GlassTalk

Episode #84: You Can Make an App – Amanda Spann

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Amanda Spann is the author of I Have an App Idea – The Essential Guide to Building an App Without Tech Skills and she has good news for all of us. You don’t need to spend in the five figures or burn hundreds of hours of staff time to develop an app any more, thanks to new AI-powered tools and reasonably priced professional services. The even better news is, as experts in touch with the needs of their businesses, building trades professionals are in a position to make more useful and targeted apps than anything coming out of Silicone Valley. Whether developing something to help your team internally or making a product you hope to post on the App Store, there’s an opportunity here to help your efficiency and potentially add a revenue stream to your business.

Episode #83: All the Glass That's Fit to Print: Lon Riley, DPI Lab

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0400

As the president and founder of DPI Lab, an industrial printer manufacturer, Lon Riley knows a lot about the chemistry and technology that makes it possible to produce remarkable images on glass. He joins GlassTalk for a deep dive into the technology and what makes glass printing a special challenge. He addresses the considerations we need to have when seeking the highest productivity and uptime for our printing process, and reviews how things have advanced in the last few years. It's a great overview for experienced fabricators and those looking to get into the process for the first time.

Episode #82: One Number and More: Adrian Lowenstein, All Things Facades

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0400

With his degrees in engineering and business, and his fascinating LinkedIn posts discussing everything about glazing and facade engineering, Adrian Lowenstein is most accurately described as a building engineering influencer. He joins Glass Canada editor Pat Flannery for a wide-ranging discussion of Flannery's One Number hobby horse; the differences between the Canadian and American glass markets; economic conditions; emerging technology and just about anything else that came to mind.

Episode #81: A Way Up Instead of a Way Out - Eddy Atausi, Noble

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 13:00:00 -0400

We're all looking for top engineering talent and the fenestration and glass industry has a lot to offer any technical person who enjoys innovation and experimentation. But our companies just aren't on most engineers' radar screens, making it important for us to be proactive in attracting and retaining talent. Eddy Atausi has made the unusual choice to learn as much as he can about fenestration and glass so he can bring his talent recruitment and development skills to us. He joins Pat Flannery to talk about what works in our market when it comes to getting the best people to make our products and processes.

Episode #80: The Future of Sustainable Glazing - Joe Menchefski, Better Buildings for Humans

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -0400

On his podcast Better Buildings for Humans, Joe Menchefski explores ways to make our built spaces healthier and more liveable with top building science experts from around the world. As part of the team at Advanced Glazings, a Nova Scotia fabricator specializing in aerogel products, Menchefski has deep knowledge of innovative energy-efficient technologies. Who better to ask about the state of sustainable building today and what to expect in the years ahead? Tune in to hear two professional talkers go at it in this episode of GlassTalk.

Episode #79: A Sure Thing – Steve Ness, president and COO, Surety Association of Canada

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Across the world of construction and trades, failure to secure payment for work done and materials purchased is probably the biggest and most common threat to any company’s survival. The system of bonds, liens and sureties we rely on to safeguard contractors and subcontractors can be so arcane that many of us simply don’t bother – and take on massive risk in doing so. Steve Ness of SAC says the system can be made to work for you and joins GlassTalk to explain how. He also addresses the persistent myth that the Ontario court’s Earth Boring decision has undermined surety bonds.

Episode #78: Two Numbers – Chris Magwood, RMI

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Chris Magwood of the Rocky Mountain Institute joins the podcast to discuss the One Number approach to sustainable building regulation…and he has some objections. While a performance-based approach aimed at regulating the whole-life carbon impact of a construction project should be our ultimate goal, Magwood feels the upfront impact of embodied carbon needs to be evaluated separately, but adjacent to, the long-term impact of operational carbon. Listen now to find out why, and for Magwood’s assessment of where we are in being able to do the carbon impact modelling we will need to meet the future sustainable building regulations under discussion today.

One Number Glass Canada magazine article.

Episode #77: Principles of Marketing – Alison Simpson, Canadian Marketing Association

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Our business is making things, not talking about them. So it’s no surprise that many of us struggle with the demands of promoting our businesses to potential clients and customers. Alison Simpson, president and CEO of the CMA, has been helping major corporations do just that throughout her career and she joins Pat Flannery for a lively conversation chock full of good advice. She also has details of an exciting program enabling small businesses to obtain government funds to hire digital marketing experts and to upskill their existing IT staff.

Episode #76: Elbows Down – Blake Sanders, OGMA

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400

The Ontario government’s award of a $140 million hospital façade project to American contractor Permasteelisa/Benson is making waves in Ontario’s glass community. After receiving multiple angry comments and calls from members, the Ontario Glass and Metal Association has taken the unusual step of going public with an open letter to the Ford government, complaining about the lack of support for our industry at a time when tariffs and a general commercial building slowdown threaten our businesses. Sanders joins GlassTalk to make his case for why Ontario should do a better job of looking after its own.

See the letter to Queen’s Park

Episode #75: One Number – Jonathon “JoMo” Layton, Layton Consulting

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0400

How would it be if all the databases and charts and spreadsheets and regulations and tiers defining whether our products comply with sustainable building laws just…went away? Replaced by one number: – the only number that matters – the amount of carbon dioxide emitted over a building’s lifetime as a result of its manufacture, construction, use and disposal. Partner at Layton Consulting, Jonathon “JoMo” Layton joins the podcast to chew over this radical idea and lend his expertise to the question of whether it could work and how it would affect us all.

Episode #74: The next hot topic – Robin Urquhart, RDH Building Science

Mon, 05 May 2025 09:00:00 -0400

High-profile wildfires doing substantial property damage to urban areas in B.C. and Alberta have spurred NRCan to look at creating Canadian building standards for wildfire resistance. The consultation process has just begun, but it seems likely that some day soon we may see new codes requiring resistant windows, doors and other components in wildfire-prone areas. What might these rules look like? How do we determine if a product is sufficiently resistant to external fires? And what is the science behind making frames and glass that resists fire and prevents heat transfer to the home interior? Robin Urquhart has worked on rebuilding communities destroyed by wildfires and joins GlassTalk to share his deep knowledge of this topic.

