “virtually zero” illegal logging. “That is something we should be proud of.” Over the past decade, certification has spread like wildfire through Canadian forests. In 2001, the country had 17 million hectares of certified forest. A year later, FPAC set a requirement that all its members have
their forest lands certified to internationallyrecognized standards by 2006. By the end of 2006 there were 124 million hectares of certified forests, and at the end of 2012 there were 150 million. Canada has even more to be proud of: it is home to about one-third of the FSCcertified forests in the world, and 40% of the world’s Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)-certified lands. “Globally only 10% of the world’s forests are certified and 40% of those are in Canada, 60% are in North America,” Des Chênes notes. Lumber producers have also become more environmentally friendly, for example, by using cut-off waste as biomass to fuel kilns and recycling fibre into engineered wood. Dealers are seeing the benefits too. “Customers are willing to pay a bit more for something environmentally friendly. They see the value,” Nanninga says. “Everyone has become better over the decades of looking after the environment and doing things in an environmentally-friendly way,” Johnston says. It is a trend unifying homeowners, contractors, lumber dealers, product vendors and mills alike, and one not quite common across the country 50 years ago. “Castle has members from Toronto to Nunavut, and from Newfoundland to Northern B.C. Those lumber dealers have a lot of different concerns, but at the same time they all see the environment as important.” CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
n 1995, the National Building Code and Fire Codes of Canada were changed from allowing three-storey wood buildings to four. While that has remained the upper limit in the national code, British Columbia. changed the provincial building code to allow for heights of up to six storeys in 2009. By request of the province, the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes is currently investigating similarly changing the National Model Construction Codes, looking at elements of: fire protection; emergency response; building and plumbing services; and structural and earthquake design. This move to taller wood buildings is, in part, being driven by a cultural shift and availability of new engineeredwood products, according to Mary Tracey, executive director of Wood WORKS! BC. “There has been a shift in people’s perceptions and the appreciation of wood,” she says. “It seems like it is only a few storeys, but it represents a major shift, and is part of a huge trend around urban densification. They don’t just want to put up skyscrapers everywhere.” Tracey says that around the 1960s or 1970s wood started to be seen as an inferior product in non-residential construction, but has changed over the decades. This cultural shift is evolutionary, she says, noting that there are numerous 100year or older, tall wood buildings scattered in communities across Canada such as the Steamworks Brew Pub in downtown Vancouver. “That is a 10-storey wood building, it is over 100 years, and it has withstood earthquakes.” SPECIAL 50TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
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TIMELINE
Defining years “Barbie” gets a boyfriend when the “Ken” doll is introduced.
Larry Marshall Larry Marshall’s sales at Cash and Carry Plywood and Lumber reach $265,000.
1960 The Pittsburgh Pirates won the 1960 World Series in Game 7 on a home run hit by Bill Mazeroski; the first time that a homer had won the championship.
• John F. Kennedy succeeds Dwight Eisenhower as the 35th President of the United States of America.
1961
1962
•T he first meeting of prospective members of Bold Lumber Ltd. is held at the Skyline Hotel in Malton, Ontario. Fourteen people sign up that day. • Larry Marshall is appointed President and General Manager. •A small office is rented at 4938 Yonge Street in Toronto.
1963
1964
• Pete Best was fired as the drummer of The Beatles and replaced by Ringo Starr.
• Management approves the purchase of Bold’s first piece of information technology: an Underwood Olivetti Audit 402.
• Dr. No, the first James Bond film, premieres in theatres.
• Six more members join Bold increasing the total membership to 20.
The Trans-Canada Highway is officially opened; It was completed in 1971.
• The Rolling Stones release their debut album. •C anadians are issued Social Insurance cards for the first time.
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TIMELINE
the
1960s • Membership in Bold approaches 50. • Changes to the charter allow it to admit more than 50 members. • The Board rejects a public offering and franchise model.
• The Maple Leaf flag officially replaced the Canadian Red Ensign, which was used as Canada’s national flag since 1868. • The Pillsbury Doughboy is created. • D.H. Howden Ltd. becomes the first formal Bold supplier on a group wide basis.
1965
• Six staff people now work for Bold Lumber. • Canada celebrates its centennial, featuring the Expo 67 World’s Fair in Montreal.
