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Events and Meetings
(From left) Paul Turner, TLS Fleet Management with Ket Cole, Bayer Canada at TLS Best Practices seminar.
TLS Fleet Management hosted a “Best Practices” Seminar recently on the subject of IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards). TLS invited KPMG, a leading provider of audit, tax and advisory services to present valuable information on the subject of accounting for vehicle leases in Canada, including:
(From left) Abhimanyu Verma, KPMG LLP and Arvind Kamath, Scotiabank, take questions about accounting for vehicles leases in Canada.
(From left) Bill Hockridge, Durham Chrysler, Sonja Murphy, and David Murphy, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada organized the successful event.
NAFA's Ontario chapter and vehicle manufacturers hosted the Annual Manufacturers Golf Day at Cardinal Golf and Country Club. Many NAFA members, OEM representatives and fleet customers gathered for a round of golf and dinner. Significant contributors to the day's success were event organizers, Bill Hockridge, Durham Chrysler, David Murphy, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada, Inc. and Sonja Murphy.
(From left) Jacob Homiller, Cabot Corporation; Greg Jagt, Astlett Rubber Inc.; Mike Cadden, Ferguson Chemical Innovation; and Bill Hyde , Chemical Market Associates Inc.; discussed the trend and challenges affecting the supply and demand of products used in rubber manufacturing. .
The Rubber Association of Canada held the 2011 Tire and Rubber Summit themed "Driving Sustainability," at the Kingbridge Conference Centre and Institute in King City, Ontario. Industry participants took part in a full day of seminars. "Rubber Materials Outlook" reviewed global challenges and trends (including cost) affecting supply and demand in rubber-manufacturing; speakers included: Bill Hyde, Chemical Market Associates, Inc.; Mike Cadden, Ferguson Chemical Innovation; Greg Jagt, Astiett Rubber Inc.; and Jacob Homiller, Cabot Corporation.
"Tire Industry Outlook" included a discussion and debate about major challenges facing the tire industry in Canada; speakers included: David Chapman, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.; Don Baldwin, Michelin Americas Truck Tires; Nick Colombo, Pirelli Tire Inc.; John Sheerin, Bridgestone Retail Operations; Olivier Winchiers, Continental Tire Canada, Inc.; and John Overing, Yokohama Tire (Canada) Inc.
Other seminars on the program included "Rubber Manufacturing Outlook" and "Driving Sustainability: Getting to Zero Waste." An economic update was presented by keynote speaker Derek Burleton, Vice-President and Deputy Chief Economist, TD Bank Financial Group.
Green Fleet Expo featured many informative seminars for attendees, including a municipal fleet panel discussion with (from left) Doug Smith, City of Vancouver, Bill Barr, City of Guelph, Yvan Lupien, City of Ottawa, and Chris Hill, City of Hamilton. .
The sixth annual Green Fleet Expo (GFX) was hosted by the city of Hamilton, in partnership with the city of Toronto, Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Fleet Challenge Ontario. The event took place over two days; a day of seminars, held at the Courtyard Marriott Hamilton, in Hamilton, the second day featured a ride and drive with ‘green’ vehicles at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum at the Hamilton International Airport, as well as exhibitor booths that included Ford of Canada, Toyota Canada, Mitsubishi Canada, Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Fleet Challenge Ontario and many more.
Seminar topics and speakers included: Municipal Green Fleet Panel, Province of Ontario Panel on support of green fleets with speaker Carol Layton, Ontario's Deputy Minister of Transportation; and individual presentations by Al Cormier, Electric Mobility Canada, Tom Odell, Toronto Hydro, Lawrence Chiaravalle, Automotive Resources International, among others.
(From left) Jonathan Breton, Audi Canada with John Blakely, GE Capital discuss the many products and technologies offered by Audi and Volkswagen at the event.
Volkswagen Corporate Fleet and Audi Corporate Fleet hosted a ride and drive in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Presentations showcased many products; some equipped with VW/Audi TDI diesel technology available in several VW/Audi vehicles for improved fuel economy. A ride and drive through parts of Niagara’s wine country followed the product presentations. Among the vehicles highlighted was Volkswagen’s Passat sedan, built in North America and available in 2.5 litre, TDI and V-6 engine models. Audi and VW fleet representatives were always accessible to answer participant’s questions.
