By Shane Devenish, President, Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association
Kicking Off in our Hometown of Burlington
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association, we set off this summer on a cross-country RV tour to raise awareness for Care Camps, promote everything that’s great about the RV lifestyle, celebrate our 50th Anniversary and connect with the people and businesses that make our industry so special.
We kicked things off in our hometown of Burlington, Ontario, where we proudly displayed the commemorative 50th Anniversary trailer at the Sound of Music Festival—Canada’s largest free outdoor music event. It was the perfect way to launch the campaign, with attendees stopping by to learn more about CRVA, and the incredible General Coach Citation Reward Travel Trailer we’re raffling off to raise funds for Care Camps.
On the Road: East to West
The official tour began on June 16th , on our way to Vancouver, traveling west along the Trans-Canada Highway, with plans to meet with RVDA partners, campground owners and RV consumers. I stayed at the KOAs in Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay, both proud supporters of Care Camps. A big thank-you to Michael and Kristie, owners of the Thunder Bay KOA, who rolled out the red carpet and made me feel right at home.
Along the route, I visited Christie’s Campers in Sault Ste. Marie, Recreation World in Thunder Bay, Classic RV in Winnipeg, and took part in a Open House at Transcona Trailer Sales.
These dealer stops were a great reminder of how committed our RVDA members are to their communities and to helping grow the RV lifestyle in Canada.
Connecting at Major Festivals
One of the highlights so far was our appearance at the Vancouver Craft Beer and Music Festival, with Go RVing Canada. The turnout was incredible, and attendees visited the display to scan the QR code, enter to win the RV, and learn more about Care Camps.
Note: A special thank-you to Traveland RV Centre in Langley for their hospitality and helping store the RV for a few days while we waited for the start of the Beer Fest!
We were also happy to reconnect with Laura there—affectionally known as #ThatRVGirl—who had joined us earlier this year at the Toronto Spring Camping and RV Show.
While we were in Vancouver, she filmed a YouTube video walkthrough of the raffle RV, giving potential ticket buyers the full tour of its features and layout.
It’s a great tool for showing off the prize and helping us raise even more for Care Camps. You have to take a look!
Watch here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LiyToNb0cjw&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD
Next Stops: Boots and Hearts in Barrie, and the CNE in Toronto
Next up, I’ll be picking up the CRVA 50th RV at Western RV Country in Airdrie, Alberta on July 18th, and then pointing it east again toward Boots and Hearts Music Festival which runs August 7–10 in Oro-Medonte, Ontario.
We’ll be at Boots promoting RV Careers, showcasing our rig, and promoting the RV Lifestyle to thousands while continuing to raise awareness and efforts on behalf of Care Camps.
Shannon O’Callaghan, CRVA’s Show Director, will be representing CRVA and is looking forward to connecting with the massive crowd!
After that, we’re heading to the Canadian National Exhibition (August 26–September 1) in Toronto—another great opportunity to cap off the summer in another huge event.
Advocacy Wins On and Off the Road
While I’ve been on the road, CRVA hasn’t taken its foot off the gas when it comes to advocacy. Effective July 1, 2025, we welcomed a major win as the Ontario Ministry of Transportation officially announced new licensing regulations for motorhomes and towable trailers over 11,000 kg.
CRVA, working along with the Ontario RV Dealers Association, pushed hard for this and it was a nice win for our Dealers and Manufacturers. The change will make the licensing process more convenient and modern while still focusing on safety and proper training—all great news for motorhome owners across the province.
Finance Canada to Remove Retaliatory Surtaxes on Imported Motorhomes
Supporting Canadian Manufacturers in the U.S. Market
At the national level, we were pleased when Finance Canada approved the industry’s request to remove the counter tariffs on U.S.-built motorhomes. These tariffs had been creating serious cost pressures on Canadian dealers and consumers.
Their removal is a big win for affordability and overall industry stability, and I want to recognize and thank the RVDA of Canada for their strong efforts on this file.
However, with Finance Canada’s move, CRVA is increasing its efforts towards standing up for Canadian Manufacturers who have been feeling the impact of tariffs on RVs exported to the United States on non-Cusma motor homes.
Leisure Travel Vans, Pleasure-Way and Roadtrek, longtime CRVA members, and all producing high-quality Class B and C motorhomes—are being unfairly penalized in a competitive export market.
CRVA is actively working with policymakers and trade officials on both sides of the border to push for the elimination of these harmful and unjust tariffs.
“It’s an issue of fairness and economic opportunity, and we’re committed to doing everything we can to level the playing field for Canadian-built RVs in the U.S. market”
Dealer Support Makes a Difference
We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have several RVDA dealers step up in support of our Care Camps fundraising efforts this year.
A number of dealerships have launched special sales drives where a portion of their RV sales have been donated directly to Care Camps.
We want to sincerely thank those who have participated so far—it’s making a real difference for these young children affected by cancer and their families.
We take this opportunity to urge more dealers across the country to get involved. Every bit helps, and your support goes a long way toward creating unforgettable experiences for families who need them most.
To learn more, to donate or to buy a ticket to win the RV and support the cause, you can visit: www.rvthenorthgiveaway.com.
Still Rolling Strong After 50 Years
This 50th Anniversary tour has been both a celebration and a reminder to me why CRVA was founded in the first-place way back in 1975—to support, connect, and help grow the Canadian RV industry.
Whether I’m at a campground, a dealership, a festival, or a rest stop, I’m reminded how passionate and tight-knit this RV community truly is. And it has truly been a blast!
I’m proud to represent CRVA and to work with such strong partners like RVDA of Canada, Go RVing Canada, and the Canadian Camping and RV Association.
Together, we’re moving the industry forward—on the road and at the policy table.
We’ve still got miles to go, but two things are for sure—the industry is in great shape and CRVA’s 50th celebration is moving on the road and still rolling strong!
And for anyone interested in following my journey west, you can read all about it here: https://crva.ca/category/crva-news/
Sincerely,
Shane Devenish
President,
Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association
shane.devenish@crva.ca