• An estimated 500 million people worldwide watch as Neil Armstrong takes his historic first steps on the moon.
• The Toronto Maple Leafs win their last Stanley Cup to date.
1966
1967
1969
• Bold forms a ‘Going Public’ committee. The Board of Directors debates the feasibility of a public share offering, as well as franchising.
• Bold’s first major marketing initiative was a ‘May Festival’ promotion featuring a draw for a 1966 Mustang convertible. • Bold now has 38 members. • The Canada Pension Plan and the Quebec Pension Plan both begin operation. • Star Trek debuts on television.
1968
• Martin Luther King, Jr. is assassinated. • Pierre Trudeau becomes Canada’s 15th Prime Minister. • Canada’s universal Medicare system comes into effect. • Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated.
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TIMELINE
Defining years • Bold expands into Atlantic Canada. Among the first members are Stan Dawe Ltd. in Corner Brook, NL and Cummings Building Suppliers Ltd. in Woodstock, NB.
• Construction of the CN Tower begins. • CBS sells the New York Yankees to a group led by George Steinbrenner for $10 million.
• The Canadian government officially adopts a policy of multiculturalism.
• The U.S. pulls out of Vietnam.
• VCRs make their debut.
• Secretariat wins the Triple Crown.
• The Ed Sullivan Show airs its final episode.
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
• Bold joins the Atlantic Building Supply Dealers Association.
• The Cleveland Browns defeat the New York Jets 31-21 as Monday Night Football debuts on ABC. • Computer floppy disks are introduced.
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• Canada wins the first Summit Series against the Soviets with a dramatic game-winning goal from Paul Henderson.
• Bold signs its first member in Western Canada, Dominion Lumber based in Winnipeg.
• Swimmer Mark Spitz sets seven Olympic records and wins seven gold medals.
• Trudeau’s Liberals win a majority government.
• The Watergate scandal begins.
• Muhammad Ali knocks out George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle.
• Pocket calculators introduced.
CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
TIMELINE
the
1970s
• Spearheaded by Chuck Copeland, the Castle Building Centre logo becomes the public face of Bold. • Trudeau institutes wage and price controls to fight inflation.
• Highway signs are changed to the metric system.
• Margaret Thatcher becomes the first female Prime Minister of Great Britain.
• Elvis Presley dies.
• George Carlin hosts the first episode of Saturday Night Live.
• Star Wars opens in theatres.
1976
1977
• The Olympic Games are held in Montréal. • The Cray-1,the first commercially developed supercomputer, is released. The first commercial Concorde flight takes off.
• Jim Gower is appointed General Manager of Bold Lumber Ltd. • He would hold the position for the next 15 years.
• The Toronto Blue Jays play their first-ever game against the Chicago White Sox.
• The Vietnam War ends with the fall of Saigon.
1975
• Despite a very tough economy, Bold purchases increase by 3.5 percent.
• Sony introduces the Walkman.
1978
1979
• Pope John Paul II becomes the first Polish pope in history.
• Apple Computer Company is formed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
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TIMELINE
Defining years • “O Canada” is officially adopted as Canada’s national anthem.
• Pac-Man video game released. • Ted Turner launched CNN.
• The worst recession since the Great Depression begins.
• Marc Garneau becomes the first Canadian in space.
• Michael Jackson releases Thriller, the biggest selling album of all time.
• The Apple Macintosh is introduced.
1981
1982
• More than 700 million people worldwide watch the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana on television.
1983
1984
• Castle becomes a national buying group with shareholders in all 10 provinces. • Jeanne Sauvé is appointed the first female Governor General.
• The Personal Computer (PC) was introduced by IBM.
the
• The first private label products, Castlegard paint and stain, are introduced.
• Canada gains a new Constitution and Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
• Mount St. Helens erupts.
1980
• The number of Directors on the Castle Board increases to eight at the 20th AGM.
• Bold Lumber Limited officially changes its name to Castle Building Centres Group Ltd.
• Terry Fox begins his Marathon of Hope in St. John’s, NL.
1980s
• Cabbage Patch Kids become the must-have toy for children.
CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
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TIMELINE
Defining years • As the DIY trend takes off, Castle members begin offering more consumer goods. • Coca-Cola changes its formula and releases New Coke.
• After 28 years, the Berlin Wall falls.
