Ontario Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association
Update – October 2021
2022 RV Show Season
The ORVDA has taken the difficult, responsible decision to cancel the January 2022 Toronto RV Show & Sale. Access to inventory remains a challenge and many dealers have reported their inventory is pre-sold well into December: a situation they anticipate will extend into Spring 2022. Interest in RVing remains strong, and ORVDA is optimistic that our shows will return in fall 2022 to serve expanded audiences who have discovered the exhilaration of the RV lifestyle.
Endorsement Partnership
Wayfarer Insurance Group.
With profound change reinvigorating the RV industry, ORVDA was delighted to renew its longstanding collaboration with Wayfarer Insurance Group for three years. Wayfarer’s deep understanding of the needs of dealers and consumers make it an invaluable partner to ORVDA and its membership. The Wayfarer/ORVDA partnership has always been intensely co-operative. The knowledge and perspective they bring as our members respond to a new wave of consumers and a new set of market conditions is indispensable as our industry
reinvents itself.
Wayfarer is one of the largest and leading RV Insurance providers in Canada. ORVDA anticipates this continued collaboration will effectively accelerate our compatible goals and support our strategic direction. We are confident that the partnership renewal will deliver compelling value for both organizations and ORVDA shareholders.
Education & Professional Development Red Seal RV Technician Workshops – ORVDA collaborated with the Ontario College of Trades (OCOT) on a series of RV Technician workshops. Red Seal developed new national standards during three-hour virtual workshops held February 8-26, 2021. ORVDA sourced appropriately qualified candidates to provide expert input during the workshops.
Additional workshops were held September 14-16, 2021, to review the draft Red Seal Occupational Standards (RSOS). The RSOS is the national standard for the trade. This document is used to design the provincial Apprenticeship Training Standard and the Red Seal examination. ORVDA would like to thank Mark Kluge (Sicard RV), Michael Jaecques (Campkin’s RV Centre) and Jamie Russell, JR’s Mobile RV Service, for their input and participation.
RV1 and RV2 Propane Programs – The RV2 programs were successfully delivered throughout the COVID-19 crisis with minimal disruption. Safety protocols were quickly adjusted to accommodate student, staff and instructor safety in accordance with the guidelines issued by Public Health Ontario. The early 2021 RV1 program was abruptly canceled as a result of the stay-at-home order issued by the province. ORVDA has worked vigorously to resume its essential propane certification programs in the fall, commencing with the RV1 course November 23 to December 2, 2021. The ORVDA would like to acknowledge the team at Outdoor Travel for graciously sponsoring the RV1/RV2 courses, offering their facility as host site for these essential training programs.
The Future of Technician Training in Ontario – Critical shortages of qualified Recreation Vehicle technicians have been a persistent problem across the province. RV technology is constantly evolving. The trade encompasses 14 major trades, from electrical to propane and plumbing. To ensure the continued sustainability of the industry, it is imperative that RV dealers have access to trained RV service technicians. ORVDA has collaboratively worked with Fleming College (Peterborough, Ontario) on behalf of the Ontario Recreation Vehicle industry in support of Fleming’s exciting new initiative – the School of Trades and Technology has developed initial framework to deliver:
• Motive Power Technician – Recreational and Sport Vehicles Ontario College Diploma
• Proposed start date: Fall 2023
The program is currently under review for approval with the Ministry of Colleges, Training and Universities.
Government Relations
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks’ Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA) – As previously reported, obligation for tire recycling has shifted in Ontario — and has significant financial repercussions for dealers. Instead of taking into account the varied lifespan of RV tires, RPRA classifies them the same as other vehicle types and expects them to be recycled after a two-year lifespan. It is estimated this will cost RV dealers $3,000 to $5,000 annually – with deleterious effects on competitiveness, efficiency and profitability for dealers.
ORVDA has advocated tirelessly on behalf of its dealers, developing detailed life expectancy models demonstrating average tire lifespans for non-motorized Travel Trailers and Fifth Wheels, Destination and Park Models as well as Motorhomes. Each vehicle type, with their highly individual usage patterns and therefore tire wear, should be subject to custom regulation. This is an ongoing issue. ORVDA continues to work closely with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and KW Mitchell Consulting to effect appropriate policies.
Annual General Meeting
The 2021 AGM was delivered virtually on October 7th to minimize costs. ORVDA was pleased to welcome special guest speaker, Pam Stoneham, Dean, School of Trades & Tech (Fleming
College) who shared insights on community partnerships and the future of RV technician training opportunities at Sir Sanford Fleming.
Special Recognition
2021 Ontario RV Dealer of the Year and Associate Member of the Year – The recipient of this year’s prestigious dealer of the year award was presented to Andy Thomson, Can-Am RV Centre and the Ontario Associate Member of the Year award was presented to Rob Edwards, NTP-Stag Canada.
Membership
Membership Growth – RV Dealer locations across Ontario increased 17.58% over 2020. There are now 107 ORVDA member dealer locations across Ontario.
Associate Membership – We welcomed three new Associate members – and were sad to bid farewell to three existing Associate members. But in a time of economic upheaval, we were pleased to have maintained a stable number of 67 associate members.
