CECA Turns Golden

Association makes strides as it marks 50 years since incorporation.

by Catharine Bothwell

This May, the Canadian Elevator Contractors Association (CECA) celebrated its 50th anniversary of being incorporated. While labor problems in the elevator industry initially brought together several independent elevator contractors in Montreal and saw them incorporate CECA as a nonprofit trade association back then, 50 years later comradery such as that shown at the Montreal 2022 Convention (Fifty and Feelin’ Fine) is the glue that holds us together.  

From the beginning, ELEVATOR WORLD has been there to support us, and has been an integral part of our association ever since. We are honored to once again contribute an article to the Focus on Canada edition of EW. 

After 50 years, CECA is still thriving and growing. Our organization has blossomed, with more than 275 members including union, nonunion, independent and multinational elevator contractors, as well as suppliers and industry-minded members from both North America and countries around the world. While we still actively engage in government lobbying efforts, each year we strive to increase benefits and corporate discounts for our members. 

Some of our recent accomplishments include CECA’s widely accepted Maintenance Control Program (MCP) document and logbooks available in the 2013, 2016 and 2019 codes. This document was developed by contractor members representing many companies working together and committing their time. We have also put together Maintenance Requirement Plan documentation and logbooks for the CSA B355 (Platform Lifts and Stair Lifts for Barrier-Free Access). It is available on the website for members for members to use for commercial accessibility devices. The format is similar to the MCP, and was developed to be in conformance with CSA’s Annex B of the B355 and part 2.3 of the 2022 Ontario CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) document.

Our members are passionate and, as a group, they often come together to help each other and volunteer for the betterment of the industry.

Our regions in the West, Prairies, East and centrally in Ontario hold regularly scheduled meetings with our members to solve regional industry issues. CECA continues to work hard on fostering and maintaining a positive relationship with all AHJs in each region of the country.  

We also have various committees, such as the Scholarship Committee that distributes a number of yearly scholarships to members’ relatives who are attending institutes for either general or elevator studies. Our Construction Hoist committee has made great strides in this segment of the industry, establishing licensed training in Ontario and currently modifying the old 1987 code. Our Private Residence Division has developed a standard for private residence elevators, which includes education (including homeowner elevator safety training), a permit program and a website, cecaprdregistry.

The committee is working to get this standard recognized throughout Canada. 

Our members are passionate and, as a group, they often come together to help each other and volunteer for the betterment of the industry. When we meet in person, we appreciate networking with each other, enjoying a supplier presentation and forming new bonds and friendships. Our conventions have that cozy Canadian feeling, and we enjoy cramming together in the notorious hospitality suite.  

Just coming off a successful convention in Montreal, we now set our sights on Halifax, Nova Scotia. Maritimers have a well-earned reputation for being friendly — even by Canadian standards — and we’d like to extend this welcoming approach by inviting you to our 49th annual CECA Convention in Halifax on June 13-16, 2023! 

For more information about CECA, our events and membership, please visit our website at CECA-ACEA or email us at: office@ceca-acea.org.