By / Jessica Kirby, Editor, Sheet Metal Journal
I can’t stress enough how jarring it feels to write the end of the year editorial for Sheet Metal Journal. Anyone who reads regularly will know I say this every year because every year truly feels like it sneaks up on us. Soon, we will be hunkering down for the short but much-needed winter break with visions of a fresh new year dancing like sugar plums in our heads.
This issues features some great topics, none the least of which is a profile on one of SMACNA-BC’s newer members—Novagreen. This relatively new testing & balancing firm is based in Vancouver and prides itself on an experienced, driven team of TAB professionals eager to get to know the engineering community and make headway in the industry. Find out what they are all about on page 10.
If you have ever been to the Partners in Progress Conference (the next one is March 1-2, 2022 in Las Vegas and registration is open now), you know what a great opportunity it is for labour and management to connect, learn, and network together. The conference offers exciting speakers, workshops, and opportunities to socialize, and this year, Partners in Progress is offering the Emerging Leaders program, through which Chapters and Locals can have up to two future leaders attend the conference for free. See page 12 to see if your young leader qualifies.
And finally, we all love sports but do we truly value the benefit of good coaching? Divergent from the vision some of us may have about leadership being directive, authoritative, and top-down, a coaching culture in the workplace is collaborative, guiding, and mutually supportive. Even if you already have a system like this in place, check out page 15 to see what author and speaker Ken Vaughan says about the best way to perfect the coaching culture at your firm.
Finally, Lara and I want to thank you for another year of reading and supporting Sheet Metal Journal. Connecting with many of you throughout the year has been fabulous, especially given the type of year is has been. We have our fingers crossed we will see you in April 2022 in Kelowna. In the meantime, keep those comments, suggestions, and bits of feedback coming. They all help make this publication—your publication—better.
Speaking of which, the annual Sheet Metal Journal Construction Outlook Survey is online and ready for your answers. Please check your email from SMACNA-BC for the link or email me at jessica.kirby@pointonemedia.com and I will send it over. The survey comprises ten questions, takes about five minutes to answer, and informs our industry-specific feature article printed in the Winter issue. Don’t delay—have your say. (See what I did there?)
Merry Christmas, SMACNA-BC! ■
