CAVPA Newsletter - Vol 1-Fall2022

Message from the President

This fall marks the conclusion of CAVPAs first full year of operations and our inaugural member newsletter. It was less than two years ago and in the height of the pandemic that the five founding members came together to define the vision that would become CAVPA. Since then, we hired our fantastic Executive Director, Sherry Denesha, and Association Concepts to manage CAVPA which was officially incorporated August 2021. We developed the mission, bylaws, logo, website and all the other details that go into an association and have spoken to many of you as we worked to recruit members. This past summer, we did a thorough search for an advocacy partner to collaborate with us on communications, outreach and government lobbying, which led to our engaging Ottawa Consultants and Michael Wood as our Director of Strategy & Communications.

As I write this, we have grown to 18 member companies from across the Country and are actively working to further grow the membership as well as bringing in sponsor vendor partners. Additionally, we are opening an “associate” non-voting member category for interested parties who are not AV companies, but share many of our same goals, such as event producers who want to protect their freedom to choose the sup pliers they want without punitive excessive charges from the venue. Increasing our membership and the addition of sponsors will not only increase our financial capacity, but also the legitimacy of our message as we engage with event planners and govern ment.

It is long past due that our industry has national representation and a common voice to engage on important issues that affect us all, and I am genuinely excited to finally see that being realized with CAVPA and the high calibre of membership we have already put together in such a short time. We will need all your help to continue refining our message, growing the membership base and conducting outreach. January 18, 2023 is the date for our inaugural AGM and I hope to see you all then (virtually) as we plan for the future of CAVPA.

Sincerely, Tim Lang

Canadian Audio Visual Providers Association | Association Canadienne des fournisseurs de services audiovisuels

Board of Directors

PRESIDENT

Tim Lang

Proshow Audiovisual

8105 N Fraser Way Burnaby, BC V5J 5M8

T: 604-293-1771

E: timlang@proshow.com

VICE-PRESIDENT

Martin Blanchard

Expert’Ease Productions

7836 Rue Jarry E Montreal, QC H1J 2A1

T: 514-444-7723

E: martin@expertease.ca

TREASURER

Mike Wilson

Bespoke Audio Visual

907 Oxford St. Etobicoke, ON M8Z 5T1

T: 647-797-9911

E: mike.wilson@bespokeav.ca

DIRECTORS

Kyle Brooks

Bespoke Audio Visual

907 Oxford St. Etobicoke, ON M8Z 5T1

T: 647-797-9911

E: kyle.brooks@bespokeav.ca

Bruce DeMond

Advanced Systems 5678 Stanley Street Halifax, NS B3K 2G1

T: 902-454-4742

E: bruce@advancedsystems.ca

Garry Hale

AVentPro

45 Beghin Ave #6 Winnipeg, MB R2J 4B9

T: 204-226-5565

E: hale@aventpro.com

Matt Hussack

Proshow Audiovisual

8105 N Fraser Way Burnaby, BC V5J 5M8

T: 604-293-1771

E: mhussack@proshow.com

Patrick Phaneuf

Expert’Ease Productions 7836 Rue Jarry E Montreal, QC H1J 2A1

T: 514-444-7723

E: pphaneuf@expertease.ca

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Sherry Denesha

T: 416-491-2897 ext 234

E: sherry@cavpa.ca

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

(Ottawa Consultants)

Michael Wood

T: 613-265-9967

E: mike@cavpa.ca

PR FIRM UPDATE – Ottawa Consultants

Government Meetings

Principals at Ottawa Consultants have been in discussions with pre-existing relationships within the Federal government regard ing the challenges that CAVPA is facing within the non-compet itive bidding process at hotel venues. This would include the office of the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development.

Education

For us to grow our membership and make current and future event planners aware of our industry, Ottawa Consultants is focusing on educating the sector on the benefits of using locally owned, Canadian audio-visual companies.

That is why on November 23, 2022, at 8:00 PM, we will be hosting the first of many free, education seminars for those working in the industry. We will have a maximum of 100 attendees and the focus will be the Canadian sector. Fur ther details will be shared with the membership closer to the date.