• After an overwhelmingly negative response, the original formula is back in less than three months.
• Stock market levels fall sharply around the world on Black Monday.
• Pete Rose becomes the all-time hit leader in Major League Baseball.
1985
• The Canada-U.S.Free Trade agreement is reached.
1986
1987
• The Canadian dollar hits an all-time low of 70.2 cents U.S. • Expo ’86 opens in Vancouver. • John Polanyi shares the Nobel Prize for chemistry.
the
1980s
• One dollar bills are replaced by the “loonie.” • The first full-length episode of The Simpsons debuts on Fox.
1988
1989
• Almost 420,000 promotional flyers are produced monthly for participating Castle members. • Calgary hosts the Winter Olympics. • Ben Johnson sets a world record and wins the gold medal at the Seoul Olympics in Korea. After testing positive for steroids, he is stripped of his medal two days later. • Wayne Gretzky is traded to the Los Angeles Kings.
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TIMELINE
Defining years • Nelson Mandela is freed after 27 years in prison.
• Roberta Bondar is Canada’s first female astronaut in orbit.
• The Senate passes the unpopular Goods and Services Tax.
• The Toronto Blue Jays become the first Canadian team to win baseball’s World Series.
• A recession is officially announced.
1990
• Nelson Mandela is elected President of South Africa.
• The European Union is formed.
• The Hubble Telescope was launched into space
1991
1992
• The Cold War ends when the Soviet Union is formally dissolved. • South Africa repeals apartheid laws.
• Pro Wylie is hired as General Manager.
1993
1994
• It’s been 30 years since the founding of Bold. • Kim Campbell becomes Canada’s first female Prime Minister. • Liberal leader Jean Chrétien is elected in a landslide victory as the Conservatives are reduced to a mere two seats.
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TIMELINE
the
1990s • With private label products growing rapidly, there are more than 150 Castle branded SKUs.
• Castle releases the first issue of Contractor Advantage.
• Nunavut becomes the newest territory.
• A 13 km bridge connecting Prince Edward Island to the mainland is opened.
• Toy Story, the first full length computer animated feature film, was released by Pixar and Walt Disney Pictures.
1995
• The Euro becomes the common currency of Europe.
• The first BlackBerry smartphone is released.
• Scientists announce that an adult sheep named Dolly had been successfully cloned.
1996
1997
• The Castle store identification program is launched. J.A. Brisson & Sons Ltd. in Cochrane, ON and J.M. Delaney Lumber Ltd. in Stephenville, NL. are the first to adopt the new look. • A two-dollar coin, the “toonie,” is unveiled.
1998
1999
• The Castle.ca public website is registered. • A powerful ice storm paralyzes huge portions of Québec and Ontario. • U.S. President Clinton is impeached. • Viagra becomes available on the market. • Google is founded.
• Québec is hit by major flooding.
CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
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TIMELINE
Defining years • Castle launches the Electronic Member Services online. • Two Castle members, Alf Curtis Home Improvements Inc. and Bishop’s Do-It Centre Ltd. win Outstanding Retailer Awards from Hardware Merchandising magazine.
• Castle launches EDI and electronic invoicing. • Nearly 3,000 people are killed in the September 11 attacks. • Apple unveils the first iPod.
2000
2001
• The total worldwide cost of the work done in preparation for Y2K is estimated at over $400 billion U.S. • Pierre Trudeau dies. • Stockwell Day is elected the first leader of the Canadian Alliance party.
the
• Pro Wylie receives Industry Achievement Award from LBMAO.
2002
2003
• Queen Elizabeth II tours Canada to mark her Golden Jubilee. • The dot-com bubble bursts.
2000s
CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
2004
• Castle begins its store development program to provide its members with the tools necessary to renovate or update their business. • The Boston Red Sox break the curse of the Bambino and win the World Series for the first time since 1918. • One of the worst natural disasters in history occurs as tsunami waves crash into Southeast Asia.
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TIMELINE
Defining years • Castle launches its Expo format. Pro Wylie retires after 13 years at the helm of Castle.
• Castle implements a new computer system • The first BDM in Quebec is hired. An online pool buying program is launched.
• Incoming President, Ken Jenkins, begins his tenure. • Apple introduces the first generation iPhone. • Hurricane Katrina causes severe damage along the U.S. Gulf Coast.