GlassTalk Episode #73: It’s over – Adrian Edge, Fenestration Canada

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0400

FenCan codes and regulatory affairs direction, Adrian Edge, is back on to talk about the latest trade war developments and how they might impact the glazing and fenestration industries. Our sector avoided new tariffs on April 2, but the stunning measures announced by Trump against the rest of the world are crashing markets and have already, in the words of our prime minister, ended the free trade and partnership relationship we have enjoyed with the United States for decades. Edge talks about the possible ramifications of that, and about how you can still export to the U.S. tariff-free.

Mark Carney clip courtesy Associated Press YouTube.

Special Episode: What's Up at Top Glass?

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Registration for Canada’s architectural glass show is open and the agenda set. Join us April 29 – 30 in Mississauga, Ont., for a day of great discussion with all your friends in the industry. And get a behind-the-scenes look at Trulite Glass and Aluminum Solutions, one of Canada’s top glass fabricators. Glass Canada publisher Pat Flannery shares all the details – see you at Top Glass!

Episode #71: Threats and Opportunities — Adrian Edge, Fenestration Canada

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0400

FenCan’s director of government and regulatory affairs, Adrian Edge, joins to talk tariffs. What is the status? Are they gone or are they coming back in a month? Either way, what can we and our governments do to protect ourselves and our businesses going forward? Things get political and practical in this edition.

Episode #72 – Verifying VIG – David Cooper, VacuumGlass

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 08:30:00 -0400

David Cooper has been researching and developing vacuum insulating glass for over a decade and chairs multiple international standards committees that will define how it can be used, how its quality can be assessed and how to test its performance. With demand for VIG growing and producers multiplying, specifiers and contractors need guidance on what to look for in these products – guidance that may be coming soon in the form of balloted ASTM standards for durability and load tolerance. Cooper joins GlassTalk to explain where these efforts are at and to update us on the state of VIG technology and availability.

GlassTalk Episode #70: Inflation vs Productivity – Steve Johnston, Omnigence

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Steve Johnston of Omnigence, a private equity firm investing in the construction sector, has a stark warning. He sees a real risk of long-term stagflation (inflation coupled with low productivity and high unemployment) in our present conditions and government policies. His white paper lays out the broad details, but he joins GlassTalk to talk about the specific effects in Canada’s construction sector and what will be needed to avoid them.

Episode #69: Building Trust Online – Keith Daubmann, MY Architectural Glass

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Keith Daubmann is an owner of MY Architectural Glass and MY Shower Door, a glass fabricator and custom glazing contractor serving southwestern Florida. What makes Daubmann unique is his thunderous presence on social media, running accounts with around 30,000 followers and hosting a weekly YouTube show, Hard Hat Highlights. He claims he has never had a guest on his show that didn’t become a client shortly after. Daubmann joined GlassTalk to talk about how to use social media in the glass business and how it can do a lot of the work of building trust with prospects before you even meet them.

Episode #68: Making EPDs is Worth It – Chris Guelpa, Cascadia Windows and Doors

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Langley, B.C.,-based Cascadia has published its first environmental product declarations for its fibreglass fenestration systems and its happy it did. Marketing manager Chris Guelpa joined the Conversation to talk about the process; the help they got; the markets and opportunities the EPDs are opening up; and how fibreglass stacks up in the embodied carbon discussion.

NSF Product Category Rule for fenestration assemblies

GlassTalk Episode #67: It’s Movember – Mitch Hermansen, Movember

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Movember is back with an added focus. The popular fundraising drive for men’s health has added support for mental health to its efforts along with prostate and testicular cancer. Mitch Hermansen joined Annex Business Media publisher/editor, Patrick Flannery, to talk about why these issues are important and what we in the construction community can do to help the guys who work for us.

Episode #66: Toward Sameshoring – Duncan Robertson, Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Those of us who ship product across provincial borders have probably noticed that it can be easier to ship to the United States than inside our own country. Recently, the federal Committee on Internal Trade has announced a pilot program that would see any province’s trucking regulations acknowledged in all the others’. Duncan Robertson, senior policy analyst for Nova Scotia, joins the podcast to talk about this small step toward actual free trade within Canada.

GlassTalk Episode #65: What’s up at Top Glass West? – Leslie Osborne, Glass Canada brand manager

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Canada’s architectural glass show comes to Calgary Oct. 16 – 17 and Glass Canada’s intrepid brand manager, Leslie Osborne, joins GlassTalk to give you all the details. We’ll be touring the local glass fabrication plant of the might Oldcastle Building Envelope. We’ll be talking about office-to-residential conversions. We’ll be looking at the future of glass. We’ll be debating contract changes from performance modelling. We’ll look at ways to certify different glass sizes. And we’ll be celebrating Alberta’s fine young glazing apprentices. It’s going to be a great couple days – see you at Top Glass West!

Register here: Canada’s architectural glass show comes to Calgary Oct. 16 – 17 and Glass Canada’s intrepid brand manager, Leslie Osborne, joins GlassTalk to give you all the details. We’ll be touring the local glass fabrication plant of the might Oldcastle Building Envelope. We’ll be talking about office-to-residential conversions. We’ll be looking at the future of glass. We’ll be debating contract changes from performance modelling. We’ll look at ways to certify different glass sizes. And we’ll be celebrating Alberta’s fine young glazing apprentices. It’s going to be a great couple days – see you at Top Glass West!

Glass Talk Episode #64: Sustainable Skills – Chad Flinn, Red Deer Polytechnic and Judi Varga-Toth, CICan

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400

New standards for energy efficiency and low carbon impact in construction are demanding new skills in the trades – skills your young workers might be more familiar with than you are. Chad Flinn, associate vice-president of academics at Red Deer Polytechnic, and Judi Varga-Toth, manager of the ImpAct-Climate program at Colleges and Institutes Canada, are working to educate today’s construction industry in how to design and install the elements of net zero buildings. Learning needs to be ongoing in this time of rapid change, and Flinn and Varga-Toth share insights and free online resources in this episode of Glass Talk.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: TOP GLASS COMING TO CALGARY

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Glass Canada editor Patrick Flannery has a big announcement for you! Top Glass, Canada’s trade event for the architectural glass industry is coming to the Best Western Premier in Calgary on Oct. 17. And that’s not all…on Oct. 16, you can tour Oldcastle Building Envelope’s Calgary fabrication facility and see advanced glazing components being manufactured before your very eyes. Tune in as Flannery goes over all the details. Then register at topglasswest.ca. See you at Top Glass West!

