Movers' Edge, October, 2006

The Canadian Mover — CAM’S Directory and Magazine

The Canadian Mover — CAM’s directory and magazine will go to press on Friday, October 13, 2006. There is still time to review and update your listing, but you have to do it now. You can see the information that CAM will use to generate your listing on our website and in the spring 2006 issue of The Canadian Mover.

Check out your listing. Compare it with your fellow members’ listings. Bring yours up to date. Just print the online listing and fax it to us with your updates.

Don’t miss this opportunity to make the most of your listing in Canada’s only mover magazine.

CAM’S 2006 Annual Conference and Golf Tournament — Our Best Ever!

Our annual conference and golf tournament were held on September 18 and 19. Attendees commented that this was the best group of speakers CAM has ever had. Supplier members took the opportunity to introduce new products. Presentations have been posted to the 2006 Annual Conference area of our website. A few items that should interest you directly:

• Derek Holt forecast continued economic growth across Canada, albeit at lower levels as Alberta’s economy cools.
• Yellow Pages remain the prime advertising tool for movers. Given the cost of an ad, it makes sense to create as effective an ad as possible. Slides 16 to 19 in Brandon Grosvenor’s presentation show some helpful hints to maximize your response. And don’t forget to use your CAM logo (your van line’s and BBB too) in the ad. Good credentials are valuable.
• Linda Gauthier indicated that we will continue to pay a premium for van foremen given the current shortage.
• Good personnel management is critical when there is a shortage of staff. Jamie Knight pointed out some key techniques to ensure that you manage your staff in a fashion that protects you from the pitfalls of poor documentation, bad practices, and unjustified or avoidable claims. He also showed how good personnel practice helps you to retain your best staff members.
• New hours-of-service regulations will come into effect on January 1, 2007. See relevant information in Mark Schauerte’s presentation.
• Lastly, Jean-Claude Collard brought us up to date on the status of the federal government’s moving contract.

The 2006 Awards Dinner was a success, with Ray Anderson of MATCO Transportation Systems receiving the Innovators Award, Doug Kellough of Salmon’s Transfer the Founders Award, and Henry Van Remortel of D’Arcy Moving & Storage the Distinguished Service Award. All present agreed that these were three worthy recipients. This event brought together members of all van lines, independent movers, suppliers and an international mover from Ghana.

This was our 10th Annual Golf Tournament and the 9th with clear skies. We had 62 members and friends golfing. Cardinal Golf Club served us well again. Comments were positive. As with the conference, it was an opportunity to network with people from all sectors of the moving industry.

Scott Hickling Receives the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award

In April 1996, the then-Governor General, the Right Honourable Roméo LeBlanc, created the Caring Canadian Award to recognize the fine example set by special volunteers whose compassion and charitableness are such a part of the Canadian character. This year, Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean presented the award to Scott Hickling, past president of the Canadian Association of Movers. The citation for the award was:

A businessman, Scott Hickling has generously donated storage space and supplies from his warehouse to organizations such as Secret Santa, the Alberta Lung Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Juvenile Diabetes Society, and UNICEF Canada. He has also participated in their fundraising events. His business and management expertise greatly improved the finances and operations of the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank Society, where he also delivers and sorts food. The same skills played a key role in the organization and success of the Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta. A blood, plasma and platelet donor since high school, Mr. Hickling has proven that it is possible to make a difference in the community in many ways.