2005
• The final book of the Harry Potter series is released and sells over 11 million copies in the first 24 hours.
2006
2007
• Castle’s Board of Directors increases from eight to nine people, giving equal representation to all regions.
2008
2009
• Castle launches its commercial division by hiring their first BDM representing Commercial Building Supplies (CBS).
• Stephen Harper becomes the first Conservative Prime Minister in 13 years.
the
• With the passing of Michael Jackson, internet traffic worldwide reaches unprecedented and historic levels, crippling several major websites.
2000s
• Stock markets around the world plunge amid growing fears of a U.S. recession, fueled by the subprime mortgage crisis. • Barack Obama is elected the 44th President of the United States and becomes the first African-American President-elect.
CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
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Introducing the new Solar Powered “Fresh Air” Skylight
The Solar Powered “Fresh Air” Skylight features a solar panel that captures any available daylight and uses it to recharge a highly efficient, fully concealed, battery powered operator and control system. This remote controlled solar powered skylight installs just like our other VELUX skylights and requires no wiring, making for an easy and cost effective installation. Call us today for more information: Toll free: 1 800-888-3589 www.velux.ca
VENDER PARTNERS
Castle Building Centres Group is proud to have strong relationships with our Valued Vendor Partners. Our commitment to Castle members is to always partner with vendors that are committed to delivering value through innovative products, diverse product assortments and competitive price points. We thank you for your ongoing support of Castle publications and generous contributions to our 50th Anniversary.
About Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. is a Canadian member-owned, Lumber, Building Materials and Hardware buying group committed to the success of the independent. Our commitment is to drive this success to our over 290 member locations through Transparency, Freedom and Profitability. Our Business model focuses on accountability to our membership, freedom of and a commitment to their success, growth and profitability through strategic partnerships with key vendor partners and a winning hardware distribution solution.
Jennifer Mercieca
Director of Communications Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. jercieca@castle.ca 905.564.3307 ex.220
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VENDER PARTNERS
AkzoNobel Canada Inc. AkzoNobel is the largest global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals. We supply industries and consumers worldwide with innovative products and are passionate about developing sustainable answers for our customers. In Canada our portfolio of well-respected brands include, SicoR, CILR, GliddenR, SikkensR, FloodR, plus Liquid NailsR and MulcoR adhesives and sealants. These products are sold through national retail outlets, distributors and independent DIY dealers across the country. www.akzonobel.com 800-268-0534
Alexandria Moulding Founded in 1943, Alexandria Moulding is a leading manufacturer and distributor of mouldings and related millwork products. Servicing from coast to coast and exporting on a global scale. Alexandria Mouldings mission is to service customers flexibly with cost effective quality mouldings and 100% fill rate while being best in class delivering value added products. Alexandria Moulding recently acquired Royal Woodworking Co. Ltd. who specializes in manufacturing Hardwood solid and custom mouldings, boards and stair components. This partnership solidifies their hardwood supply and product offering; leveraging each other’s strengths to further enhance value they bring to their customers. www.alexmo.com 800-267-1773
All Weather Windows All Weather Windows is Canada’s largest privately owned window and door manufacturer. The company was launched in 1978 in a 10,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Edmonton, Alberta. Since then the company has expanded from coast to coast with 9 branches nationwide. All Weather Windows has two leading-edge manufacturing plants with a combined capacity of nearly 400,000 square feet in Edmonton and Mississauga that produce a full range of award-winning window and door products for dealers, builders, contractors and homeowners. The company has more than 1000 dealers across Canada and has been awarded “Top 50 Best Managed” for 4-years-running. www.allweatherwindows.com 800-232-9407