Recent Federal/Provincial Updates and Business News

With every updated newsletter, Ottawa Consultants will include links to recent Federal and Provincial updates and news stories. Ottawa Consultants feel that while these stories may not have an immediate impact on the Canadian audio-visual sector, they could very well play a role in future advocacy and association development.

The Economy

• Ottawa is working on a program to regularize the status of 500,000 immigrants

• Bank of Canada increases policy interest rate by 50 basis points, continues quantitative tightening

• Canada’s unemployment rate rose to 5.4% in August as interest rate hikes ‘bite’

• Inflation is cooling but prices aren’t going to fall

Politics

• Alberta provincial election - Alberta business community confronts uncertain waters under incoming Premier Danielle Smith

• Projections show Poilievre’s Conservatives winning more seats than Trudeau’s Liberals

Membership Drive

Ottawa Consultants and the Canadian Audio Visual Providers Association are currently in the middle of a membership drive.

To be as effective as possible when it comes to lobbying the federal government. It is imperative that we grow our membership. Ottawa Consultants are currently reaching out to prospective members and are currently asking you, to provide any additional leads to be followed up upon.

We are currently reaching out to other event production companies that are involved in hotel venues to join us so that we can be a voice for all.

Thank you to our current members for their support!

CURRENT CAVPA MEMBERS

BRITISH COLUMBIA

A.V. Strategies Ltd.

Fred Horsman

1295 Napier Street Vancouver, BC V6A 2H7 T – 604-879-3950 E – fred@avstrategies.ca W – www.avstrategies.ca

Innovation Production Technologies Inc.

Steve Matthews 7818 Express St. Burnaby, BC V5A 1T4 T – 604-398-2651

E – steve@innovationlighting.net W – www.innovationlighting.net

Proshow Audiovisual

Tim Lang

Unit A – 8105 North Fraser Way Burnaby, BC V5J 5M8 T – 604-612-7129

E – timlang@proshow.com W – www.proshow.com

Riggit Services Inc.

Rick Smith 8021 Enterprise Street Burnaby, BC V5A 1V5 T – 604-377-1481

E – rick@riggit.com W – www.riggit.com

Russell Audio-Visual

Jon Russell

3540 Opie Cresent Prince George, BC V2N 2P9 T - 250-617-2969

E - jon@russellav.ca W – www.russsellav.ca

SW Event Technology

Cal McCarthy 1-325 Bay Avenue Lake Country, BC V4V 1N2 T – 250-868-3333 Ext. 2233 E – cmccarthy@sw-online.com W – www.sw-online.com

ALBERTA

Event Technology Solutions

Brent Taylor 52-9903 209 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5T 5X9 T – 780-446-9495 E – brent@eventtech.ca W – www.eeventtech.ca

invert720 Productions Inc.

Justin Armstrong 101, 17628 103 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5S 1J9 T – 780-999-5792

E – justin@invert720.com W – www.invert720.com

MANITOBA

AVentPro Inc.

Garry Hale 6-45 Beghin Ave. Winnipeg, MB R2J 4B9 T – 204-226-5565

E – hale@aventpro.com W – www.aventpro.com

EventLight.ca Inc.

Cameron Friesen 1051 Marion Street Winnipeg, MB R3M 3M9 T – 204-232-5165

E – cam@eventlight.ca W – www.eventlight.ca

Rivercity AV Productions Services Inc.

Paul Dueck

1224 Henderson Hwy Winnipeg, MB R2G 1L9 T – 204-227-4691

E – paul@rivercityav.com W – www.rivercityav.com

ONTARIO

APG Rentals

Christopher Parry / Dan Ayerst 2880 Brighton Road, Unit 1 Oakville, ON L6H 5S3 T – 416-791-9654

E – cparry@apgrents.com / dana@ap grents.com W – www.apgrents.com

bb Blanc Inc.

