b'FROM THE PRESIDENT, CHRIS CIMEKFormanyyears,ECAOhasworkedwithECAOs industry leadership and its partnerships tremendousindustrycohortswhomwecallwithinnumerableassociationsovertheyears ouraffiliatepartners.Thecontributionsofhave contributed significantly to our rich history. our affiliate partners throughout our 75-yearWhethernational,provincial,municipalor, historyhavehadimmenseimpactsonourmost recently, international, we are not content accomplishmentsandgrowth.Iampleasedto simply be affiliated. ECAO has always been, A Ihave,however,benefittedtosaythattheserelationshipsarebecomingand I am sure will continue to be, a leader in all strongereachyear,whetherthroughmuch- these communities. As I look through ECAOs Although some of you may be surprised to hearappreciated event sponsorship and participation,list of industry associations past and present, it, I have not been around for ECAOs entireor the provision of vital goods and services tothere is a common thread: ECAO members and 75-yearhistory.help our contractors succeed. representatives have ensured the advancement from the unparalleled quality of leadership thatOurinteractionswiththegovernmenthaveofourindustrysinterestsandbroughtdeep preceded me for more than seven decades, andconsistentlyfocusedonsolutionsandthevalue to our members.it is an honour to be included among so manyhealth of our industry and not on politics, andI must also highlight the vital role played by our outstanding pioneers from our association. that approach has kept ECAO at the table asLocal Electrical Contractor Associations (Local Though I may not have been around for ECAOsa trusted partner of the provincial government,ECAs) over the decades. Local ECAs provide full 75 years, I am aware ofand immenselywhetherwithLabour,Energy,Infrastructure,critical informationsage adviceand are a proudofourmanyaccomplishments.OfficeofthePremierorotherprovincialconduit through which ECAO can effectively Throughout our history, ECAO has been anministries. This is yet another relationship thatcommunicatewithourcommunity. Without industry leader. We have been at the forefronthas significantly advanced in the past few years.their intimate understanding and championing of ensuring electrical contractors are held toECAOs approach to government relations hasof the geographic jurisdictions in which they standards and practices that result in safe andevolved over its history, and we are now proudoperate,ECAOwouldnothavesuchan high-qualitywork,andhaveledOntariosto be working with our provincial legislatorsaccomplished and valued 75-year history. And unionizedconstructionsectorinlabourand labour partners as a unified body. It is theas critical as they have been to the success of our relations and collective bargaining.correct approachin fact, its the only approachindustry over ECAOs history, I believe they are Like you, I lived and worked through a globalfor these times. even more important to our future.pandemic and was comforted by the knowledgeElectricalcontractorsknowthecriticalvalueNotwithstandingtheimportanceofallthese thatourassociationwastheretoguideitsof client relationships; they are the lifeblood ofpartnershipstoECAOssuccess,themost members and our industry through that world- our businesses. Looking back on our 75 years,importantrelationshipsthroughoutthese changingevent.Eachsuccessiveprovincialit is evident that ECAO members have done a75 years have been those that we contractor government has also relied on ECAO and ourtremendous job both growing our client base andmembershavewitheachother.Whilewe members as experts in our communities, oftenmaintaining existing and valued clients, somemay be competitors, we are also a fellowship seeking our input on changes to legislation andof whom have been with us throughout ourof electrical contractors with shared attitudes, regulations.Perhapsmostconsistent,inmyseven and a half decades. This is no small feat,interests,challengesandgoals.Muchlikea observation of our history, is the networking,particularly given the number of game-changingprofessional sports league, we all strive to be sharingofbestpracticesandcollaborationevents and evolutions we have lived through asthe champion at the end of the season, but we among our members. In fact, I believe it is ourcontractors and as an association over the pastall play by the same rules to get there. In this collaborative nature that has kept us so vibrant75 years; the change in immigrant groups fromway, we are all winnersthat we can put these and valued through our 75 years.EuropeantopredominantlyAsian,Torontoscompetitive differences aside to focus on our At times in our history, our relationship withrise to become Canadas premier business centre,collective goals is the reason for our successful our labour partners has been oppositional. Yeteconomic ups and downs, significant changes75 years, and instrumental to our success in the ECAO and the IBEW CCO (and our relativein energy policy, the evolution of private andnext 75.constituents) recognized these occurrences andpublic transportation and essentially an exodusWhile I certainly share Graemes views expressed worked hard to move us back to a relationshipof manufacturing, to name but a few. Throughinhismessageonthecomingpagesonthe of cooperation. I am delighted to say that a realall this, ECAO member contractorsand ouressentialsneededforECAOtocontinueas desire to strengthen the relationships betweenentire communityhave provided safe, timelythe industry leader we are today, I also know us to ones of true collaboration is happeningandhigh-qualityelectricalconstructionandthat its important to pause and take this time now. This bodes well for our future and buildsmaintenance to our clients. I have no doubttoapplaudandcelebratethefirst75years. on our rich history with the IBEW CCO andthat this will become an increasingly importantCheers to our proud history, and to an even their local unions. focus during our next 75 years. brighter future.Ontario Electrical Contractor7'