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Fence Post Backfill
= 2 x 50 lb Bags of Concrete Mix
1 Bag MIX
POUR
SET
No Water Required Mixes in just 30 Seconds
Expands to Fill the Post Hole Sets Posts in Minutes
Ideal for All Types of Posts 1 Bag sets a 4x4 Post in a 8in by 3ft Hole
Scan Here
Same Techn Used t ology o Set Utility Poles
Demo Video
Item : 254-20-F
T: 416-679-5676 Fast2K@chemque.com
www.Fast2K.com
VENDER PARTNERS
Allsco
www.ALLSCO.com
Laflamme and Allsco Windows and Doors are both members of the Atis Group. Atis Group Inc. manufactures, distributes and markets a complete range of windows, doors and high performance energy-efficient products for the construction and home improvement markets. Atis Group Inc. is a leading manufacturer and marketer of windows and doors in Canada, with 9 manufacturing facilities located in Québec, Ontario, British Columbia and New Brunswick, with over 1600 employees and operations all across Canada. www.allsco.com 800-567-4663
Bailey Metals Bailey Metal Products Limited has served Canada’s commercial and residential construction markets, combining hard work, leadership and unrivalled customer service. Founded by Sam Bailey, our company has provided exceptional products and sustainability to the dedicated clients, shareholders, associates and suppliers who share in his and BMP Limited’s ethos. Canadian owned and family operated, our products include Lightweight Steel Framing (LSF), Non-loadbearing steel framing, drywall trims and accessories, ceiling grid, ComSlab® Long Span composite floor system, and vinyl and paper-faced metal bead. Sustainable and innovative, trust the name built on a family creed of integrity, honesty and respect. www.bmp-group.com 800-668-2154
Chemque Chemque is the manufacturer of Fast 2K Fence Post Backfill, a convenient alternative to concrete to set fence posts. One 2 lbs bag of Fast 2K sets a 4x4 post, replacing two 50 lbs bags of concrete. Requiring no water, Fast 2K expands to fill the post hole, setting all types of posts in minutes. For 40 years Chemque has been serving customers all over the globe, in a variety of industries including construction, printing and telecommunications. With a sophisticated R&D structure, the company has developed numerous market-leading products including resins, adhesives, foams and state-of-the-art dispensing machines. www.Fast2K.com 800-268-6111
By
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S N O I T A L U T A R CONG TO CASTLE S AR FOR ITS 50 YES! IN BUSINES
Customer Service
1 877.478.8408
www.resisto.ca
VENDER PARTNERS
Durabuilt Durabuilt Windows & Doors has been manufacturing CSA certified windows and energy efficient exterior entry doors for the residential, semi-commercial and retail markets across western Canada for over 25 years. Recently recognized as Canada’s Best Managed Companies and the 9 time Consumers’ Choice Award recipient, a recognized Top 100 Window & Door Manufacturer consistently for past 5 years and preferred supplier of the Shell Busey HouseSmart program, you can feel confident that you are dealing with a reputable company that has been acknowledged by its customers and peers. Our innovative products can be found in homes, leading building centers and semi-commercial projects across western Canada.
“Simply enjoy life!”
www.durabuiltwindows.com 800-544-3815
Ideal Roofing Co. Ltd. As an industry leader in the manufacturing of quality steel roofing and siding products, Ideal Roofing’s prime concern has always been their clients’ satisfaction. Proud of its solidly established reputation built on customer service and product dependability, Ideal Roofing manufactures steel roofing and siding panels for agricultural, commercial, industrial, institutional and residential buildings, serving a host of diversified clients across Canada’s six eastern provinces and the northeastern United States. www.idealroofing.ca 800-267-0860
JELD-WEN Windows & Doors
Ideal Roofing’s New Long-life Steel Shingles
JELD-WEN Windows & Doors has been producing superior windows and doors since 1960. Today, JELD-WEN is the leading manufacturer of windows and doors in Canada with over 1,200 employees that strive to provide value for our customers through a range of long-lasting, climate-appropriate products and options. With operations that range from manufacturing facilities, distribution and design centres, JELD-WEN remains an innovative force in the construction and renovation industries and a leader with thoughtful planning and diligent craftsmanship. JELD-WEN Canada unites several unique collections under one nameplate to provide superior value and selection for all new build and renovation needs.