Rennie Colelli

41 Keyes Court, Unit 2 Vaughan, ON L4H 4V6 T – 416-360-0440

E – rcolelli@bbblanc.com W – www.bbblanc.com

Bespoke Audio Visual

Michael Wilson 907 Oxford St. Toronto, ON M8Z 5T1 T – 647-797-9911

E – mike.wilson@bespokeav.ca W – www.bespokeav.ca

Byrne Production Services

Matthew Byrne

712 Sauve Street

Milton, ON L9T 8M4

T – 416-557-5542

E – matthew@byrneproductionservices.com W – www.byrneproductionservices.com

Impact AV Solutions

Randy Woolman

86 Guided Court – Unit M

Toronto, ON M9V 4K6 T – 877-462-3174

E – info@impactavsolutions.com W – www.impactavsolutions.com

QUEBEC

Les Productions expert’ease

Martin Blanchard

7836 rue Jarry Est Montreal, QC H1J 2A1 T – 514-444-7723

E – martin@expertease.ca W – www.expertease.ca

NOVA SCOTIA

Advanced Systems

Bruce DeMond Box 31005

Halifax, NS B3K 5T9 T – 902-454-4742

E – bd@advancedsystems.ca W – www.advancedsystems.ca

Who Are We?

About CAVPA

The Canadian Audio Visual Providers Association represents Canadianowned sound, light and audio visual equipment rental and production companies. Our membership focus is primarily on those businesses that service the corporate audio visual space, including meetings, conferences, galas, trade shows, ceremonies and other types of events typically held in convention centers, hotels and other venues.

Why?

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic had a severe and disproportionate impact on all live events businesses, especially capital and employee intensive ones such as audio visual providers. The small and niche nature of our industry has meant that governments at all levels have seemingly been ignorant of the existence and needs of our business, and it became apparent that the best way to collectively have our voices heard by gov ernment was by joining together with a national association to represent our members.

Additionally, in recent years Canadian independent audio visual provid ers have seen the growth of industry consolidation to the point where the Canadian market is now dominated by a single large global competitor. This has led to a substantial increase in monopolistic and anti-competitive practices to the detriment of Canadian-owned audio visual companies, the majority of which are privately owned small businesses.

Goals

Engage – with Governments, event planners, hotel & conference facilities and the public on the benefits and val ue provided by Canadian-owned audio visual companies and promote recognition of the audio visual and event technology industry as critical supply chain service providers supporting many other key sectors.

Educate – event planners, government and other stakeholders: on the importance of our industry and its en abling impact on live events of all types on the economic and employment contribution made by Canadian audio visual companies on the many benefits of using Canadian-owned audio visual companies on the options available to event planners when booking venues that will enable them to have freedom of choice in audio visual vendor without financial penalties from the facility

Advocate – with Provincial and Federal Governments on issues of importance to our members

Protect – ensure Canadian-owned audio visual businesses have a fair opportunity to provide their services at events and venues across the country and challenge monopolistic and anti-competitive practices that seek to harm the competitiveness and viability of Canadian owned audio visual companies

By joining together, Canadian-owned audio visual companies can amplify our message and influence with a much larger voice. Your membership in CAVPA will enable our industry to be better heard by governments and other stakeholders and will represent our interests in a way that no single company could achieve on their own.

Call for Nominations

for Canadian Audio Visual Providers Association Board of Directors

CAVPA is seeking dedicated and passionate individuals to serve on the Board of Directors, who can dedi cate their time and expertise to the advancement of the associations goals.

As CAVPA holds their first Annual General Meeting there will be nine (9) positions available on the CAVPA Board of Directors. Five (5) directors will be appointed to a two (2) year-term, and four (4) directors will be appointed to a one (1) year-term, based on election results.

All Active Members are eligible to run for the Board of Directors, one designated representative of each Active member shall have one vote at all Annual or Special meetings of the members.

As a volunteer director, you will be responsible to:

• Attend and actively participate in approximately seven (7) 1-hour board meetings per year (meet ings are held electronically).

• Participate on one or more committee(s)

• Advocate for the interests of our members

If you would like to help promote and guide the development and growth of the Canadian Audio Visual Providers Association, WE WANT YOU

Your bio will be included with the electronic ballot, which will be sent to all members in late-December. Voting will take place by electronic ballot opening on December 28, 2022, and closing on January 13, 2023 at 5:00 pm eastern.

The Annual General Meeting will be held electronically on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 @ 1:00 pm eastern. Further details to follow.

If you wish to put your name forward as a director, please email a brief bio and photo to Sherry@cavpa.ca

Please email your bio by December 23, 2022 @ 5:00 pm eastern.

On behalf of the CAVPA Board of Directors, thank you for your participation and support!