Previewing the Crane Rental Association of Canada annual meeting

The Crane Rental Association of Canada (CRAC) is celebrating its 25th anniversary at its annual meeting in Vancouver, BC, May 16-18, 2023.

The Crane Rental Association of Canada is experiencing the greatest growth in its membership since the early 2000s.

This is indeed a time for celebration as the Association is experiencing the greatest growth in membership since the early 2000. Nearly 200 company representatives will be flocking to Vancouver to hear speakers on a variety of topics ranging from inspirational leadership to industry standards.

Economic outlook

Joe Roberts, CEO of The Skid Row, will open the conference with an inspirational message about the opioid crisis impacting the construction industry. Thomas Benjoe, president and CEO, FHQ Development Ltd., will share his perspective on the importance of Indigenous Engagement Procurement. Bob Collins, senior economist at BuildForce Canada, will present the construction outlook and trends for 2023.

Joining these speakers will be more than a dozen subject matter industry experts who are presenting everything from AI technology, best practices, industry regulation challenges to a Canada-wide assessment of the CSA-Z150. The collective wealth of knowledge from industry is sure to make an impact on attendees.

Once again, a number of companies will be recognized for their safety culture with the 2023 Safety Awards. Longevity Awards will be presented to companies reaching the 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25-year milestones for membership. One or two companies will take home the coveted Canadian Lift of the Year Award.

While preparing for the 25th anniversary celebration, the Association’s leadership has retained the services of a consulting firm to conduct a Canada-wide study of the industry. The purpose of this study is to provide insights for use by crane rental companies, as well as to collect meaningful and timely data that may be used to inform advocacy efforts on behalf of the sector. The study will be used to develop a profile of the crane rental industry that will help us better understand the sector’s employment structure, fleet composition, the sectors we serve and support and much more.

Industry study

Over the years, the Crane Rental Association of Canada has led initiatives within the membership, but this time, The Portage Group, the selected research partner for this project, will also reach out to non-member companies, thus providing more accurate data for the Association to advocate on behalf of the industry. Developing quality research and analysis to support the Association’s effort in making positive changes in the industry has become a necessity in finding solutions to legislative changes impacting the industry.

“The Association is involved in a multitude of initiatives that require factual data in order to adequately represent the crane rental industry. Without it, it is becoming increasingly difficult to advocate changes in policies and regulations” said Trevor Eckert, chair of the Board of Directors.

Ryan Long, chair of the Membership Committee and lead on this project, addsed, “To represent our industry to the best of our ability, we need to demonstrate our presence and our impact. This survey is the first step taken in achieving this goal”.

The power of Association is alive and well in Canada, as more crane rental companies have come to the realization that working together with a unified voice can truly affect positive changes for the industry.

“The purpose of this study is to provide insights for use by crane rental companies, as well as to collect meaningful and timely data that may be used to inform advocacy efforts on behalf of the sector.”

Claire Bélanger-Parker, Executive Director, Crane Rental Association of Canada