This may very well be the last roof you install if you choose Ideal Roofing’s new long-life Wakefield Bridge steel roofing shingles. They come in 12 designer colours and are guaranteed 50 years.
www.jeld-wen.ca 204-694-6012
1 866 842-6288 www.wakefieldbridge.com CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
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VENDER PARTNERS
King Packaged Materials Company Founded in 1928, KPM Industries Limited has grown to encompass two operating divisions: King Paving & Materials Company and King Packaged Materials Company. King Packaged Materials Company is a market leader in the DIY, contractor, masonry and mining markets, with operations in Sudbury, Brantford, and Montreal where a new world class plant has just been commissioned. Products sold through the retail stores to the DIY and contractor markets include: Sakrete Concrete Mixes, Concrete Repair Products, Sand and Stone, Cement, and Builders’ Tubes. www.king-products.com 800-461-0566
Moulding & Millwork Moulding & Millwork is a leading manufacturer and distributor of interior finishing solutions. With 9 distribution centres located across the country servicing over 5000 customers, our company’s highly trained team assists both retail and Pro-Sales customers. Backed by world class suppliers, Arauco and Masonite, we partner with our customers to offer innovative design solutions that bring beauty to any home with a variety of interior door and moulding options. We are committed to our valued customers and will continue to strengthen our capacities in the future. We look forward to serving all of your door and moulding needs. www.mouldingandmillwork.com 905-792-1144 (Doors) 905-693-8746 (Millwork)
Delivering Solutions, Transforming Markets, Enhancing Lives
Owens Corning LP Owens Corning Canada is a leading Building Materials Company offering products & energy efficient solutions: Product offering EcoTouch™ PINK™ FIBERGLAS® Insulation, FOAMULAR® Extruded Polystyrene Rigid Insulation, Shingles and Accessories. Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) is a leading global producer of residential and commercial building materials, glassfiber reinforcements and engineered materials for composite systems. A Fortune® 500 Company for 57 consecutive years, Owens Corning is committed to driving sustainability by delivering solutions, transforming markets and enhancing lives. www.owenscorning.com 800-268-7500
ATTICS
EcoTouch PINK FIBERGLAS Insulation R-40
ATTICS
TM
®
®
raft-R-mate Attic Rafter Vents ®
ATTICS
PROPINK FIBERGLAS Blown Insulation ®
®
ATTICS
AttiCat Expanding Blown-In Insulation System ®
EXTERIOR WALLS
EcoTouch PINK FIBERGLAS Insulation R-20 TM
®
®
CATHEDRAL CEILINGS EcoTouch PINK FIBERGLAS Insulation R-28 ®
TM
®
EXTERIOR WALL SHEATHING
FOAMULAR CodeBord Extruded Polystyrene Rigid Insulation ®
®
FLOORS UNDER UNHEATED SPACES EcoTouch PINK FIBERGLAS Insulation R-31 ®
SILL PLATE
TM
®
FoamSealR Sill Gasket TM
SMALL GAPS
MULTI-PURPOSE Insulation
INTERIOR WALLS AND FLOORS
EcoTouch QuietZone PINK FIBERGLAS Acoustic Insulation ®
TM
®
BASEMENT WALLS
®
FOAMULAR INSULPINK Extruded Polystyrene Rigid Insulation ®
FOR HVAC SYSTEMS QuietR DuctBoard Flexible Duct Media
BASEMENT WALLS
BASEMENT FLOORS
®
®
FOAMULAR C-200 Extruded Polystyrene Rigid Insulation ®
FOAMULAR C-300 Extruded Polystyrene Rigid Insulation ®
Complete Solutions for Energy Savings, Noise Control and Comfort www.owenscorning.ca
1-800-GET-PINK
®
70% Lower Global Warming Potential Than Previous Formulation ®
PINK™ FIBERGLAS INSULATION ®
THE PINK PANTHER & © 1964-2012 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved. The colour PINK is a registered trademark of Owens Corning. *73% recycled content is based on the average recycled glass content in all Owens Corning fiberglass batts, rolls and unbonded loosefill insulation manufactured in Canada. The GREENGUARD INDOOR AIR QUALITY CERTIFIED Mark is a registered certification mark used under license through the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute. This product has achieved GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification, and is verified to be formaldehyde free. © 2012 Owens Corning. TM
SM
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Castle goes digital! ruction t s n o c h g u o r g insulation • sidin
Castle is pleased to announce the launch of our publications in a digital format.
ng • tools • roofi
Contractor Advantage, Advantage Entrepreneur, IDEAS and Rough Construction are now available in this easy to read digital format. Past issues of these publications are also available through our digital archive. You can sign up to receive these publications digitally or check out the archive at:
e l b a l AvaNiow
CA
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Your home is your Castle
• insulation • paint • bathroom products • flooring • siding • mouldings • railings • windows • doors • roofing
For More Information Contact: Jennifer Mercieca , Director of Communications Castle Building Centres Group Ltd. jmercieca@castle.ca 905-564-3307 ext 220
Your home is your Castle
1
VENDER PARTNERS
PPG Canada Inc.
