Hot Seat

Highlighting industry champions

The Canadian economy feels a tad bit like it’ s been in one giant cartoon tennis match. The kind that involves the audience collectively jerking their gaze to the left, to the right, to the left, and so on and so forth—you get the picture. But instead of a tennis ball, it’s provinces and territories moving in lockdowns and then opening back up again, and so on and so forth.

At least we are on the sunnier side of the court this time around as we start to see this latest lockdown coming to a close. Hospitalizations rates are starting to level off and p eaks appear to b e on a downward trajectory. Here’s to hoping this was our last stint of lockdowns. Our industry is still struggling, more so than ever, to hold onto our workforce during this pandemic, and this comes as a surplus of tradespeople are expected to retire. One of the suggestions that routinely pops up when discussing how to attract more people to the trades involves shifting the image issues that the trades still have in this day and age.

Here at Plumbing & HVAC magazine, we are looking at doing our own part in changing the tone of the conversation. It’ s time to celebrate the New Year and those within our industry. We are looking at creating a profile series that will highlight people in our industry that have gone above and beyond to make a difference. This could mean that the individual completed some kind of charity work, improved processes within a company, bettered the community to some capacity, or even completed a job by finding unique, creative solutions. We are keeping the series fairly open to highlight as many different trades champions as we can. You can nominate yourself or someone else you know in the industry that you believe deserves their time in the spotlight. This could be someone within any aspect of the industry— manufacturer, wholesaler, contractor, engineer, or building manager.

To nominate someone, all you have to do is email us at Leah@plumbingandhvac.ca. It’s that easy! From there, our team will review the nominations and will highlight one profile an issue starting in March. The deadline to be considered in the March issue will be set for Feb. 14.

Now is the perfect time to celebrate the tradespeople that have helped build and push this industry into the future.

To nominate a tradesperson you know, please contact our editor at Leah@ plumbingandhvac.ca.

January/February 2022 Volume 32, Number 1 ISSN 1919-0395

Publisher Mark Vreugdenhil (289) 638-2133 ext.1 Cell: (416) 996-1031 mark@plumbingandhvac.ca

Editor Leah Den Hartogh (289) 638-2133 ext. 2 Cell: (289) 830-1217 leah@plumbingandhvac.ca

Assistant Editor Francesco Lo Presti (289) 638-2133 ext. 3 francesco@plumbingandhvac.ca

Contributing Writers Roy Collver, Ron Coleman, Mark P. Evans, Bill Hooper, Michael McCartney, Glenn Mellors Bruce Nagy, Greg Scrivener

Design and Production Tim Norton/Janet Popadiuk production@plumbingandhvac.ca

All articles and photos by Plumbing & HVAC staff unless noted.

PLUMBING & HVAC Magazine is published eight times annually by Marked Business Media Inc. and is written for individuals who purchase/ specify/approve the selection of plumbing, piping, hot water heating, fire protection, warm air heating, air conditioning, ventilation, refrigeration, controls and related systems and products throughout Canada.

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