As an HVAC professional, one thing you should always remember is that you need to keep on improving as the years go by. You must do this so that your service to your customers will also get better, thus ensuring a positive outlook on your future. Luckily, there are a lot of things that you can do to keep on improving and to stay on top of your game. One of the best things you can do is to attend a trade show, or a conference dedicated to HVAC. But another thing that you can do is to become a member of an HVAC association.
Why Should You Join an HVAC Association?
At the end of the day, networking is one of the secrets to an HVAC professional’s success. And you can easily get that when you join an HVAC association. For the most part, HVAC associations are comprised of various HVAC professionals just like you as well as contractors, installers, mechanics and more. So, when you’re part of an association, you can develop a professional relationship with these other professionals and exchange ideas and information about the industry.
In addition to that, HVAC associations are oftentimes responsible for hosting various events, such as trade shows and conferences. And these events are also essential in broadening your knowledge about the industry and networking with other important key industry leaders. Because of all these benefits, becoming a member of an HVAC association is highly recommended.
Top HVAC Associations in Canada
Fortunately, you can find a lot of HVAC associations anywhere. Canada alone has a number of these associations. The associations mentioned below are only some of the ones that you can start checking out.
The Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada
Website: https://www.hrai.ca/
Founded in 1968, the Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) is a non-profit national trade association of manufacturers, wholesalers, and contractors in the Canadian heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) industries.
The association advocates a safe, responsible, and fair industry where indoor environment systems and refrigeration processes are designed, installed, and serviced by qualified professionals in order to ensure efficient and energy-conscious operation. In addition to that, HRAI also organizes activities that are directly related to the needs and requests of its memberships. That is why these activities include education and training programs, industry meetings, up-to-date industry information, technical support, government and industry advocacy, statistics and trends, and a biennial national trade show.
Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating
Website: https://www.ciph.com/
The Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) was founded in Montreal in 1933 as a non-profit trade association that is committed to providing members with tools for success in today’s competitive environment. As of right now, the association has more than 285 companies that are members.
Moreover, CIPH’s membership consists of manufacturers, wholesale distributors, master distributors, manufacturers’ agents, and allied companies who manufacture and distribute plumbing, heating, hydronic, industrial PVF, waterworks, and other mechanical products. As of right now, CIPH wholesalers operate more than 700 warehouses and showrooms across Canada. Additionally, total industry sales exceed $6.5 billion annually, and CIPH members have more than 20,000 employees all over the country.
Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada
Website: https://mcac.ca/
The Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (MCAC) is a national, non-profit business association that prides itself as a unified voice of the mechanical contracting industry. MCAC represents the interest of its members through business support, educational resources, and industry advocacy.
MCAC primarily consists of mechanical contractors, such as companies engaged in plumbing, HVAC/R, sprinkler systems, fire protection, control systems, welding, and many more. But aside from mechanical contractors, MCAC also welcomes service and repair contractors, manufacturers, wholesale distributors, and other construction industry-related organizations. All these professionals work together for the promotion, improvement, and advancement of the mechanical contracting industry.
Mechanical Contractors Association of Ontario
Website: https://mcao.org/
The Mechanical Contractors Association of Ontario (MCAO) is an employer organization working for the enhancement of Unionized Mechanical Contractors in the Ontario Construction Industry. In particular, the association aims to represent the best interests and concerns of its members through their involvement in ongoing and established activities, as well as their development of, and participation in, several existing new initiatives aimed at improving their industry and level of success in the future.
Ontario Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association
Website: http://orac.ca/
The Ontario Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (ORAC) is a non-profit organization that represents Ontario’s largest single organized body of contractor practitioners in the industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential refrigeration and air conditioning trade. ORAC has been an industry leader for over 47 years now, and the association has actively and responsibly participated in making Ontario’s trade contractors one of the most advanced and efficient in North America.