Because Every Job Matters PPG has been providing quality paints and stains for homeowners and professionals alike for well over 100 years. Today, PPG’s lineup of well respected residential, commercial and industrial paint brands offer a wide range of choices to meet the varying needs of consumers, interior designers, painting contractors, property managers, developers and architects around the globe. So whether you are searching for a beautiful interior paint for your living room or high-performance specialty coating to protect an industrial asset PPG Architectural Coatings has the perfect solution for you. www.ppg.com 905-790-5349
Regal Ideas Regal Ideas is a manufacturer of premium Aluminum Building materials to the Home Improvement Industry. Based in British Columbia Canada Regal Ideas provides “easy to install” component Aluminum railings and fencing systems in a variety of styles and colors along with Aluminum stair stringers and various Wood railing accessories. All components are engineered to exacting standards and are the industry benchmarks for quality and innovation meeting or exceeding accepted Building Codes for Canada, with 20 year warranties. Regal Ideas also manufactures a line of revolutionary Engineered Climbing products consisting of Telescoping extension and specialty ladders along with Commercial scaffolding products. www.regalrailing.com 604.952.4290
Resisto, a division of SOPREMA INC. RESISTO manufactures a wide range of self adhered waterproofing membranes including the Basic Waterproofing Membrane, the Lastobond Pro HT-N, the HR Cap Sheet Membrane, the Aluminum Waterproofing Membrane, and much more. Say goodbye to air infiltrations and water leaks around door and window frames with Red Zone and Red Zone 25 air and vapour barrier; the benchmark for residential waterproofing. Water infiltration into foundations, roofs, and walls of homes or buildings can cause extensive property damage, inconvenience and repair costs. Water damage can sneak up one drop at a time. RESISTO products are the most effective and long-lasting solution for your waterproofing needs. www.resisto.ca 877-478-8408 CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
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STUNNING WINDOWS IN A SELECTION OF STYLES. R
Vinyl • Aluminum-Vinyl H ybr id • Aluminum-Wood H ybr id • Heating Windows • Patio D oors • Entrance Systems R
R
R
Members of R
VENDER PARTNERS
Rust-oleum GREAT BRANDS FROM ONE GREAT NAME! For over 90 years, Rust-Oleum® has been the industry leader in rust preventative coatings. Today, Rust-Oleum® produces market leading brands in small project paint, woodcare, automotive and high performance coatings. From brand names you trust such as Tremclad, Varathane, EpoxyShield, and Zinsser, our products and services are based on a legacy of knowledge, innovation and commitment. Whether your project goal is to prevent rust, restore a worn-out surface, create a showroom finidh your garage floor or stain and protect your wood floors, Rust-Oleum® has all your solutions whether you’re a Professional or Do-It-Yourselfer. www.rustoleum.ca 800-387-9897
Sherwin Williams Woodcare Group
The Minwax company, Canada’s leader in the Interior Wood Care and Maintenance category, has a long legacy of making and keeping wood beautiful….since 1904. The Minwax company continues to build on this legacy by leading category innovation. The Minwax brand is famous for its category leading Wood Finish™ stain, known as the ‘yellow can’, but have introduced many category innovations including; Minwax® Polyshades™(a 2n1 stain and polyurethane) and Minwax® Poly for Floors (eliminates sanding between coats). Minwax offers almost 300 items all aiming to help make and keep wood beautiful®. Available at your local Castle location. www.miniwax.com 800-267-4888
Steel-Craft Door Products Ltd. Steel-Craft’s passion for excellence and attention to detail truly sets our garage doors apart. Our variety of doors combine beauty with technical excellence and emphasize quality in every detail. Manufactured with premium quality galvanized steel for years of protection, SteelCraft delivers quality construction, excellent thermal efficiency and unsurpassed beauty. www.steel-craft.ca 800-463-3667
5405C - C58 M17 Y0 K46
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The new face for a familiar name. There’s a new look for the company you’ve always counted on for innovation, style and exceptional service. > A 180,000 sq. ft. state-of-the art production facility allows us to scale up or down, depending on need > Creators of DuraQuote 360, the most user-friendly, comprehensive quoting software system > In-house service, delivery and marketing support teams are all here to serve you better > We maintain stringent quality standards for our end users through IMS Certification, Energy Star & CSA
Ask how the ‘new’ Durabuilt can help your business today. Call 1.800.544.3815 or visit durabuiltwindows.com today!
all about you.
