Hello, American Rental Association (ARA) Region Ten members.
There is a lot going on here in Canada. Things are full steam ahead in both the equipment and special event segments, and on the ARA front, some exciting developments have happened recently and are on the horizon.
We had a great, well-attended meeting hosted by Rob Potter at Cooper Equipment Rentals in Richmond, British Columbia (BC), on Wednesday, June 22. It was our first in-person ARA member meeting in Canada! James Auerbach, ARA vice president, event segment and rental industry workforce development, gave a presentation covering what ARA has to offer its Canadian members, including the association’s workforce development initiatives and the exciting announcement that Westland Insurance is now providing a member-only insurance package for ARA Canadian members.
While James was in town, accompanied by Shannon Dinwiddie, our ARA member services account specialist for Region Ten, we had the opportunity to tour three different rental stores: A&B Tool Rentals, William F. White International and Pedersen’s Rentals. Thanks to these valued members of the BC rental community for their hospitality.
Watch your email for details on our next in-person meeting, which will happen in Ontario toward the end of September, and for information on educational webinars planned for the fall — one in September and another in November.
You may be aware that in 2021, the ARA Foundation, in partnership with The Toro Company Foundation, launched the Community Impact program. This program involves the ARA Foundation and The Toro Company Foundation partnering with local nonprofit organizations to coordinate community service projects. The purpose of the program is twofold: to allow those in the rental industry an opportunity to give back to their community as well as build public awareness and demonstrate the advantages of rental. The Foundations are seeking a project to undertake in Canada. If you have any community improvement project ideas, please pass them along to me, and I will share it with the program’s coordinators. Let’s show the industry the good we Canadians can do with our rental equipment and sweat labor!
Finally, I wanted to mention that ARA is building a task force of members from across the country to further the association’s presence across Canada. It’s still in the planning stages, but if you are interested in volunteering for this special industry advisory team, please reach out to me.
Until we meet again, have a safe and profitable remainder of the summer.
Angie Venekamp, ARA Region Ten director
Rental Network
Squamish, British Columbia
604-892-8200
angie@rentalnetwork.ca