Hydronics

Near condensing boilers

The Laars’ OmniTherm series of near condensing boilers and volume water heaters are available in six sizes ranging from 1.25 million to 3 million BTUH. They offer thermal efficiencies up to 87% and up to a 7:1 turndown ratio. Additional features include electronic air-to-fuel ratio control and stainless steel heat exchangers. www. laars.com

Switching relay

The 301P switching relay from tekmar connects to one thermostat and operates a circulator and boiler to provide heating to a hydronic heating system. The relay is equipped with optional exercising to prevent circulator seizure when the system is not in use, as well as optional post purge operation. It is compatible with all low voltage thermostats. www. tekmarcontrols.com

Multi-fuel burners

Industrial Combustion’s SBR-30 series burners can be used with a variety of boiler types, including firetube and watertube boilers. They are designed to provide 16,800 to 54,600 BTUH with up to a 10:1 turndown ratio with natural gas, but are also capable of firing #2 fuel oil as a backup. The burner series is capable of less than 30 ppm NOx emissions without FGR. www. ind-comb.com

Monitoring systems

The HeatLink Smart System includes thermostats, modules, actuators, and relays designed to wirelessly control a heating system. Smart plugs and sensors can be used to expand the system. The Wireless Internet Gateway coordinates attached devices and connects to the building's internet to create a secure path to the HeatLink Smart System app. www. heatlink.com

Fin clamp element

Available through Ontor, the Fin Clamp Element by Fab Tek Logic is a multi-fin hinged hydronic heat element that is available for 1/2” to 1-1/4” pipe sizes for copper pipe and 1-1/2” and 2” sizes for steel pipe. Offered in one- and two-foot sections, it fits around existing piping, can replace damaged fins and can be used to fix cold spaces without cutting, soldering or draining the sytem. www. ontor.com

Commercial pumps

Taco FI Series base-mounted end-suction suction pumps are suited for heating, air condicondi- tioning, pressure boosting, cooling water water transfer and water supply applications. ons. The have a flow rate of 40 to 4,400 00 gpm, head range of 1 to 390 ft. and nd a horsepower range of 1/2 to 150 0 hp. They are available in sizes rangging from 1-1/2” to 8”. www. tacocomfort.com

Tania Johnston: RISING TO THE TOP

Twenty years after joining MCA Canada on a six-month contract, Tania Johnston has become the national organization’s first ever female CEO, a step that she hopes will inspire other females toward successful paths in the mechanical trade as well.

“It is a huge honour to be given this responsibility,” she said during a recent Zoom interview from her home in Ottawa. “People have been extremely supportive of me taking on this role. It’s actually been overwhelming with how many people reached out to congratulate me. And it’s been for the same thing: they think it is really awesome that a female is taking on this role as the head of a national trade association.”

Johnston’s first role at MCA Canada was part of a government grant program to help fund the Canadian Mechanical Contracting Education Foundation. That program, now the Construction Education Council within MCA Canada, aligned well for the teacher who, at the time, was providing Microsoft training courses for adults.

“They were looking for somebody at MCA Canada for a short-term contract,” she explained. “I thought, if it doesn’t work out, I can go back to substitute teaching. And here I am, 20 years later.”

Name: Tania Johnston Title: CEO Organization: MCA Canada Location: Ottawa, Ont. Age: 52 Family: Husband Jeff, daughter Kyra and son Keagan Joined the industry: 2000

Tania considers herself truly blessed to have many supportive groups of girlfriends in her life, including a few with fun names, like the “Bad Moms,” “Original Six,” and “Inner Council.”

A people person

When asked what makes her job so fulfilling, there’s no hesitation. Johnston says, “It’s the people. I love the people.” Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have a lot of variety to help hold one’s interest as well.

“A lot of things in my day-to-day job make it interesting, from running courses to handling budgets and getting out to meet people,” she says. “And we just kept growing it. We introduced the student chapters. I loved working with the students because that brought me back to where I’d started.”

Tania with Mike Pinball Clemons.

And the middle-management training programs, which were some of the earliest formal training offerings for that level of staff, also added to the draw for her, she says. “There was just a lot of fulfillment from training people and knowing that people really appreciated the courses,” she says. “At that time, nobody was doing middle management training, so it was new and innovative.”

Mentors and sharing insights

predominantly male, but with MCA student chapters trade, why not you? get to leave behind.” Having had an opportunity to work and interact with a number of people over her 20 years with MCA Canada, Johnston gives credit to those who helped prepare her for her new role.

“Our CEO who retired a couple of years ago, Richard McKeagan, never jumped into any decision-making in a hurry. He always looked at every side of the coin. I felt like I learned something from Richard every day,” she says. “He was always for the members. This position was never self-serving for him. I hope to do the same, and that people respect me the same way they respected Richard.”

#DoBetter Over the past two years, working with Pierre Boucher, Johnston was able to expand her focus. “He gave me a lot The trick to successfully moving forward in life, for yourself, your family, your company of new roles and responsibilities,” she and your community, says Johnston, is to simply “Do better.” says. “He showed a lot of confidence “I have it as a hashtag on a few things around my home and office,” she says. “This year in me, which prepared me for the CEO I changed the hashtag to #DoBetter2020. position. And it also showed the MCAC “Ramona Coey of MCA Manitoba shared that with me. It was something that her late executive that I was ready.” husband used to always say to their children. When she told me about it, it resonated with me. Every day you just want to do better. Do better in life; do better with your family; Of course, being ready and knowing do better in your job.” that you are ready are two different things, and Johnston had a number of

Why not you? recent experiences that told her it was an opportunity for which she was well The mechanical contracting industry is still luncheon shortly before her promotion. attracting more females, and with female role models like last year’s MCA Canada conference keynote Mandy Rennehan “The panelist, Valerie Malone, talked about not letting anybody hold you speaker Mandy Rennehan pushing for an overhaul of the construction industry’s image and support of diversity in the trades, things are starting to change. back,” says Johnston. “She said, ‘If you think you are ready, you are ready.’ A day or two later, this opportunity came “I think it is amazing that we are seeing more and more female up. If I hadn’t been there on that day, owners showing leadership within their own construction firms,” and sat in on that session, maybe I says Johnston. “For young girls who are considering this as a wouldn’t have had that gut instinct that career, if you are hands-on and want to learn the tools and earn a I am ready and can take this on. “We need a more diverse workforce, and that includes work with the MCAC team to continue bringing more women into the trade! I think barriers are being serving our membership and keeping dropped,” she adds. “Hopefully MCA Canada will be part of us at the forefront of the construction that moving forward, and that may be part of a legacy that I industry.” prepared, including a well-timed CIPH “I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and Mechanical Business 08.20 33