Glass Talk Episode #63: Changing the World – Helen Sanders, Technoform

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Helen Sanders, general manager at Technoform and chair of the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance Glass Products Research Committee, celebrates her 30th year in the industry by joining GlassTalk to talk about their work on the cutting edges of glass technology. The Committee is looking at new ways to confirm the amount of argon fill in IGUs; developing industry Product Category Rules for fabricated glass and load-testing vaccuum insulating glass, among other things. It’s red meat for glass nerds on the dock this summer.å

Glass Talk Episode #62: How We Should Talk About Embodied Carbon – Jonathan Layton and Anton Van Dyk, Layton Consulting

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400

By Anton Van Dyk’s count, there are now up to 15 separate areas where fenestration products have to demonstrate compliance to one regulatory regime or another. Embodied carbon will soon become another, yet both end users and manufacturers have been slow to understand things like Environmental Product Declarations and how they will affect product development. Van Dyk and Layton think the approach to lowering the carbon cost of our buildings has created confusion. They join the podcast to outline their vision for how we should go forward.

Glass Talk Episode #61: Getting IT Right: Carmi Levy, technology journalist

Fri, 31 May 2024 08:45:00 -0400

When information technology is the topic, media outlets across the country turn to Carmi Levy to explain what is going on and give them the deep background on the issues. So we invited him to Glass Talk to share some very practical advice on how to think about your IT department and personnel and how to source and vet providers that will make your life and business better, not worse. Choosing the right people, in-house versus outsourcing, common pitfalls to avoid, how to choose the right product, what to expect from a vendor – Levy has seen it all and we discuss it all.

Glass Talk Episode #60: Reflections in Glass – Andrew Haring, Frameless Hardware Company

Fri, 03 May 2024 07:45:00 -0400

When Andrew Haring announced he was leaving his role as business development director for the National Glass Association, it set off a mini-storm on social media. Why? Because in his time with the NGA Haring became one of the better known and respected personalities on the North American glass scene. His blend of humour, honesty and deep familiarity with our business has made him someone we’d all like to listen to and converse with. Well, here’s your chance. Haring joins Glass Talk to reflect on his time at NGA, his career so far, the state of the industry, certification, attracting young talent, marketing strategy and more.

Glass Talk Episode #59: No Gain, No Pain – Geoff Shellard, Guardian Glass

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0400

It’s happened – a Canadian jurisdiction has mandated a maximum allowable temperature inside a dwelling space. The Vancouver rule is related to health and safety rather than energy efficiency, but it seems likely that requirements for cooling homes will soon put pressure on fenestration designers to restrict solar heat gain in addition to insulating against heat loss. Is the market reacting? How will this change our designs? Guardian’s Pacific Northwest ADM, Geoff Shellard, returns to Glass Talk to shed some light on the topic.

Glass Talk Episode #58: The Innovators – James Satterwhite and Doug Milburn, Advanced Glazings

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Our fast-changing world of tightening energy standards and embodied carbon is challenging us all to look at different design approaches and different materials. Enter a true Canadian glass innovator – Advanced Glazings in Sydney, N.S., and their Solera and SoleraWall products that use an aerogel fill to make translucent architectural glass products with energy performance similar to vacuum insulated glass. CEO Satterwhite and founder and president Milburn join the podcast to explain aerogel; discuss the performance characteristics; talk about how daylighting can meet aesthetic, health and energy conservation needs; and reveal how they have found success with a product few glass companies in the world have the expertise to make.

Glass Talk Episode #57: The World According to Rich – Rich Porayko, Fenestration Canada Commercial business development director

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 08:30:00 -0400

Storm clouds are gathering over the architectural glass industry as 2024 starts. FenCan Commercial business development director and Glass Canada columnist Rich Porayko joins GlassTalk for a New Year episode looking back at the top stories from 2023 and ahead to what they might mean for 2024. Embodied carbon, bankruptcies, VIG, new organizations and events, labour…it’s all on the table in our wide-ranging conversation.

Glass Talk Episode #56: 2023 in Review – Marvin Cruz and Christina Santini, CFIB

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 08:30:00 -0400

Another year has gone by and it’s time for a high-level view of our business conditions and results in 2023. Marvin Cruz, research director, and Christina Santini, national affairs director, for the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses join Glass Talk to tell us what they are hearing from small and medium-sized businesses across the country. We hit inflation, labour shortages, regulations and red tape, credit card fees, housing and more. Happy holidays to everyone and all the best for 2024!

Glass Talk Episode #55: Your Sword and Shield – Jeff Dalaba, NACC/AGMT

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Jeff Dalaba, program director for North American Contractor Certification and Architectural Glass and Metal Technician, joins Glass Talk to update us on recent developments with these important certification organizations. Interest and participation in these certification programs continues to grow, with U.S. states demanding it for public project bids and major general contractors joining the board. When the industry hits a rough patch, as it has right now, what do you have except your reputation? As Dalaba explains, third-party verification of your business practices and your employees’ skills is the way to wear your reputation on your sleeve for all to see, both arming you and defending you in the marketplace.

Glass Talk Episode #54: It’s Value Time – Geoff Shellard, Guardian Glass

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

It’s everyone’s least favourite part of the project – the value engineering phase. When general contractors and project owners turn to finding ways to save cost while preserving specs, we often feel the squeeze. But there’s a difference between the way it is supposed to work and how it gets implemented when people are just looking to save costs without regard for other considerations. And, surprisingly, tightening sustainability standards might create an environment where there’s less pressure for us to sharpen pencils. Geoff Shellard has been advising on and supplying glazing projects for a long time and is well positioned to comment and give some tips and tricks on how to navigate the world of value engineering. And there’s a special bonus at the end of this one for anyone who makes it all the way through!

Glass Talk Episode #53: Throw Rocks In These Glass Houses – Brian Hanson, Specialty Fenestration Group

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Specialty Fenestration Group makes commercial fenestration for two of the toughest applications there are: security glazing and drive-through windows. Marketing director Brian Hanson joins GlassTalk to tell us all about ballistic and blast-resistant glass – what it is; what the standards are; how it’s made; how it’s tested and what works in what situation. And yes, they do get to shoot, smash and blow up their samples in labs. As concerns about occupant security and extreme weather rise here in Canada, Hanson brings some key information we will all want to bear in mind.

