The voice of the welding industry in Canada
September 2001, Issue No. 18
WPMAC + CWS = CWA
The Welding Products Manufacturers Association of Canada and the Canadian Welding Society have merged to become the Canadian Welding Association.
At the May 25, 2001, meeting of the executives of both the Welding Products Manufacturers Association of Canada (WPMAC) and the Canadian Welding Society (CWS), agreement in principle was reached to create a new association that would essentially combine the organizations into one.
On August 10, 2001, the Canadian Welding Society approved the merger by an overwhelming majority.
The new organization, the Canadian Welding Association, was officially announced on August 29, 2001, at a joint golf tournament in Toronto. The new Board of Directors will initially consist of the executives and directors of the two associations, who will design the structure of the new association’s board of directors. The group has engaged an association management firm (J.D. Long & Associates Ltd.) to design a sound business plan that will ensure a financially solvent association well into the future. This will be based on the financial plan and management structure set out in the plans for the merger. The first official Board of Directors meeting will be held by conference call on September 28.
The Canadian Welding Bureau has extended its ongoing support to the new association, and Debbie Wright will continue to administer the individual CWA memberships.
The Canadian Welding Association will provide a forum in which all members from all areas of the industry and the profession will be able to discuss and act on common objectives. To further that goal, the CWA requests that all members (formerly of CWS and WPMAC) provide the association with up-to-date e-mail and fax information.
The new organization will focus on providing education, technical assistance, standards development, research, and promotion of the welding industry.
COMMISSION DE PROTECTION DE LA LANGUE FRANÇAISE
Just a reminder about this very important issue. September 1 was the date for submission of the first of your quarterly progress reports to the Commission. Please do not send this information to the CWA (WPMAC) office. It is confidential information. Only you and the Commission should see it. It is not necessary to send sales volumes, just an itemization of units sold in Quebec prioritized by unit volumes.
WPMAC’s role was to facilitate and co-ordinate the process. This ended with the Commission accepting proposed guidelines on June 7, 2001.
7th ANNUAL MIKE CHERRY MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
The tournament, WPMAC’s last hurrah, was a great success. Ninety people golfed and 100 dined. Attendees provided so many prizes that no one went home empty handed.
The golf prizes went to:
- Low score (14 below par) - Jason Glenney, Mike Hopkins, Dave Lesway, Greg Petteplace
- Most honest - Joe Beaudoin, Mike Jowett, Stephen Sher, Bob Stoutley
- Longest Drive - Jason Jenson
- Closet to the pin (#7) - Frank Minnchella
- Closet to the pin (#15) - Ken Singh
David Long, Executive Director of CWA, read a welcoming statement on behalf of the new CWA President, Richard Seif. Many members of the Canadian Welding Society attended and Deet Adam, Executive Director of the CWS, speaking for the CWS, himself and on behalf of Vic Cooke, CWS President, wished the new association well and promised their ongoing support.
INFACON NINE
The proceedings of the Manganese Symposium, which was held in Quebec City in June 2001, will be available in 2002. The results from this Symposium are key factors in the Manganese Submission that WPMAC made to Ontario’s Ministry of Labour in March, 2000. This also relates to submissions that CWA will make regarding the allowable levels of manganese in welding fumes, which some provinces have reduced to 0.2 mg/m3 from the previous level of 1.0 mg/m3.
WELDING FOR THE CANADIAN OFFSHORE INDUSTRY
The Conference on Welding for the Canadian Offshore Industry has been postponed. It was originally scheduled for October 12, 2001, in Halifax/Dartmouth. As soon as a new date has been set by the local chapter, the Canadian Welding Association will advise all members.
The CWS National Conference and Awards Banquet also scheduled for Halifax/Dartmouth on October 12, 2001, has been cancelled. It will be held as a major Canadian Welding Association event scheduled for October 2002, as part of REED Exhibition’s WeldExpo 2002.
AIRBORNE CONTAMINANTS - PROPOSED EMISSIONS-REPORTING REGULATIONS
The Ministry of Environment (Ontario) has approached the Canadian Welding Association to schedule a workshop on Airborne Contaminants in early December. The National Office will co-ordinate this with the Ministry. CWA’s Technical Committee, led by Grant Harvey, will be reviewing the proposed regulations.
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