The 2013 convention in Halifax
The Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Association of Canada’s (TTMAC) 70th annual convention will be held in Halifax, N.S., from June 6 – 9, 2013. As with any event of this magnitude, planning, scheduling and team building are essential. Our 2013 co-chairpersons are Francis Chisholm, vice president of sales and operations for Floor Plus Commercial, located in Dartmouth, N.S., and Todd Royale, principal of Royale Floors and Surfaces in Halifax, N.S.
This is a unique opportunity to increase your knowledge of the hard-surface industry and to associate with other TTMAC members from across Canada, as well as contractors, architects and designers from the local industry. This is also your opportunity to have your company’s voice heard at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and suppliers’ and contractors’ annual meetings.
Visitors can attend the seminars scheduled at our annual open house, and visit the displays and products of other TTMAC members. Attendees can also enjoy the many events (including the not-to-be missed annual bocce tournament) planned for delegates, spouses and guests, and take the opportunity to visit the many exciting attractions of one of Canada’s most vibrant cities.
Registrations will be taken as of the start of 2013, so there will be plenty of time to include this important event into your spring schedule. Be sure to check www.ttmac.com in the coming months for updates on the convention program and registration information. The committees are being formed and, in the meantime, the schedule of events has been formulated and included in an information package. The hotel arrangements have been competed, and the structure of the convention finalized.
The information package includes the delegate registration form, the sponsorship form, tabletop form, the convention agenda/schedule, and the Hardsurface Awards form. This package will allow you to make plans for attending the 2013 TTMAC convention and develop your marketing strategies, which will help to ensure that this convention continues the recent positive trend of staging very successful conventions, such as Calgary (2010), Ottawa (2011) and Winnipeg (2012). All of the above registration forms are also available on www.ttmac.com.
The 2013 edition of the convention in Halifax will include at least five new and exciting seminars offered throughout the day on Thursday, June 6. We are in the final stages of confirming the seminar topics and speakers. Members are encouraged to promote these free seminars to non-TTMAC members. The seminar topics will be revealed early in February. Also scheduled for the Thursday are the supplier tabletop exhibits during the buffet-style lunch. On Thursday evening, delegates will have the option to participate in The Ultimate Lobster Dinner that is being held on the Halifax waterfront.Friday, June 7, will provide a great opportunity for networking and fun with the chance to have delegates socialize and develop friendships earlier in the convention. To this end, the annual bocce tournament will be held on the Friday and followed up with a pub night in the evening.
Saturday, the 8th, will be a busy day, with the supplier and contractor breakfast meetings, followed by the AGM during the day. Saturday evening will again play host the closing gala and Hardsurface Awards dinner. This is the Oscars of our industry. This black-tie affair is complete with cocktails, formal dinner and wine followed by the award presentations and an after-gala event with entertainment planned.
Hardsurface Award submissions are for special projects in several categories and are a way for suppliers and contractors to showcase their products, skills and projects. For last year’s convention in Winnipeg, we received a record number of entries (34). We strongly recommend submitting your entries as soon as possible! The closing date for submissions is April 10, 2013, after which a panel of architects and designers from Halifax will select the category winners and the overall Project of the Year Award. Information is included in the package.
There is still much to do, and while it starts with the committee, it is ultimately everyone’s responsibility to promote the convention and its activities in order to grow the industry and, most importantly, convince architects, designers, specification writers and the public to use a TTMAC member when doing a project.
If you have any questions, please contact the Toronto office: 905 660 9640, or www.ttmac.com.
The Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Association of Canada was founded in 1944 to promote standardized installation techniques and to provide technical resources.