Glass Talk Episode #52: What’s Next – Dawn Bloomer, Productive Pressure

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400

When you look at the big picture for yourself and your business, what do you see? Dawn Bloomer is a business consultant who helps small business owners get out from under the day-to-day grind of putting out fires and fixing leaks to take a look at their goals and find ways to organize their businesses to meet them. She joins Glass Talk to offer some sage advice on issues like delegation, succession planning, strategic thinking, maximizing Episode value, effective hiring and planning for the future. Take Dawn’s advice and take an hour out of your day to hear what she has to say…we promise you won’t regret it.

Glass Talk Episode #51: Whole Carbon – Kelly Doran, Ha/f Research Studio

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400

It’s safe to say Kelly Doran is one of the people driving Canada’s approach to limiting the carbon dioxide emissions in our built environment. He’s an architect by training who has counseled Toronto on embodied carbon standards for its Green Building Standard, worked with NRCan on its plans for meeting Canada’s Paris Agreement commitments, attended UN climate conferences and is speaking to architecture and construction groups across the country. So who better to give us the heads up on what the new focus on embodied carbon may mean for those of us who build with two of the highest embodied carbon materials in the industry: glass and aluminum? Doran’s perspectives give us a great insight into what the architecture and environmental community are thinking about how building design will evolve…critical information as you position your business for the changing world ahead.

Glass Talk Episode #50: Glass Man – Suhel Kachwala, FG Glass

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Suhel Kachwala’s last name means “glass man” in Parsi. It doesn’t get a lot more fitting than that, because Kachwala is the second-generation managing director of FG Glass, one of India’s largest glass fabricators. His father and uncle started the business in 1976, the year he was born, and now he runs it alongside his brother and two cousins – all engineers. Kachwala’s business brings him to North America several times each year, so he is in a perfect position to tell us about the Indian glass industry, what is trending in Asian façade design and how the North American and Indian businesses are different. It was a fascinating conversation…enjoy!

Glass Talk Episode #49: Good Help is Hard to Find – Amy Roberts, FGIA

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Amy Roberts, Canadian operations and glass technical director for the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance, has been looking into where we might find the skilled and unskilled labour we are all lacking in our operations. Roberts’ research has revealed that there are several provincial and federal programs – some with hundreds of millions of dollars in funding – aimed at helping you recruit, train and pay new entrants into your workforce. Especially if those workers are from under-represented groups. She joins the podcast to discuss what that challenges are in finding the staff we need; what the barriers might be to our system generating those workers; and how the present system works and could work better. Immigration, apprenticeship and inclusion are all on the table.

Federal resources for recruiting and training

Construction Career Pathways – BuildForce Canada

Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot – Immigration and Citizenship Canada

Temporary Foreign Worker Program – Ministry of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion

Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness Program – Employment and Social Development Canada

Glass Talk Episode #48: Embodied in Law: Caroline Butchart, Carbon Leadership Forum of British Columbia

Fri, 05 May 2023 09:00:00 -0400

A new world of sustainable building practices is bearing down upon us, with embodied carbon considerations pushing to the fore. Air/water tightness and insulating factors are so last century. Vancouver will begin asking for environmental product declarations on new builds this summer, with limits on the allowed embodied carbon coming within two years. Here to explain it all is Caroline Butchart, a building engineer with a PhD in structural glass, who is the program manager for the Carbon Leadership Forum, a non-profit group assisting the B.C. construction industry to meet sustainable building goals.

Glass Talk Episode #47: Fenestration Canada Goes Commercial – Rich Porayko, Jeff Makimoto, Terry Adamson

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

There are two industries putting glass on buildings: the residential side working mostly with vinyl in punched openings and the commercial side working mostly with aluminum to produce engineered facades. Even 20 years ago, the distinctions between the two were fairly clear and few companies did both. Today, there’s vinyl going on to high rises and aluminum windows going into suburban tract housing. Is a three-story multiunit townhouse with hundreds of vinyl windows a commercial or residential project? In reaction to these shifts in the industry, Fenestration Canada, Canada’s national organization for the window and door industry, has committed to expanding its services to encompass the commercial side of the business as well. Rich Porayko, FenCan’s new director of business development for commercial; Jeff Makimoto, FenCan’s new commercial technical director; and Terry Adamson, FenCan technical director, join Glass Talk to tell you all about the new focus and invite you to get involved.

Episode #46: Shooting the Data Rapids – Michelle Throssell and Barb Hooley, Turner & Townsend

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0400

New concepts are emerging in construction contracts aimed at bringing project owners, contractors and subcontractors closer together as partners rather than bosses and hirelings. But to navigate these new structures, especially on today’s larger P3 projects, glazing contractors are going to need to be prepared for a world of enhanced transparency, data collection and communication. Michelle Throssell and Barb Hooley help contractors sail these stormy seas through international project management consultant, Turner and Townsend, and join Glass Talk to explain some of the new jargon, outline the benefits of integrated project management and give us a sneak peek at what’s going to be asked of us in the years ahead.

Glass Talk Episode #45: Around the World – Thomas Simko, RMIT University

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Glass Talk host Patrick Flannery reconnects with an old friend who is now a lecturer in mechanical engineering with a focus on fenestration technology at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. Thomas Simko has travelled the world researching the latest concepts in glass, glazing and building facades and he joins the podcast to give us the view from Down Under. Simko’s message is compelling: Australia lags North America significantly in its use of high-performance glazing, but that is about to change with tightening energy efficiency rules that will drive a new demand for insulating products and advanced framing systems that combine narrow profiles with support for large-format glass and better energy efficiency.

To see more of Thomas Simko’s work, check out:

Optimal Window Designs for Australian Houses

Vacuum Glazing: Development, design challenges and commercialization

Performance Criteria for Residential Zero Energy Windows

Glass Talk Episode #44: 2022 in Review – Rich Porayko, Construction Creative

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Glass Canada’s That’s Rich columnist, Rich Porayko, joins the podcast to look over some of the top stories from 2022 and engage in general industry gossip. Glass prices – should we be surprised? Embodied carbon – are we going to end up going back to monolithic? Contracts – who’s the dog and who’s the tail? Associations – what are they good for? And more. Happy New Year!

