CRA Ontario wraps up another meeting season

April 19, 2013 – The CRA Ontario wrapped up its season in style recently in Sudbury. More than 45 rental people made their ways up north for the afternoon store tours.

The first stop was at Able Rental and Supply where Marc and Carolyn Lemieux and Terry Morin welcomed all to their store. Members were invited to tour the well-appointed showroom, service area and yard to see how Able looks after its customers.

Marc and Carolyn Lemieux (right) along with Terry Morin hosted the CRA at Able Rental and Supply.

The second stop was at Pete's Party and Tent Rental. Owners Dan and Sue Bonish along with operations manager Allen Ziminski gave a tour of the tightly packed facility with every nook and cranny filled with everything needed to host an event. Welcoming us at the front door was a photo booth that takes three pictures in about two minutes. This new rental item has been a very popular addition for the store and has paid for itself in under seven months. Sue Bonish explained that the company actually has five separate buildings that they use to warehouse all the different items and that it can be difficult during the busy season to keep track of everything that way. Of special note, original owner Pete Bonish was in attendance swapping rental stories with anyone that would listen.

Pete Bonish came out of retirement to welcome the CRA Ontario to Pete's Party and Tent Rental.

The third stop was at SMS Rents where rental supervisor Brad Gray greeted the crowd. Everyone toured the large complex and saw quite a variety of high reach equipment being serviced or sitting in the yard waiting for the next rental. SMS works with some of its other branches to bring in equipment in case the local store does not have that specific product in its inventory.

After the store tours were completed the crowd made their way over to Dynamic Earth and was given a 45-minute tour underground and explained how mining has evolved over the last 100 years in Sudbury.

Claustrophobia, anyone? New CRA Ontario secretary Kim Scott-Rixon tries out a rescue tube.

The evening dinner was also held there in the reception area. Roast beef, chicken, potatoes and a vegetable medley made up the meal. After dinner, CRA Ontario president Mike Maltby opened the business portion of the meeting. On the agenda were elections for the open board positions. Elected to two-year terms were the following:

• Colin Wilson of World of Rentals in Kingston  –  second vice-president
• Gord Ellis of Hose Power Canada – associate director
• Kim Scott-Rixon of Muskoka Party Rentals in Bracebridge –  secretary

Also, moving up from vice-president to president was Dale Brinklow. Maltby went from president to chairman of the board. Neil De Jong agreed to continue on as treasurer.

The CRA Ontario board: from left to right, chairman Mike Maltby, president Dale Brinklow, vice-president Paul Potvin, second vice-president Colin Wilson, secretary Kim Scott-Rixon, treasurer Neil De Jong, associate director Gord Ellis and Ontario national director, James Morden.

This wrapped up the meeting schedule for the season with the next event being the Ontario golf tournament later the summer.

Related link
www.crarental.org