CAVPA Newsletter - Vol 2 - Winter 2023

Special Partners:

Message from the President

It has been a busy start to the year, kicking off with our inaugural AGM in January. Thank you to all those who took part, and a special thanks to Cal McCarthy and Rennie Colelli for joining the Board of Directors. Next, I am thrilled to announce that we have secured three CAVPA “special partner” sponsors: IntelliEvent, SC Media, and Theatrixx. We deeply appreciate the support and partnership of these valued partners as they make a significant impact on CAVPA, allowing us to focus on our goals and serve our members. We express our sincere thanks to these gracious sponsors!

In January, CAVPA made its debut at the GO WEST conference for event professionals in Edmonton. We had two representatives participate in a panel discussion for event planners on freedom of choice in AV suppliers, a topic that generated a lot of interest among the attendees. In April, CAVPA will be showcasing at the CITT EXPO-SCÈNE conference in Montreal, where we will focus on increasing awareness of job opportunities in our industry to theatre/technical students and faculty.

Our primary objective for 2023 is to continue growing our membership by doubling the current membership count. This is an achievable goal, requiring each member to add only one new member company, and we request your assistance in this outreach. We have now introduced a new category for non-AV companies, known as “Associate Members,” such as individual event planners or event planning companies interested in joining and supporting CAVPA.

With the help and support of our membership, this will be the year where CAVPA really kicks into gear, grows our membership, ramps up event participation and expands event planner and government engagement initiatives.

We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to all our members and sponsors for supporting CAVPA, and we wish you all a successful and prosperous 2023!

Tim Lang, President

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

2022-2023 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

Rennie Colelli

bb Blanc Inc.

41 Keyes Court, Unit 2

Vaughan, ON L4H 4V6

T: 416-360-0440

E: rcolelli@bbblanc.com

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

Cal McCarthy

SW Event Technology

1-325 Bay Avenue

Kelowna, BC V1Y7S3

T: 250-868-3333 ext 2233

E: cmccarthy@sw-online.com

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

Canada Digital Adoption Program

(CDAP)

All the details can be found here https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/ canada-digital-adoption-program/en

Members can receive up to $15,000 to boost their business technology. The government website specifically says - “Looking to increase productivity? Need to consolidate your back office software? Need better cybersecurity tools? With a plan tailored to your business, we can help with your digital transformation”.

The government website also states that the “CDAP Boost Your Business Technology grant helps by”:

• Reduce overhead costs

• Speed up transactions

• Respond to clients more quickly

• Manage inventory more efficiently

• Improve supply chain logistics

The criteria for applying for the grant is as follows:

• It is the owner applying

• Canadian-owned

• For-profit

• Has 1 to 499 employees

• Has had at least $500,000 in annual revenue in 1 of the last 3 years

If you are interested and would like to get government certified (if not already) CAVPA’s Directory of Strategy and Communications, Michael Wood will be happy to provide support in connecting you to a certified government 3rd party.

Thank You to our Special Partners...

intellievent.com

Manage Your Entire Workflow

IntelliEvent Lightning is cloudbased rental business management software that helps rental companies, venues, and AV and production pros manage every aspect of your dynamic business.

www.scmediacanada.com

SC Media Canada is a Montreal-based high-end Audio/Video Distributor. We opened our doors in 1983 and have continued to grow ever since. We believe in providing value to our customers at every turn, whether it be through the products we distribute, or the services we provide.

Member News

www.theatrixx.com

Based in Montreal, Theatrixx Technologies is a manufacturer and distributor of technical equipment specially adapted for the performing arts, events and entertainment sectors. We manufacture custom equipment which offers innovative solutions to video, lighting, power and cabling challenges.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Expert’ease acquires 3 new Grass Valley LDX86 4K camera chains.

The investment builds on the success of it’s fleet of Grass Valley cameras and production switcher GV Korona and are the first 4K cameras of it’s fleet.

On top of this investment, Expert’ease added some new lenses to it’s inventory including a new Canon XJ100x9.3B 100x Camera Lens.

These new cameras brings Expert’ease inventory to a total of 18 camera chains from Grass Valley, Hikegami and Sony.

Along with our 42’ mobile full HD production trailer, Expert’ease has become one of the key player in the Quebec market for live broadcast productions.

Proshow Audiovisual is pleased to have taken January delivery of six Barco UDM-4K22 21,000 lumen DLP projectors, bringing its total quantity of these units to 12, in addition to its complement of 12 Barco HDX-W20 Flex 20,000 lumens projectors.

Supported by Barco’s Canadian distributor SC Media, Proshow continues to invest in industry-leading technology – the UDM series projectors are high-brightness, large format units capable of displaying 4K signals that utilize a laser phosphor light engine, eliminating costly and environmentally unfriendly xenon lamp housings that are common in legacy high-brightness projectors. Additionally, the UDM units allow Proshow to continue to leverage and expand its extensive inventory of Barco TLD+ lenses.

Says Proshow’s CEO Matt Hussack – “By adopting Barco’s latest laser technology, we continue the modernization of our fleet. Barco’s proven innovation and reliability align perfectly with Proshow’s core philosophies”.

