Troy Ferreira - Under One Roof with the Canadian ROOFTech Expo - PODCAST TRANSCRIPTION

Editor's note: The following is the transcript of a live interview with Troy Ferreira the technical director for the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association (CRCA). You can read the interview below or listen to the podcast.

Speaker 1: Welcome to Roofing Road Trips with Heidi. Explore the roofing industry through the eyes of a long-term professional within the trade. Listen for insights, interviews and exciting news in the roofing industry today.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Hello and welcome to another Roofing Road Trips from Roofers Coffee Shop. This is Heidi Ellsworth and I am virtually traveling to the north to meet up with our friend Troy Ferreira with CRCA, the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association. Troy, welcome to the show.

Troy Ferreira: Thank you. Thank you very much, Heidi, and good afternoon. Thank you for having me on Roofers Coffee Shop. Again, my name is Troy Ferreira. I'm the technical director with the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association and also committee member for the 2023 Rooftech Steering Committee.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: I love it. I love it. That's what we're here to talk about today, is Rooftech. Amazing show up in Canada. It happens every two years. So we kind of want to get the inside information on that, Troy, and what's all happening. But before we launch into Rooftech, let's talk just a little bit about CRCA. Maybe you could talk to everybody about the history of the association, you guys have just such an amazing group, and some of the things that you're working on, some of your 2023 initiatives.

Troy Ferreira: Absolutely. So the CRCA has been the voice of the Canadian roofing industry since 1960.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Wow.

Troy Ferreira: We promote collaboration within the industry from coast to coast, and we represent and we defend our members' interests, both professionally and technically, to succeed in business. CRCA provides members with access to services and benefits, including things like advocacy, technical support, legal support, industry programs, business practice support. So we're there to support our members in any way necessary.

Some of the initiatives that we're involved with, I'm not sure if you guys down in the south, our friends in the States are aware, but in Canada we have something called the NTCCC, which is the National Trade Contractors Council of Canada. The CRCA is a founding member of the NTCCC, and the CRCA along with a nine other member trade associations are working together to lobby various levels of government for the betterment of the construction industry. Currently for 2023, we have three main goals that we're lobbying the government on.

The first one would be that we're recommending that the federal government expedite and introduce regulations for the Federal Prompt Payment Act. This is a workers act that's going to allow for prompt payment and contractors to get paid in a timely manner on time all the time.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Nice.

Troy Ferreira: Very important. Our contractors are looking forward to seeing that come to fruition. Should happen in 2023 here sometime. Secondly, the NTCCC and CRCA are advising the federal government to create a joint industry advisory group to assist in efficient infrastructure investing and expansion of Canada's labor capacity. Basically, to get the work going and get those big jobs out there so we can create work for our members.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yeah.

Troy Ferreira: Thirdly, lastly, NTCCC and CRCA are recommending that the federal government expand immigration support for skilled tradespeople coming into Canada and invest in short-term training and skills development programs to assist in the rapid transition into the workforce. As you know, there's a severe shortage of skilled trade people both in the States and in Canada. So we're working diligently with various levels of government and industry partners to get people interested in the skilled trades and to get more people interested in a career in the skilled trades.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Well, a lot of those topics that you're going through are the same ones that we're going to be talking about at Roofing Day here in the U.S. Some of our friends and partners from Canada, I've heard them talking about these issues too, and especially the infrastructure bill, what's happening there, how's that going to move forward, immigration, infrastructure, labor, CTE, it's across the board.

Troy Ferreira: Exactly. There's a lot of moving parts. They have to all come together to make our industry thrive and to support people getting into the skilled traits.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yeah, that's great. So what are you seeing in the Canadian market? Economy, just how are things coming out of COVID? I know it's been two years or maybe a year, but we're getting there. What are some of the things you're seeing?

Troy Ferreira: So what we're seeing in Canada is very similar too in the U.S. Like I said, labor shortages remains the number one item impacting our members. So working diligently with various levels of government to get immigrant... It's not a silver bullet either. It's not just immigration that's going to solve the puzzle. It's not just people at risk or women or underrepresented groups. It's a combination of all these different things that have to come to fruition to make things happen. So the labor shortage is the main thing.