Glass Talk Episode #43: In a Flap – Marc Deschamps and Danik Dancause, Walker Glass

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Ontario’s Bill 23 has attracted some hot reaction from environmental groups, up to and including claims it has taken away municipalities’ ability to enforce environmental regulations on construction. In the glass industry, most of the questions are concerning Toronto’s bird-friendly glazing rules. As one of North America’s preeminent bird-friendly glass suppliers, Walker Glass is keeping a close eye on the situation. Architectural representative, Marc Deschamps, and marketing manager, Danik Dancause, join the podcast to update us on where things sit and how they are likely to develop. We also get into a longer discussion of bird-friendly glazing in general, including discussion of a recent study at the University of Saskatchewan that showed just how effective it can be at reducing fatal bird collisions.

Glass Talk Episode #42: Hot Outside – Phalguni Mukhopadhya, University of Victoria

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Dr. Mukhopadhya is a building science professor researching thermal testing and modeling at the University of Victoria and he joined Glass Talk to explain his latest work on thermal testing that may open the door to understanding thermal performance of facades based on smaller test sample sizes. He also discusses measuring thermal transmission through building materials and what the future may hold for infrared imaging and standardization of thermal standard. Professor Mukhopadya is also working on embodied carbon evaluations and thermal bridging science – all critical topics of anyone involved in designing the high performance building envelopes of the near future.

Glass Talk Episode #41: The Future of Apprenticeship – Robert Bronk, Ontario Construction Secretariat

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0400

The Ontario government has announced a string of programs and restructurings aimed at improving and promoting skilled trades training. Robert Bronk is CEO of the Ontario Construction Secretariat, an agency that acts as a forum for construction contractors and construction unions to work together. As such, he has some great perspectives on the state of skilled trades learning and the apprenticeship system. In this episode, he talks about the new Ontario initiatives; how our apprenticeship system is viewed around the world; what is working and not working; how the education system has let skilled trades languish; and the intersection between apprenticeship and unionization.

Glass Talk Episode #40: The Making of a Merger: Dan Parrish and David Goldsmith

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0400

The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance continues to evolve into a truly North American organization for the architectural glass and window and door industries. It’s most recent move is the absorption of Fenestration BC, the association created 10 years ago out of the merger of the Canadian Window and Door Manufacturers Association of BC and the Glazing Contractors Association of BC. With the retirement of long-time FenBC executive directior, Zana Gordon, FenBC went looking for new resources to steer the group and found a willing partner in the FGIA. FGIA chairman, Dan Parrish, and FenBC chairman, David Goldsmith, joined GlassTalk to explain everything and map the course forward.

Glass Talk Episode #39: Four Out of 10 Ain’t Bad – Top 10 Under 40 panel

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 08:00:00 -0400

The August issue of Glass Canada magazine featured Canada’s Top 10 Under 40 young professionals in the architectural glass industry, and four of them joined Glass Talk to help us get to know them even better. Corey and Blake Sanders of SpandrelTech, Ameet Balilty of High Performance Glazing and Vincent Couturier of Unicel talked about what’s changed since their fathers’ day; where things are likely to go in the future; some of the crazy stuff that’s happened to them in the industry; and lots of general industry gossip. The industry is in great hands with a next generation like this!

Glass Talk Episode #38: Feeling The Heat: Jonathan Layton and Taylor Wight, Layton Consulting

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Thermal modeling for façade component certification is going to become a bigger and bigger part of our business as energy efficiency standards continue to tighten. Jonathan “JoMo” Layton and Taylor Wight join GlassTalk to talk about the importance and uses of modelling in today’s design process and how it might influence our efforts in the future. We discuss the new NBC tiered codes; Layton’s experiences modelling designs around the world; the differences between Passive House and NFRC standards; the need to change our approach to solar heat gain; thermal bridging and more.

Glass Talk Episode #37: CI and Lean: Great ideas, but how do they work in fenestration fabrication? - Aynsley Dueck, Duxton Windows and Doors

Mon, 04 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Aynsley Dueck is operations manager at Duxton Windows and Doors and has focused on bringing Continuous Improvement and Lean processes to her operation for several years now. She talks about just what these concepts are and how they can be applied to window, door and commercial façade manufacturing environments. We cover how to deal with the disruption and change that comes with reforming your processes; how to get employee and management buy-in and how to avoid some common pitfalls. We also look at some of the tangible and less-tangible benefits of CI and Lean, and pick up some specific tips from Aynsley that they’ve discovered in their CI journey.

Glass Talk Episode #36: Wood You, Could You? – Samuel Doyon-Bissonnette, Unicel Architectural

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0400

With prescient timing, Samuel Doyon-Bissonnette, co-president of Unicel Architectural, has recently developed and brought to market a Passive House-certified stick-built curtainwall system using engineered wood. The timing is great because recent changes to codes and standards allow architects to do more with wood construction than ever before. Also, wood answers many questions about energy efficiency and embodied carbon. Samuel discusses the opportunity for wood curtainwall and some of the unique features and challenges of working with this material.

Glass Talk Episode #35: The Other Pandemic – Jan Chappel, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

Fri, 06 May 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Last year in Ontario, 30 percent of all the working people who died from opioid overdose worked in the construction industry. It’s clearly time for we who employ tradespeople to pay some extra attention to this issue and be prepared to help those in our companies who struggle with substance use and misuse. To help, Jan Chappel, a senior occupational health and safety specialist with CCOHS, joined Glass Talk to give us some advice on what to look for in employee behaviour that might indicate a problem; how to address the issue; and where to find the resources both you and your employee might need.

Glass Talk Episode #34: Here’s to your Health – Vincent Couturier, Unicel Architectural

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Hospitals and other health care facilities are commissioning some of the best glazing projects in Canada today. Not content any more with square brick facades, the healthcare industry has become a prime target for architectural glass companies looking for opportunities to apply their very best creativity and technology. Vincent Couturier, COO of Longueuil, Que., fabricator, Unicel Architectural, joins Glass Talk to share knowledge gained from his experiences delivering award-winning solutions to this lucrative sector. Couturier talks about the special needs of the healthcare industry, including designs that are easy to clean and don’t accumulate dust; the need for enhanced sound control; solar heat gain considerations; extra privacy needs; and the concept of “behavioural glazing” to deal with the habits of patients who might be destructive. Fascinating stuff!

