2017 National Floor Coverings Association’s General Meeting & Fall Social

Over 50 people attended the National Floor Covering Associations’ first Annual General Meeting and Fall Social event, including our membership, representatives from the architectural and design community, and Division 3’s Concrete, Formworkers Association.

We were also very pleased to have Sally Mills, Principal of Kasian Architecture and Vice President of the Interior Designers of Canada, speak at our event.

On the agenda was a recap of NFCA’s objectives:

1. To unite our industry across the country with recognized, generic industry standards that all construction parties should refer to.
2. Provide ongoing education for all construction professionals.
3. Present a membership platform that will unite flooring related companieswho believe in and can deliver best practices.
4. Increase the awareness and use of our industries Quality Assurance Program.

Some of NFCA’s key activities over the past 12 months were reviewed:

1. Education events in BC, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

2.Working with leading manufacturers’ technical representatives to update theNFCA Floor Covering Reference Manual’s Carpet Broadloom and Carpet TileSpecification Guides.

3. Attending trade shows and speaking engagements, which included CSC’sNational Convention, Canadian Healthcare and Engineering Society and the Education Facility Managers Association.Two new Board members were successful in their application to join the NFCA Board of Directors. We welcome Will Houghton, Canadian Commercial Hard Surface Marketing Manager for Shaw Industries and Don Brletic, Western Regional Manager for Ardex Americas and look forward their participation on our Board.With the meeting adjourned, we moved on to our guest speaker. Sally Mills, shared her experience and the design communities’ perspective on the challenges we all face delivering complicated flooring products into an increasingly fast-paced construction environment. She offered insights into the value of our Floor Covering Reference Manual, how best to connect with interior designers through education, the value of our Quality Assurance Program and where to start to bring about much needed change regarding the disconnect between Division 3 and Division 9. An ongoing problem that so often leads to slab rejection by the flooring contractor at the eleventh hour.We thank Sally for giving her time and the benefit of her experience and knowledge at our event.

If this event was any indication, there’s a renewed energy and desire for change. There is a growing feeling that the industry is really coming together as a community with common interests that will move us towards more quality floor installations and enhanced experiences for all construction parties and our customers.

This isn’t something that happens overnight. As you all know, it is gradual, it will meet with resistance from some and will require a sustained effort. This is how we change a culture and a history of doing things a certain way – with respect, by listening, through conversations and education.

Thank you to all who attended and to the sponsors that made it possible. We appreciate your support and look forward to an ongoing relationship.