SALON SPLASH BY JASON CRAMP INDUSTRY MEETS IN LAVAL QUEBEC ASSOCIATION REFLECTS ON A SUCCESSFUL YEAR with the Lifesaving Society (Société de Sauvetage), in which society director, Raynald Hawkins, discussed new residential pool regulations. The association also elected its 2010 board of directors, which includes: • Martine Fortier, president and director of accounts (pool and spa division), Sani-Marc; • Roberto Romano, vice-president and district sales manager, Hayward Pool Products Canada; • Carole Demeule, director and sales representative, SCP Distributors; • Sonia Leblanc, director and owner, Piscines Rive-Nord; • Réal Dufresne, director and commercial manager, Groupe Sima; and • Diane Gauthier, ACPQ executive director. A NIGHT TO REMEMBER This year marked the 11th edition of the gala awards evening, held at the Sheraton Laval. Francis Rioux of Sainte-Françoise, Que., won $10,000 in the ‘Win Your Pool or Spa’ contest. Rioux purchased the pool from Piscines Loudo à Rivière du Loup. Industry members enjoyed a gourmet meal and were entertained by Messmer’s high-energy hypnosis stage show. During the evening, outgoing president Isabelle Perras presented a cheque to Lifesaving Society director Hawkins in the amount of $3,694, on behalf of the ACPQ. The funds, which were raised by member retailers and manufacturers, will be used for the promotion of water safety. “Water safety is everyone’s business, particularly people in our industry,” Perras says. “That is why the ACPQ is very proud to be partnering with the Lifesaving Society, which has worked for many years to prevent water-related accidents and educate people about water safety.” The ACPQ also recognized Perras for her extraordinary efforts, hard work and contributions to industry development, both in her role as a swimming pool retailer and as a member of the association’s executive committee. Dufresne, another board member, was also recognized for his five-year stint as ACPQ acting director. After two successful years at Place Forzani, the 2010 edition of Salon Splash will move to the Centre de Foires de Québec. Organizers invited attendees to join them at this new venue November 11-12. Above: Isabelle Perras (centre), 2009 ACPQ president, joins the board of directors and mascot Chloe, to officially open the Salon Splash show. Photos courtesy ACPQ Raynald Hawkins, executive director of the Lifesaving Society, accepts a donation from ACPQ on behalf of its members. B usiness was booming at the 2009 Salon Splash show, where members of the Quebec pool industry came together to celebrate the present and prepare for 2010. More than 400 people attended the 17th annual event, which was hosted by L’Association des commerçants de piscines du Québec (ACPQ) at Laval’s Place Forzani. Although show organizers say attendance was down from last year, exhibitors said those who made the trek were serious about doing business. In what has become a tradition, the show was officially opened by ACPQ president, Isabelle Perras and the board of directors, who were joined by Chloe, the basset hound who served as the group’s mascot. The dog was featured in several ACPQ photo shoots and the group’s advertising campaign for its ‘Win Your Pool or Spa’ contest. Attendees of the ACPQ annual general meeting discussed several important topics, including Quebec’s occupational health and safety commission (Commission de la Santé et de la Sécurité du Travail du Quebec [CSST]). Talks were also held on the association’s partnership 46 ■ Pool & Spa Marketing ■ January 2010 PSM_JAN10.indd 46 12/30/09 8:40:11 AM New Wate