Glass Talk Episode #33: A Fond Adieu - Margaret Webb, FGIA (retired)

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Margaret Webb has retired after 22 years of dedicating inordinate amounts of time, energy, passion and expertise to this industry. She was instrumental in creating not one but two industry associations: the Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance then the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance. GlassTalks was fortunate to get Margaret to step back into the industry for a brief moment following her retirement to reflect on her time, tell a few stories and share a few opinions about how things are and how they ought to be.

Glass Talk Episode #32: Trading Up – Monte McNaughton, Ontario Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Monte McNaughton joins Glass Talk to explain the new agency, Skilled Trades Ontario, which replaces the Ontario College of Trades as the skilled trades regulator in the province. McNaughton explains his the reason for the change and the direction the new organization will take in trying to smooth the path for apprentices to move through the system, and in trying to attract new workers to the trades. Following McNaughton’s interview, a panel of industry voices joins the podcast to discuss his comments: Ian Howcroft, president of Skills Ontatio, Angelo Cairo, president of Stouffville Glass and Brett Lucier, president of Provincial Glass.

GlassTalk Episode #31: 2021 In The Review – Navneet Matharu, Glass Canada

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Glass Canada brand manager Navneet Matharu joins GlassTalk for a special New Year look back and look ahead. We talk about the supply chain issues that emerged in the second year of COVID; do some gossiping about what suppliers and contractors are saying; touch on the big news stories of 2021; and preview the year ahead in Canada’s commercial glazing B2B channel, including a preview of our exciting Top Glass lineup coming April 20.

GlassTalk Episode #30: Line of Site – Gavin Daly, Axis Communications

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Keeping an eye (and ear) on your critical materials, equipment and personnel is more important than ever. Luckily, technology in site security systems is advancing quickly. Gavin Daly of Axis Communications joins GlassTalk to talk about the principles of security systems: what are the objectives? What is possible and not possible? What threats and opportunities should you consider? He touches on the other uses of site surveillance, too, including controlling access, identifying safety risks and improving operations. With possibilities for audio pickup, networked speakers, low-light and high resolution cameras, facial recognition and remote monitoring, it’s not about getting a grainy black-and-white video picture any more.

GlassTalk Episode #29: Get ‘em Young – Robert Bronk, Ontario Construction Secretariat

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0400

The Ontario Construction Secretariat is the liaison between the unionized trades and employers in Ontario, so their CEO, Robert Bronk, is well positioned to discuss the big topic bedeviling all of us these days – skilled labour supply. Bronk used to train glaziers, so he knows this industry. We had a wide-ranging conversation about the sources of the present skilled trades shortage; the need for greater awareness in Ontario’s schools and homes; the effects of the pandemic and recovery; the outcomes of pandemic-fighting measures on Ontario jobsites; prediction for inflation and supply shortages; and much more.

GlassTalk Episode #28: Where’s My Stuff? – Michael Gabert, Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 08:00:00 -0400

We know the pandemic has done SOMETHING to our supply chains. But what? Michael Gabert and the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors are tasked with understanding the prices and availability of all manner of construction supplies and generating accurate estimates and forecasts for their clients. So he was the perfect person to have on the podcast to explain why it’s so hard to get the things we need for our jobsites and plants. Michael discusses how negative effects from the pandemic snowball as they roll down the supply chain, starting at mines and ships and ending up as big delays on our loading docks. We get into inflation, interest rates, aluminum futures shipping containers and the outlook for our globalized trading system.

GlassTalk Episode #27: The Show Must Go On – Teresa Baker, The Buildings Show

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0400

The Buildings Show, Canada’s largest construction show happening Dec. 1 to 3 at the Toronto Convention Centre, has been a popular destination for glazing contractors because of the opportunity it affords to take in the broadest possible range of suppliers and conference topics out there. There’s always a nice selection of commercial glazing and façade construction products, but also HVAC, insulation, roofing, concrete and even property management solutions. This time, there’s a building envelope session but also many sessions aimed at “soft skills” in the construction industry: human resources, marketing, leadership, project management and other topics we know are critical but don’t always have time to think about. Since the Buildings Show is returning as a live event for the first time since the pandemic hit, we thought it was time to invite program director Teresa Baker to GlassTalk to give us the full FYI.

GlassTalk Episode #26: Doing it Our Way – Ryan Spurgeon, Antamex

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0400

The young president of one of Canada’s iconic architectural glass fabricators, Antamex, joins Glass Talk to share his experiences through a period of whirlwind change for the company. From struggles, to ownership by international giant, Oldcastle, to independence and restructuring, Spurgeon and his team have been on a wild ride for many years. Now Spurgeon is leveraging the lessons learned and the company’s legacy of expertise to position it for the decades ahead, with modern business practices, automation, investment and careful market position. You’ll learn something from Glass Talk’s conversation with Ryan Spurgeon.

Glass Talk episode #25: From the fabricator - Max Perilstein, SoleSource Consults

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Bringing the view from (barely) south of the border, industry influencer Max Perilstein joins Glass Talk to shoot the breeze about everything related to architectural glass and beyond. No one love the glass business more or has been commenting on it for longer, so tune in for Max's takes on the supply crunch, energy efficient glazing, the AGC sale to Cardinal, float glass production, training and labour issues, the return of live events and much more.

Glass Talk episode #24: Future Facing – Francis Pomerleau, Pomerleau

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0400

We all know there’s a new world coming, but what will it look like? Francis Pomerleau, chief executive for national strategy at one of Canada’s largest construction contractors, has some ideas. Pomerleau has launched a brand initiative for Pomerleau locating the company’s focus in three key areas: collaboration, innovation and sustainability. He’s positioning the company to meet the next wave of challenges that will follow the pandemic, and beyond. He joined Glass Talk to share his insights with Canada’s glazing community, and weigh in on some of the big issues we’re all discussing.

Glass Talk episode #23: The return of float glass – Glenn Leroux, Canadian Premium Sand

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0400

At Top Glass in April, Canadian Premium Sand burst on to the Canadian architectural glass scene with an announcement that it was finalizing plans to build a float glass facility north of Winnipeg using high-quality sand from its deposit near Wanipigow, Man. Whether the new facility will produce architectural glass or glass for solar panels remains uncertain, but either way the return of primary glass production to Canada is an exciting prospect. CPS CEO Glenn Leroux recorded a in in-depth interview with Glass Canada editor, Patrick Flannery, to introduce the industry to his company and discuss their plans. The video version of this interview was originally recorded to appear on CPS’s virtual booth at Top Glass.