VENDER PARTNERS
TAIGA BUILDING PRODUCTS Established in1973, Taiga Building Products is one of the leading independent wholesale distributors of building products with 15 distribution centres across Canada and 2 in Northern California, USA. Taiga also exports products into markets in Asia, Central and South America, and the Middle East. Products that Taiga distributes are composite decking, engineered wood, flooring, insulation, lumber, mouldings, panels, roofing and siding. Taiga also specializes in pressure treated wood at three facilities in Canada. When you need quality building products, on-time delivery and you need to know that someone’s got your back, you can count on Taiga. We are the exclusive national distributor of Trex. www.taigabuilding.com 800-268-5095
VELUX Canada Inc. VELUX Canada is the market leader in the manufacturing of skylights, Sun Tunnels, and roof windows. Only the VELUX No Leak Skylight™ includes 3 layers of water protection for a worry-free installation. Available throughout Canada, our skylights and roof windows are complemented by a complete range of blinds, electronic accessories, and shades. This year alone, VELUX Canada has introduced the New Solar Powered Venting Skylight, a full range of solutions for flat roofs and expanded our colour blind collection to include more than 90 options. With industry leading technology, superior customer service and the best warranty on the market, VELUX offers the best experince in natural lighting. www.idealroofing.ca 800-267-0860
Vicwest
Quality Exterior Products for Homes and Buildings Founded in 1905 Vicwest has over a century of experience and today supplies a complete range of building products to the Residential, Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial construction industries. Our line of products includes: Steel Cladding and roofing, stone coated steel roofing, a variety of polycarbonate coverings, Architectural Panels, Insulated Metal Panels and Steel Decking. Regardless of the project, customers throughout North America have confidence in Vicwest products and services. www.vicwest.com 905-825-2252
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CA TRIBUTE
I
t may have started as a simple four-page flyer, but through time Contractor Advantage has evolved into the leading contractor publication in Canada and is recognized as one of the industry’s premier sources for tips, advice and industry information. It is also an effective advertising vehicle for Castle suppliers and for Castlegard and Castle branded products. Since its launch in 1996, Contractor Advantage has served readers and advertisers through informative and well-received content both in print form and as of this year, also in an easyto-read digital version on the Castle Web site at www.castle.ca. A contractor needs far more than a hammer
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and saw, and the pages of the bi-monthly magazine provide a multitude of insights on residential contractor installations. As an example, business columnist Paul Rhodes provides expert counsel to help contractors manage and grow their bottom line and in 2011 he was joined by Victoria Downing, a leading authority in the remodeling industry. Business Information Group (BIG), Canada’s largest publisher of specialized business magazines, directories and databases, has been responsible for producing and overseeing the content contained in not only Contractor Advantage, but other publication endeavors that have been created since the working relationship with Castle began six years ago. CONTRACTOR ADVANTAGE
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These include: • The launch of Ideas in 2007, a semi-annual publication that as the name suggests, provides the buying public with a myriad of new tips and advances in product categories ranging from doors, windows and millwork to kitchens, flooring and siding. Ideas publishes each spring and fall. • The launch of Rough Construction in 2010. The book, which publishes annually, provides contractors and consumers with industry insight into the foundation and building envelope. • The launch of Avantage Entreprenuer also in 2010. The French edition of Contractor Advantage contains relevant content that caters directly to Francophone contractors and consumers. It publishes in the Spring, Summer and Fall.
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Celebrate
of Castle r
with ou
What would you do with Build your dream cottage?
$50,000? Renovate your kitchen?
Create a backyard oasis?
If you win, it’s up to you! The Castle $50K Giveaway contest runs from May 1 to September 2, 2013. Enter in-store at a Participating Castle Building Centres Location No purchase necessary. For complete contest rules, visit castle.ca