Jason Swanson, ARI, made a presentation regarding ARI's predictive business intelligence tool to fleet professionals in attendance.
ARI held one of a series of client seminars near Toronto recently. The event provided customers with an overview of the current fleet landscape, an update on ARI products and services, a keynote presentation on ARI’s predictive business intelligence tool, which uses client data and history to look down the road to identify greater fleet efficiencies and savings then has been currently possible. The event also featured Dianne Buckner, host of CBC’s Dragon Den who spoke on “The Art of the Pitch.” In addition to Toronto, the seminars will be held in Calgary, Edmonton. Vancouver and Montreal.
Over 500 people attended Malley Industries new manufacturing plant grand opening in New Brunswick recently.
Some 500 people, including New Brunswick's Premier David Alward, attended the grand opening of a new manufacturing facility for Malley Industries. Malley manufactures specialty vehicles and components. The company is organized into five business units; commercial fleet upfitting for trades and utilities, ambulances, specialized police and prisoner transport vehicles, and vehicles for persons with disabilities.
(From left) George Kilroy, Greg Grant and Jim Halliday, PHH were present at the service fleet user group meeting.
PHH hosted its service fleet user group recently at its head office in Mississauga, Ontario. The group meets regularly to share best practices, network and develop strategies that support each fleets needs. At the most recent meeting fleet operators discussed a variety of fuel cost containment options as well as shared fleet policies designed to support safe, efficient and effective driving.
Mike Traub, Ford of Canada, discusses the company's plans for 2012 and beyond.
Ford's 2012 Canadian Fleet Product and Business Meeting was held recently in Toronto, Ontario. Ford’s 2012 vehicles, technology and services were discussed; attendees were acquainted with what to expect from Ford for the 2012 model year. Topics included EcoBoost, which will be available on many Ford products in the future, as well as discussion about Ford’s four pillars of quality, green, safety and smart technology. To date, meetings have been held in Oakville, Ont., Moncton, New Brunswick and Vancouver. B.C. Upcoming meetings will be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba (June 2), Fort McMurray, Alberta (June 7), Montreal South Shore, Quebec (June 7), Montreal North Shore, Que. (June 8), Calgary, Alta. (June 9), Quebec City, Que.(June 10), and Edmonton, Alta. (June 16). To register for up-coming events visit: www.fordfleetvipevents.ca.
Stu Ralph, Frank Panza and Matt Rispin, from North Toronto Auction, celebrate the company's eighth anniversary.
North Toronto Auction (NTA) celebrated its eighth anniversary recently with a “Crazy Eights” sale. The sale featured 475 vehicles on three lanes at the auction located on 26 acres in Innisfil, Ontario recently. Over 200 customers were on hand to bid on vehicles and celebrate the auction’s success. NTA partner Stu Ralph commented that sale results were reflective of the high demand in the market today for three to four year old vehicles with 80 to 120 thousand kilometres and the opportunities for fleet operators to find eager buyers for their off fleet vehicles.
Police Interceptor Sedan was taken through its paces on a track layout designed specifically for law enforcement.
Ford of Canada held a preview drive immersion program for the all-new Police Interceptors at Mosport's International Raceway Driver Development Centre near Bowmanville, Ontario. Canadian law enforcement professionals drove all-wheel drive versions of the Police Interceptor Sedan, Sedan with EcoBoost and Utility. Each model has its own track configuration and a Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor was made available for comparison. An information session and vehicle walk around provided an opportunity to highlight many of the Police Interceptor's features. An open debrief and question and answer session allowed law enforcement to comment on what they had experienced and observed about the Police Interceptors.
Police Interceptor Utility offers the space of an SUV with great driving dynamics.
“Focusing on the emergency at hand is where 100 per cent of the officer’s attention should be directed and Ford is committed to deliver Police vehicles that can assist the officers in doing just that. Industry-leading durability, performance, safety and fuel economy is our commitment to the Law Enforcement Community” said Steve Ross, Ford of Canada’s Commercial Vehicles Marketing Plans Manager. “We hope that this drive program has allowed us to demonstrate to the Law Enforcement Community that our new portfolio of Police Interceptors has taken the industry’s benchmark, our own Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, and improved it every possible way, while delivering a 25 per cent improvement in fuel economy.”