CAVPA at GOWEST - CAVPA was present and visible at the annual event professionals’ conference. CAVPA was asked to contribute to a 30 minute panel discussion on the main stage, whose audience was event planners (with most early in their career). We explained the concept of right to choose and how to negotiate bringing in your own AV provider (while promoting CAVPA members).

We also ran through negotiating terms of internet, rigging, auxiliary rooms, early access, electrical connections, the importance of reading the fine print, and where to find more information to help guide event professionals (cavpa.ca).

We also networked, promoted the work of CAVPA, and encouraged new companies to join. It was a great success in increasing the profile of independent AV providers in Canada and served as a launching point for future visibility initiatives.

L-R: Heather Reid, Planner Protect Inc. (Moderator); Keri Miller, e=mc2 events; Jarrett Hartwell, Proshow Audiovisual; Mark Kaluski, CAVPA

Photo Credit - ‘SEP (digital) Photo’

Strategic Direction 2023

1 Foster and Increase membership

• Develop new approaches to reach members

• Facilitate the exchange of ideas, hosting opportunities to hear a variety of viewpoints in our sector

• Provide resources to meeting planners

Strengthen structure and optimize resources

• Develop a comprehensive communications strategy

• Leverage the skills and experience of our Board of Directors

• Use IT, social media effectively throughout the organization

• Increase sources of funding and sponsors

• Develop a comprehensive strategic plan

Within our circle of influence, advocate with Provincial and Federal Governments on issues of importance to our members

• Leverage our reputation and membership as a critical supply chain service to the Canadian economy.

Purpose & Goal

The purpose of CAVPA is to promote an open marketplace for Canadian-owned audio visual companies, to advocate for the interests of our members to governments, to educate event planners and their associations/clients in their freedom of choice in audio visual providers in venues and protect against monopolistic and anti-competitive practices in their sector.

Engage – with governments, event planners, venues and the public on the benefits and value provided by Canadian-owned audio visual companies. 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 stake¬holders:

1. on the importance of our industry and its enabling impact on live events of all types

2. on the economic and employment contribution made by Canadian-owned audio visual companies

3. on the many benefits of using Canadian-owned audio visual companies

4. on the options available to event planners when booking venues that will enable them to have freedom of choice in their selection of audio visual vendors 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 an equal 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.

With the engagement of our members, we will advocate for an open process for our clients with their selection of audio visual provider(s) for events in facilities and venues across Canada by:

1. Educating event planners and their associations/clients on the advantages of hiring a Canadian independently owned audio visual provider.

2. Identifying possible hidden costs or consequences of not using a venue’s inhouse provider, such as increased fees for power, internet, rigging, etc. and how to nego- tiate these in advance of finalizing a contract.

3. Promoting full transparency from venues on what additional charges will be incurred if event planners do or do not hire an independent audio visual provider and including these costs in the initial venue contract.

4. Conducting event planner, government, and public education campaigns to promote freedom of choice in audio visual providers, and to call out anti-competitive practices.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

A.V. Strategies Ltd.

Fred Horsman

1295 Napier Street

Vancouver, BC V6A 2H7

T – 604-879-3950

Innovation Production Technologies Inc.

Steve Matthews

7818 Express St.

Burnaby, BC V5A 1T4

T – 604-398-2651

CAVPA MEMBER ROSTER

ALBERTA

Event Technology Solutions

Brent Taylor

52-9903 209 Street NW

Edmonton, AB T5T 5X9

T – 780-446-9495

invert720 Productions Inc.

Justin Armstrong

101, 17628 103 Avenue

Edmonton, AB T5S 1J9

T – 780-999-5792

Proshow Audiovisual

Tim Lang

Unit A – 8105 North Fraser Way

Burnaby, BC V5J 5M8

T – 604-612-7129

SW Event Technology

Cal McCarthy

1-325 Bay Avenue

Lake Country, BC V4V 1N2

T – 250-868-3333 Ext. 2233

KDL

Kyle Lupul PO box 3301

Sherwood Park, AB T8H 2T2

780-498-6336 MANITOBA

AVentPro Inc.

Garry Hale

6-45 Beghin Ave.

Winnipeg, MB R2J 4B9

T – 204-226-5565

ONTARIO

bb Blanc Inc.

Rennie Colelli

41 Keyes Court, Unit 2

Vaughan, ON L4H 4V6

T – 416-360-0440

Bespoke Audio Visual

Michael Wilson

907 Oxford St.

Toronto, ON M8Z 5T1

T – 647-797-9911

Byrne Production Services

Matthew Byrne

712 Sauve Street

Milton, ON L9T 8M4

T – 416-557-5542

Impact AV Solutions

Randy Woolman

86 Guided Court – Unit M

Toronto, ON M9V 4K6

T – 877-462-3174

QUEBEC

Les Productions expert’ease

Martin Blanchard

7836 rue Jarry Est

Montreal, QC H1J 2A1

T – 514-444-7723

NOVA SCOTIA

Advanced Systems

Bruce DeMond

Box 31005

Halifax, NS B3K 5T9

T – 902-454-4742