Material shortages was an issue over the past couple of years, but things appear to be getting better now. Looking into 2023, they're kind of stabilizing. However, obviously inflation and fuel costs are keeping prices high, not just in the construction industry, but for everything in life these days. Everything is extremely expensive. So it's pretty similar to what you guys are seeing down in the U.S.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yeah. I know that you address and really bring a lot of this to Rooftech in with speakers and with conversations and everything you're doing. So let's jump into that. What is happening with 2023 Rooftech?

Troy Ferreira: Okay, so yeah, Rooftech 2023 is coming up and it's April 4th and 5th coming up next month. That's Tuesday, April 4th and Wednesday April 5th. Rooftech is really Canada's as only a major exposition and educational forum on roofing systems and technologies. So Rooftech is planned and supported by the roofing industry, and it provides a hand-on educational experience on all aspects of roofing for architects, inspectors, contractors, building owners and managers, roof consultants and specifiers.

The first Rooftech took place in Toronto in 1993. So that means that this upcoming Rooftech marks our 30 year anniversary for Canada's only major sourcing and educational forum on all aspects of roofing and technologies. So we're really looking forward. Like you mentioned, Rooftech only occurs every other year on odd numbered years. So because of COVID, we haven't had Rooftech since 2019, so it's been four years and people are really chomping at the bit to get back to Rooftech and get out and meet face to face. So basically it's a good thing we've sold out as of today, all our [inaudible 00:07:27] sold out.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Congratulations.

Troy Ferreira: So that's a good thing. Yeah, it's going to take place in Mississauga at the International Center, April 4th and 5th. Let me just go into a couple of the couple things that we're going to be seeing at Rooftech. So something new this year, we're going to have, and I think we borrowed this idea from IRE because IRE's a great show as we all know, but they have something called Product Talks. We're going to do the same thing. What we're going to have is during the show on the trade show floor, there'll be smaller seminars taking place. This will be a more intimate type of seminar with up to 30 or 40 people that can attend. There'll be a seminar each hour on each of the two days for up to six seminars on each day.

That's mostly going to be geared towards manufacturers and whatnot, showing some of their latest products, new technologies, new installations and whatnot. So very interesting for the whole roofing community. Another thing we're going to have is we're going to feature two seminars before the trades show doors open each day. These are our business seminars. One of them is going to be geared more towards the roofing contractors and another one's going to be geared more towards architects, specifiers, building owners and whatnot. So those will occur two days each day in a row before the trade doors is open.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Excellent. Wow. It's so important. Because contractors, I mean, it's such a great place to get your continuing education, whether it's contractors or architects or consultants, everyone being able to get that there and then take that and go onto the show floor because so often a lot of those classes are talking about things that then can be researched.

Troy Ferreira: Absolutely. With all Rooftechs, attendees will be able to view live mockups and installations of the most common roof systems used in the industry today. So there's going to be mockups of everything from Modified Bitumen systems, the built-up roof systems to single-ply roof systems, green roof systems, and steep slope systems. So you'll really be able to get a feel, you'll be able to see, you'll be able to touch, and in some instances you'll be able to smell the roofing because, like I said, well I think the last session on the second day is an installation of an actual built up roof with the hot asphalt. A lot of people like that smell. But I've been in the roofing industry for a while now and I kind of like that smell because when you smell that, it means that production's happening and money's being made.

So it's a great opportunity for people to see what commercial roofing is all about, because when most people think of roofing, they think of your home and your shingles and the shingle guys coming and getting up and down the ladder. But there's so much more that goes on in the commercial roofing industry that nobody gets to see what's going on way up there on those big buildings because it's out of sight and it's out of mind. There's really a lot that goes into the commercial roofing industry.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yeah. It's funny because I grew up with built up roofing, and my business partner, Vicky Sharples, a lot of people will know who's listening to this, but Vicky always said smells like money.

Troy Ferreira: Yeah, that's what we would say.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: People would complain about it.

Troy Ferreira: Yeah. Well, I used to be a consultant and when I'd pull up to a job site and I can just roll my window down and smell the asphalt, I know that the crews are busy at work and the job is moving forward. So that's always a good smell to smell when you're coming.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: It is. I love that you're doing live demos and actually putting roofs together on the show floor and at the Rooftech. That is cool. I love that stuff. Love to watch it. Now, I have also seen and heard that you are going to be having your first National Women in Roofing Day Canada right before Rooftech, right?