Police Interceptors are expected to be delivered early in 2012.
(From left) Sangva Sok, City of Toronto and Malcolm Mitchell, Mercedes-Benz Canada prepare to embark on the fuel efficiency module of the event.
As part of its national "Sprinter On Tour" event, Mercedes-Benz brought its Sprinter commercial vans to Toronto for three days in April. The half-day event gave participants the opportunity to experience Sprinter’s Adaptive Electronic Stability Program (ESP). The system assists drivers in maintaining control of the vehicle and will intervene automatically when an issue is detected by continually adjusting to a commercial vans varying centre of gravity due to different loads. The event had three modules in addition to the ESP demonstration; safety, fuel efficiency and competitive comparison. The tour will visit 10 cities across Canada and will finish in Vancouver later this month.
Laurie Chavarie showed the Prime Minister how easily a Malley-designed and manufactured liner kit can be installed.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently visited Malley Industries, a New Brunswick-based manufacturer of specialty vehicles and components. He spoke to invited guests and company staff. Harper and his wife met the company’s longest term employee, Laurie Chavarie, who showed the Prime Minister how easily a Malley-designed and manufactured liner kit can be installed in a Ford Transit Connect.
Joe De Stefano (left) and Bob McClelland (right), General Motors Canada, flank Jodi McWhinnie, VanTeriors while discussing the I&E.
National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA) Institute and Expo took place recently in Charlotte, North Carolina. Many fleet professionals were talking about the rise of fuel prices and choices of alternative fuel solutions at the I & E. Mario Gionet, was officially introduced as NAFA’s new Vice-President for Canada and Trustee for Northern Region.
Allison Scarangella, BMW Group Canada with Nick Cino, Siemens Canada Limited attend the NAFA Institute and Expo.
(From left) Stephen Coulman, BMW Financial Services Canada, Gord Campbell, Nissan Canada, Doug Collis, Ford of Canada, and Don Wallace, Chrysler Brands discuss the strategic importance of remarketing in the Canadian automotive industry.
The 2011 Auto Remarketing Canada 2011 Used Car Conference took place at the Hyatt Regency in Toronto recently. The three-day event offered fleet managers a look at the importance of remarketing and what new options are available through several seminars and workshops. Networking sessions took place during breaks and lunch periods allowing remarketing professionals to share best practices.
(From left) Dale Pollak, vAuto, Brian Benstock, Paragon Honda and Acura, Sean O'Regan, O'Regan's and Bill Xinaris, DealerTrack Inc., discuss inventory management techniques.
(From left) Serge Viola, Puralator, Jim Rideout, Ford of Canada and Markus Flair, Rogers, discuss the towing capabilities of the F-150.
The Toronto stop on the 2011 Ford F-150 cross-Canada tour was held at Mohawk Racetrack. Four new power plants were showcased, including a 3.5 litre twin-turbo EcoBoost engine, 6.2L V-8, 5.0L V-8 and the 3.7L V-6. F-150s did trailer tow drives with a 6,000-pound trailer and in-truck trailering coach, competing brand offering were also available for comparison.
Ford's entire F-150 line-up was available to drive and experience first hand.
(From left) Wayne Beckles, Canada Post accepts the keys to new Navistar eStar from Mark Mcgrew, Navistar.
Canada Post displayed the first of four Navistar eStar Class 2c-3 all-electric commercial vehicles it will add to its fleet at a ceremony at Port Credit Depot in Mississauga, Ont. Thís event was attended by Wayne Beckles, General Manager Delivery, Central Area, Canada Post; Mark Mcgrew, Sales Director-East Coast, Jim House, Key Market Manager, Canada and Rob Brown, Manager Sales Operations, Canada, all for Navistar.
“Part of our environmental commitment is to evaluate and proceed with alternate fuel technologies that will offer us a return on investment,” says Deepak Chopra, Canada Post President and CEO. “Our trucks are in every neighbourhood in the country everyday and we take pride in our efforts to deliver to our customers in an environmentally responsible way.”
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