Canadian Rental Mart 2014 – Going loonie

It is tradition. On the first night of every Canadian Rental Mart, the Ontario Canadian Rental Association holds its gala banquet where rental operators from all over the province get together to shake hands, rub shoulders and bend elbows.

The national and local presidents address the crowd, and awards are handed out to the outstanding companies, individuals and suppliers in the industry over the past year. Then there is entertainment. Past events have featured bands, comedians, dinner theatre and casinos. But this time, the Ontario CRA has come up with something a little different.

“It is called a loonie auction,” Ontario CRA president Dale Brinklow explains. “A fellow named Doug Pearson from Kinmount [Ont.] does them. He does not charge anything, he just does them for fun if it is a good cause. And he makes it fun.”

The loonie auction starts when the auctioneer puts a prize on the table for bidding. Then anyone who wants to has a chance to bid by buying a numbered ticket for one loonie. An individual can only bid once per round, but the auctioneer keeps holding rounds of bidding until he runs out of bidders. Then a number is drawn and the holder of the winning ticket gets the prize. Another prize is produced, and the process starts again.

Brinklow hopes this event will be fun for everyone, especially the wives and younger family members in attendance. He thinks the CRA banquet should be as family-friendly as possible.

In addition to the loonie auction and the fine food and drink, the CRA Ontario will recognize its outstanding members for 2013. An Ontario rental store will receive the President’s Image Award, one member will be given the Rental Person of the Year award and the CRA Ontario Supplier of the Year will be named. 

CRA Ontario banquet and loonie auction
When: Tuesday, March 18, 6 p.m.
Where: International Plaza ballroom
Who: Canadian Rental Association members and guests