Glass Talk episode #22: The Afro-Canadian Contractors Association – Sephton Spence, ACCA

Fri, 07 May 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Black Canadians have been part of our construction industry for as long as there’s been one, including many Black-owned contracting businesses. Now, a new organization known as the Afro-Canadian Contractors Association has come along to raise awareness of the good work they do, promote their inclusion and fair treatment and to help its members take advantage of the opportunities out there in our industry. Some grotesque incidents at Ontario jobsites last year attracted revulsion across the country, promoting construction leaders as high up as Geoff Smith at EllisDon to call for a focus on eliminating racism in Canadian construction. So it seemed like a good time to invite the president of the ACCA, Sephton Spence, to join Glass Talk to tell us all about the new association and the proud history of Black construction work in Canada.

Glass Talk Episode #21: Twin Towers – Jay Polding, SolidCAD

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Jay Polding of SolidCAD joins Glass Canada editor Patrick Flannery to talk about digital twinning. It’s the next iteration of building information modeling, turning the digital model of a structure into a living representation of the building including tracking of system performance, energy use, maintenance schedules, component failures and more. Building owners see their need for information about their assets’ performance growing, and the demand will shift downhill to façade fabricators and contractors in the years and decades ahead. Polding shares his knowledge of just what these systems are, how they are expected to help, and how your company can be ready for this next big trend.

Glass Talk Special Episode: A Dream of Lower Energy Bills – Sanjana Bansal, Dream Energy, and Anne Folomo, Schooley Mitchell

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Some energy markets across Canada are now competitive places with multiple providers making different offerings. But navigating these waters can be complicated and even risky without the right guidance. Energy broker Sanjana Bansal works with Anne Folomo and Schooley Mitchell to advise industrial clients on how to get the most zap for their buck when shopping for hydro and natural gas contracts. They have some great tips and some revealing perspectives on this less-understood aspect of our businesses.

Glass Talk Episode #20: The Marketing Guy – Rich Porayko, Construction Creative

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Rich is probably the only person in Canada who is both a writer and a glass guy. With over 70 articles under his belt and a new gig as the back page columnist for Glass Canada magazine, Rich also has a long track record as a marketing consultant with the likes of Binswanger Glass, Hartung, Garibaldi Glass, PFG, the National Glass Association and others. He’s seen enough to have some opinions and isn’t shy about sharing them. We get into the exploding market in sneeze guards, the possible future of office towers, the dos and don’ts of marketing a glass business and the forces in this country that are preventing industrial development like Xinyi’s float glass proposal.

Glass Talk episode #19: Birds ‘n Stuff: Andrew Dolphin, BV Glazing

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 09:00:00 -0400

We pick the brain of Andrew Dolphin, general manager of glass operations at BV Glazing and president of the Ontario Glass and Metal Association, about some of the issues facing glass fabricators these days. Dolphin is looking with some concern at the city of Toronto’s proposals to require bird friendly patterns on surface #1 of all new windows. He thinks a float glass plant in southern Ontario would be nice, but not necessarily a game changer. He likes his new toys: automated IG lines and a big cutting table. He also likes golf tournaments, but has found some new ways to keep the OGMA relevant during the pandemic. And he likes how the Blue Jays are looking going into the 2021 season.

Glass Talk episode #18: High Exposure and Long Life – David De Rose, Synergy Partners

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0400

There’s a couple new CSA standards in town – A440.6 and S478 – and David De Rose is the man with the information on both. A440.6 is a new standard for high-exposure fenestration that covers the right way to install and seal punched windows, continuous windows and window wall above four storeys. We talk about the nifty sealant compatibility chart and maintenance appendix in the new standard. Then there’s S478, which is a durability standard that sets out a method for establishing the expected design life of a building and its components. That one is going to get more popular as more and more projects ask for life cycle analysis to meet embodied carbon standards. De Rose helped write both these standards, and he dishes on what’s in them and where they might be going in the future.

Glass Talk episode #17: Pandemic Programs Update – Bonny Koabel, AKR Consulting

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Bonny is back on Glass Talk with crucial information on changes to various federal and Ontario pandemic relief programs. Overall, eligibility is tightening, but some new programs are on the horizon. We also chat about how effective these efforts have been and what is likely to happen to them going forward.

Glass Talk episode #16: The Arch of Pandemic – Suzanne Bernier, SB Crisis Consulting

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Pandemic response expert Suzanne Bernier rejoins Glass Talk to tell us what we’ve learned in six months of pandemic about the virus, how it spreads and what businesses should do to combat it. We touch on some of the controversies around masks and lockdowns and whether surfaces are primary vectors for COVID-19. Suzanne looks ahead to the winter and the prospects for a vaccine – and the news is not all good.

Glass Talk episode #15: The View from Up Here – Jay McColl, IUPAT

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Back in April, at the height of the first wave of COVID-19, we spoke to Jay McColl, a business representative for the International Union of Painters and Trades District Council 46 in southern Ontario and a journeyman glazier. McColl was at the forefront of the union’s efforts to keep its workers safe and react to the wildly changing situation at the time. He also reflects on his experiences in the industry and what the union is involved in these days to promote the glazing trade and support workers. McColl spent the early part of his career with the union going to job sites to renew cards, so he has some stories!

GlassTalk episode #14: Getting it Right…Remotely – Jeff Dalaba and Ben Beeler, AGMCC

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 09:00:00 -0400

The Architectural Glass and Metal Technician program certifies glazier skills. But how do you test in a pandemic? Jeff and Ben join Patrick Flannery to explain how they came up with ways to test students remotely, and maintain the program’s high standards of rigor and integrity. They also cover how the North American Contractor Certification program acts as a quality assurance system for glazing contractors, and how membership could help with insurance costs.

Glass Talk episode #13: Bridging the Distancing: Nicole Harris, president and CEO, National Glass Association

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Nothing like a major crisis to make everyone remember why industry associations are so important. In this episode, Nicole Harris and Patrick Flannery talk about the crucial role the NGA has played in keeping its members across the U.S.A. informed and connected to critical resources during the pandemic, including calling state governments to explain why float glass plants can’t just be shut down. Like everyone, the NGA has had to reach new levels of flexibility and innovation to keep providing its services and nowhere is that more evident than in the ambitious restructuring of GlassBuild into a month-long online event called GlassBuild Connect.

