Mover’s Edge, June, 2013

Ted Lelacheur Resigns as CAM Chairman

After a year-and-a-half in his two-year assignment, Ted LeLacheur of Western Moving & Storage in Edmonton has been obliged to resign as CAM’s Chairman for health reasons. We gratefully acknowledge Ted’s tremendous commitment to the furtherance of CAM’s objectives and, particularly, his hard work in representing the interests of all Canadian movers in our discussions concerning the federal government’s Household Goods Moving Services contract. We thank you, Ted, and wish you all the very best for a quick recovery!

Tom Finlay of AMJ Campbell Van Lines in Vancouver has assumed the chairmanship. We all wish him well in this new role.

Canadian Government’s Household Goods Moving Contract

We are now a full year into the process since the first Letter of Interest (LOI) was sent out by Public Works & Government Services Canada. Progress to date has been that we have seen two Letters of Interest with prospective bidders responding to both. Prospective bidders have expended untold hours of management time producing responses.

As an industry, we have met with the government as a group and individually. We have submitted two Access-To-Information Requests to assist in our understanding of how the Letters of Interest were developed and what logic was used. While Access-To-Information Requests should take 30 days for the information to be provided, we have yet to see any results. We have sent a complaint to the Information Commissioner of Canada and received a response indicating that they would reply to us sometime in the future.

And now we have heard from the contracting authority (PWGSC) that another Letter of Interest is likely and will be sent out shortly. Unfortunately, they have not taken into account the fact that the industry is entering the busiest part of the moving year fulfilling the requirements of their contract during the upcoming active posting season. Please continue to advocate on behalf of yourselves as small business owners and the moving industry overall.

CAM is in constant contact with its members to represent you wherever and whenever we can.

CAM’s Annual Awards

OUR ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER IS ONLY A FEW MONTHS AWAY – OCTOBER 5, 2013.

The Distinguished Service Award, Industry Achievement Award, Innovators Award and the Public Service Award will be presented at the dinner to four deserving recipients. Our only question is: “To Whom?” Pick up a nomination form and let us know who you think the honorees should be.

CAM’s 2013 Annual Conference

MARK YOUR CALENDAR – OCTOBER 4–6 IN VANCOUVER!

We have put together an excellent program for domestic and international movers – interactive seminars, a quality trade show and networking opportunities. Watch your mail for the conference brochure and send us your registration form early.

CAM’s 2013 Golf Tournament

CAM’s 2013 Golf Tournament is scheduled for Monday, September 16. It’s at a new course – the Richmond Hill Golf Club at Bathurst and Highway 7 – and will be held as a shotgun start. Watch for details.

CAM’s Online Referral System

IT’S FIXED! Consumers are now able to contact you directly through CAM’s online search function. Customer name and telephone are required fields. The system now will provide you with the consumer name and telephone number, all based on the geographic search using postal codes. In May alone, our referral system enabled 66 enquiries to be sent out to our members by consumers looking for a reputable mover.

KIJIJI

As you may be aware, CAM has been posting advertising material on KIJIJI in major metropolitan centres across Canada. We are getting excellent results. Consumers seem to be using the information to contact members and we have had complaints from local movers (non-members) indicating that our message is having a negative impact on their referrals from KIJIJI. Some have indicated interest in joining CAM. Either way, members should be seeing positive results.

Jay’s Moving Bought by Mullen Group

The Regina Leader Post reported that Jay’s Moving & Storage Ltd. has been purchased for an undisclosed amount by Mullen Group Ltd. of Okotoks, AB. Mullen Group expects to add up to $40 million in annual revenue through the purchase of Jay’s Moving & Storage, a 450-employee company based in Regina. Jay’s Moving has 11 full-service terminals and warehouses and a fleet of over 600 trucks and trailers.

Mullen Group says Jay’s will be operated as a stand-alone business within the group. Dennis Doehl, the current owner of Jay’s, has agreed to remain for the rest of the year to help with the transition.

Milne’s Moving & Storage For Sale

More news from Regina, SK. Milne’s Moving & Storage is currently for sale. For more information, please check out the ad in the latest issue of our magazine, The Canadian Mover.

IF YOU HAVE NEWS THAT CANADA’S MOVING INDUSTRY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT, please let CAM know and we will include it in upcoming issues of this newsletter.