CRA Ontario banquet entertains, recognizes excellence

March 25, 2014 – Canadian Rental Association Ontario president Dale
Brinklow had some trouble settling down an excited room of about 120
rental operators and suppliers for the annual banquet, March 18 at the
International Plaza hotel in Toronto. The keyed-up guests were
entertained by a lively loonie auction expertly hosted by Doug Pearson.
Then they finally settled down to honour the CRA Ontario annual award
winners. All while enjoying some top-notch food and drink courtesy of
the hotel's excellent kitchen.

Spirits were running high at the CRA Ontario banquet. Maybe a little too high in some people.

Those who had never seen a loonie auction before didn't know what to expect, but Pearson's relaxed manner, jokes and tricks (don't move your hand or its a bid!) made this interesting event a lot of fun. Some tables were confused about the rules, but that only made the action more interesting. By the time the loaded prize table was cleared off, Pearson had raised $1,200 for the association and not charged a nickel. Kudos to Monica Dubbin of Vermeer for her hard work soliciting prizes and helping Pearson to run the auction.

Award winners for 2013 were:
– Rental Person of the Year: Mike Maltby, Ingersoll Rent-All
– President's Image Award, Equipment Rentals: Broadline Rentals, Mount Forest, Ont.
– President's Image Award, Party Rentals: Muskoka Party Rentals, Bracebridge, Ont.
– Rental Supplier of the Year: National Event Supply, Mississauga, Ont.

Doug Pearson did a great job keeping the action moving in the loonie auction.

In a special presentation, Ken Mallot of Kensal Rental Service was recognized for his many years of service to the association and the industry with the Meritorious Service Award. Mallot was presented with a plaque and a very nice painting of the inside of a rental store. Mallot said he remembered renting the same kind of Wheel Horse tractor that was in the painting.

Lawrence Gingrich accepted the President's Image Award for equipment rental from CRA Ontario vice-president, Paul Potvin, and president, Dale Brinklow.

Absolute Tent and Events won the table decorating contest with a flashy homage to Liberace. National CRA president Marc Mandin closed the evening with a recap of association business and a look ahead at 2014.