Glass Talk episode #12: Getting window wall right - Haya Soghrati, UL Canada

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Haya Soghrati of UL Canada joins Patrick Flannery to share her knowledge of window wall standards and testing. The discussion ranges across the relevant standards governing window wall today, the implications for design and testing, requirements for energy efficiency and more.

Glass Talk episode #11: At Work in the West – Trevor Whyte, Griffin Glass

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 09:00:00 -0400

As president of the Provincial Glaziers Association of Alberta and co-owner of Griffin Glass, Trevor Whyte has the big perspective on the western Canadian glass industry. In this episode, he and Glass Canada editor Patrick Flannery discuss which hockey jersey he wears, fly-by-night bidders, the PGAA’s plans for a future live event, the demise of the Master Glazier program and how to attract young talent to the glazing trades. Note: this podcast was recorded before the coronavirus outbreak.

Glass Talk COVID SPECIAL: Get It Delivered – Eamonn O’Rourke, RenoRun

Thu, 14 May 2020 09:00:00 -0400

We’re changing how we do things on jobsites: keeping workers apart, providing PPE and installing handwashing stations. But one of the big ways that coronavirus gets spread is just through people moving around. And with curbside deliveries only, the lineups and delays at the store can be significant. Luckily, there are site delivery services that can keep your crew on the job and away from the general public. Eamonn O’Rourke is the founder of one of these, and he told Glass Talk how it works and how it helps.

Glass Talk Special COVID-19 episode: How Are We Doing and Where We Are Going Suzanne Bernier, SB Crisis Consulting

Fri, 01 May 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Pandemic response expert Suzanne Bernier joins Glass Canada Magazine editor Patrick Flannery to look back at the chaotic last couple months, assess our response to the coronavirus and forecast where the health authorities will go from here. Bernier has helped craft Ontario and the U.N.’s response to previous epidemics – there is no better person to educate us about this crazy time.

Glass Talk Special Pandemic Episode: Pandemic Payment UPDATE – Bonny Koabel, AKR Consulting

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Government funding guru Bonny Koabel updates listeners on the most recent announcements from Ottawa about federal support for small businesses. Changes and clarifications to the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy, including when it will become available and how to apply. Also, discussion of the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, the Canada Student Service Grant and the Canada Summer Jobs program – all new or changed programs to help you take on summer students or help the ones you can’t.

Glass Talk Episode #10: Pandemic Relief Update – Bonny Koabel, AKR Consulting

Tue, 21 Apr 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Bonny Koabel joins Glass Talk again with the latest update on new government relief programs announced for small businesses affected by COVID-19. The news is changing daily – Bonny tells you what you need to know about who can access what funding and where to find it.

Glass Talk Episode #9: It’s not the Heat… Controlling humidity for healthier environments with Alex McGowan, WSP

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Some research is suggesting indoor humidity might affect the transmission of coronavirus and pathogens like it. That means we building façade designers and installers have a role to play in protecting people from pandemic. Experts suggest fewer than five per cent of buildings meet ASHRAE standards for humidity control. Alex McGowan of WSP in Victoria, B.C., joins Glass Talk to talk about ASHRAE and strategies for controlling humidity through better façade design.

Glass Talk Special COVID-19 Episode: Corona Coverage – Carl Pickett and Roch Simard, AU Group Insurance

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 09:00:00 -0400

The grim fact is some of our customers’ businesses will not survive this pandemic. Credit insurance is one way to protect your receivables and, no, it’s not too late to buy it. Veteran brokers Carl Pickett and Roch Simard explain the ins and outs of an insurance product that is sure to be getting more popular.

Glass Talk Coronavirus Special Episode: Support for your Business – Bonny Koabel, AKR Consulting

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Government funding guru Bonny Koabel returns to update you on recently announced details of the Canadian federal government’s attempts to support small businesses through the pandemic. In this episode: wage subsidies, payment deferrals, tax deferrals, loan guarantees, CERB and more.

Glass Talk Special Episode: Paying for Pandemic UPDATE – Bonny Koabel, AKR Consulting

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Bonny Koabel, our government funding expert, returns to update listeners on the latest announcements from federal and provincial governments of new financial assistance available to small and medium-sized businesses. Wage relief, cheap credit, deferred payments, tax breaks – you’ll need it all to survive the pandemic and Bonny tells you how.

Glass Talk Special Episode: Paying for pandemic – Bonny Koabel, AKR Consulting

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 09:00:00 -0400

In this special coronavirus episode of Glass Talk, Bonny Koabel of AKR Consulting tells you what government assistance is being offered to companies impacted by the pandemic. There’s help with wages, tax relief, credit, direct grants and more, with more to come on the horizon. Bonny has been getting companies access to government services for a long time and knows the ropes when it comes to cutting red tape.

Glass Talk Special Episode: Preventing Pandemic Pandemonium – Suzanne Bernier, SB Crisis Consulting

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 09:00:00 -0400

In 2006, Suzanne Bernier developed the Ontario WSIB’s first pandemic plan in response to the SARS outbreak, which was globally recognized as the best of its time. She then led her employer’s internal response to the H1N1 pandemic after several outbreaks in their workplace. She was invited to address the UN in Switzerland to educate on pandemic response and commissioned by its New York headquarters to deliver their first-ever pandemic tabletop workshop to evaluate the effectiveness of UN pandemic action plans. Suzanne joins host Patrick Flannery in this special episode of Glass Talk to tell you how our industry should protect staff and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Glass Talk episode #2: The Making of the FGIA - Margaret Webb and Janice Yglesias

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Give me an F!…give me a G!…The Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance (IGMA) and the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) have merged into one organization called the Fenestration Industry and Glazing Alliance. FGIA executive director, Janice Yglesias, and FGIA director of glass products and Canadian affairs, Margaret Webb, explain the new association, talk about some industry issues and discuss how a big organization for all of North America’s residential and commercial fenestration providers might serve the market better.

Glass Talk: Come Together — Zana Gordon, executive director of the Fenestration Association of BC

Thu, 20 Feb 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Zana Gordon, long-time executive director of FenBC, talks to Glass Canada editor Patrick Flannery about the state of the association, the challenges the industry still faces with training and quality standards and whether we need a made-in-Canada national commercial glazing association.