Troy Ferreira: Correct. I believe it's going to be the day before. It's going to be the first one ever. I'm looking forward to that. We're trying to promote women in roofing. There's a lot of great women out there in the trades already. I encourage any woman or any girl out there who's thinking that the trades are just for men. Well, they're not just from men. That's gone. That's passe. Come out and check out the trades. There's a great opportunity to make a great living in the trades for sure.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yeah, exactly. We see that all the time. In fact, the National Women Roofing Day at IRE had 500 women.

Troy Ferreira: Awesome.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: So it's growing like crazy and I love that. So let's talk a little bit about your exhibitors, because I know you just said you're sold out. Congratulations. Also congratulations on 30 years. That's so cool.

Troy Ferreira: Thank you.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Talk a little bit about some of your exhibitors. What can people expect when they're walking the show floor?

Troy Ferreira: So when they're out the show floor, they could expect to see anything from the new roofing materials that are out there these days to some new technologies. Many of the younger folks who are thinking about maybe getting in the trades should know that there's a lot of technology out there involved in the roofing industry. So you don't necessarily have to just get out there and start out on the roof actually doing work. You could be somebody who does drone work, aerial takeoffs, infrared scans of buildings.

There's all kinds of software that's available for running a business, a roofing business, estimating, accounts receivable, payable. So there's all kinds of different technologies that have come to light in the past several years, which are make it really interesting for some of the younger generation who are, as we know, they're very tech savvy and they like the tech stuff, right?

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yeah. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. I always think one of the best things about the shows too is networking and that there is such an opportunity, like going to the classes, [inaudible 00:13:20] education, walking the show floor, but then also just getting together. Like you said, it's been four years, there's going to be some pretty excited people.

Troy Ferreira: Absolutely. The roofing industry is quite a niche industry, I find. People are really connected, and when they come together at an event like this, it doesn't matter that out in the field that they might be your competitors. Everyone's networking, like you said. Everyone's making friends, making contacts, talking about what's going on in the industry, what they're seeing, what kind of technologies they're using and whatnot. So it's a great place to meet up with like-minded individuals in your industry and just to talk and discuss roofing.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yeah, I mean, there's nothing more fun, right?

Troy Ferreira: Absolutely.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Absolutely. Roofing and beer, there you go. Troy, any other highlights that we haven't talked about yet?

Troy Ferreira: No. I think we covered most of the highlights. It is free to attend Rooftech if you register online ahead of time. So if you show up at the door, it's $20, but if you register online, you'll get an Eticket sent to you and it's free to attend. So to find out more about Rooftech and to register to attend for free, please visit www.rooftech.ca and you can fill out a form there and you'll get an Eticket sent to you. We look forward to seeing everyone at the show.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: I love it. Hotels, registration, all of that still happening, right?

Troy Ferreira: Yeah. Yeah, that's all on the website. There's three different hotels that we're dealing with in the area. It's a great spot, Rooftech, because it's right near the airport. It's like a five minute drive, taxi drive from the airport. The hotels are all there right around the airport, so it's really easy to get around there for anybody who's traveling and staying in a hotel there.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: That's great. We will be there in two years and we're going to be telling everybody about it. I'm excited to hear how it goes. Congratulations again. What a great show and a 30th year anniversary. That's just phenomenal.

Troy Ferreira: Thanks, Heidi. We look forward to seeing you when you do come. Thanks for having me. Everybody, come out to Rooftech and come visit me at the CRCA booth if you're there.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Perfect. That sounds great. Thank you all. Please, you can get all this information on the CRCA directory on Roofers Coffee Shop. So if you didn't catch all that, it's there, it's on our site. Please register. It's free. What a great event. So one last time, Troy, thank you so much.

Troy Ferreira: Awesome. Thanks so much, Heidi. Have a good day.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: You too. Thank you all for listening. Like I said, you can find all this information in the CRCA directory. You can also find all of our podcasts under the read, listen, watch navigation under Podcast Roofing Road Trips, or on your favorite podcast channel. Be sure to subscribe and set those notifications so you don't miss a single episode. We'll be seeing you next time on Roofing Road Trips.

Speaker 1: Make sure to subscribe to our channel and leave a review. Thanks for listening. This has been Roofing Road Trips with Heidi from the rooferscoffeeshop.com.