Mechanical Contractors Association of Alberta
Website: http://mca-ab.com/
The Mechanical Contractors Association of Alberta (MCA-AB) is the voice of the plumbing and building mechanical contractors and suppliers’ industry in Alberta. The association’s membership of either open shop or union ranges from a sole proprietorship to national companies in the residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial areas of work.
The members of MCA-AB benefit from the association’s industry advocacy, business support, membership advantage programs, and group insurance. Additionally, MCA-AB is affiliated with the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada, Mechanical Service Contractors of Canada, Canadian Mechanical Contracting Education Foundation, and the World Plumbing Council.
Canadian Boiler Society
Website: https://www.canadianboilersociety.com/
The Canadian Boiler Society is a society of energy and environmentally concerned companies consisting of boiler manufacturers and supplier companies to the boiler industry in Canada. The association’s primary missions are to promote ideas of common interest to the public and other interested parties, to be proactive with governments in matters affecting safety and the boiler industry, and to provide a forum to permit suppliers to the boiler industry the opportunity of promoting their capabilities and product lines to users.
Thermal Environmental Comfort Association
Website: https://www.teca.ca/
Thermal Environmental Comfort Association (TECA) is a non-profit association that sets the minimum standards for residential and light commercial heating, ventilating, and cooling trade in British Columbia. The association was founded in May 2006 through the amalgamation of HVCI and RHWHA whose reputations were built on the technical accuracy, ease of use, inspectability, and low cost of their training courses and materials. As of right now, TECA offers the industry a collective voice in local and provincial issues relating to their trade.
Mechanical Contractors Association of Ottawa
Website: http://mcaottawa.com/
The Mechanical Contractors Association of Ottawa (MCA Ottawa) is a non-profit association that is working for the betterment and advancement of the unionized trades in the mechanical contracting industry. To complement their association of trade contractors, MCA Ottawa also has associate members made up of suppliers, dealers, manufacturers, and other professional-related services.
In addition to several ongoing working committees, MCA Ottawa provides high-level service, information, safety training, and education programs to their members, including social events, fundraising activities, scholarship programs, and a student chapter.
Mechanical Contractors Association of British Columbia
Website: https://www.mcabc.org/
Since the early 1900s, the Mechanical Contractors Association of British Columbia (MCABC), along with its predecessor organizations, has been representing the interests of British Columbia’s mechanical contractors and their suppliers. MCABC is the only association in British Columbia that is entirely dedicated to the unique interests of mechanical contractors.
MCABC members consist of both unionized and open shop businesses that are specializing in plumbing, HVAC, gas installations, fire protection, controls, industrial mechanical systems, welding, sprinkler systems, and many more. Work is done in the industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential sectors.
As of today, MCABC has continued to support mechanical contractors and sector suppliers in providing the best possible products and services, to maintain and enhance their reputation for honesty, reliability, and quality workmanship, to stay at the leading edge of consumer protection, and, most importantly, to help them grow and prosper.
Takeaway: Interested in Joining an HVAC Association in Canada?
Every HVAC professional wants to succeed. And in order to achieve that, they must always be well-informed. They need to be updated on the current state of the industry, as well as its current technologies and market and the future outlook. But trying to remain updated is not something that an HVAC professional can do alone. They must connect with other professionals as well to share information and insights. There are a lot of ways to achieve this. For one thing, you can choose to attend as many HVAC trade shows and conferences as you can. And for another, you can also choose to join associations that are dedicated to HVAC/R.
Unsurprisingly, there are a lot of HVAC/R associations out there. And that number will continue to rise as the years go by and the industry continues to boom. You can find a lot in Canada alone. The ten mentioned above are only some of the most influential ones in the Canadian HVAC industry today.
So, if you’re just beginning to search for an HVAC organization that you want to join in, then this list is a good starting point. Find at least one association that you like from this list and be ready to expand your knowledge about the HVAC/R industry and to connect with other professionals in your field.