IFAI Canada’s 2009 Honours Program winners announced

Published On: May 1, 2009

Winners demonstrate ingenuity and high-quality craftsmanship.

ATA Canada Expo 2009, held March 5–7 in Calgary, Alberta, attracted business owners from across the industrial fabrics markets. A tour to view area projects and Calgary Tent & Awning opened Expo events; guest speakers and industry exhibits provided ample opportunities for attendees to learn and network.

A highlight of the event was the announcement of the ATA Canada Honours Program award winners. The awards for end product manufacturers recognize the latest advancements in specialty fabric design and manufacturing in the Canadian specialty fabrics industry. An annual Award of Excellence and Outstanding Achievement Award may be given in each category; the Nash Award, named in memory of former ATA Canada board chairman, Jeff Nash, is the highest award given and recognizes the Award of Excellence project that best exemplifies the high standards of craftsmanship, function and innovation to which Nash held all of his projects.

The 2009 competition had 44 entries in seven categories that were judged by industry experts on complexity, design, workmanship, uniqueness and function. Congratulations to all of this year’s award recipients.

Judging for the 2010 Honours Program entries will be conducted during ATA Canada Expo Feb 18–20, 2010. Entries for the 2010 competition may be submitted at www.ifaicanada.com anytime before Februrary 1, 2010.

Nash Award winner and Marine Products Award of Excellence

Bennett Custom Canvas | Toronto, Ontario | Project: Zodiac Pro

Bennet’s customer wanted something functional and funky to enclose his boat, which is used to ferry his family to their primary vessel on Toronto Island. Both unique and complex, the project required inventive solutions to make make the protective coverings modular, removable and as good-looking as the boat. The fabric was Sunbrella® from Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC.

Commercial Awnings

Award of Excellence- Canfab Products Ltd. | Edmonton, Alberta | Project: Jetz Hair

Canfab Products created a modified, flat-faced, dome awning to follow the lines of the customer’s sloping mansard roof. The store owner wanted an updated, new look to attract new clients, and to replace outdated signage. Canfab chose Eradi-lite fabric by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC.

Outstanding Achievement Award- Bellon Industries | Montreal, Quebec | Project: McDonald’s awning

Intended as a prototype for the McDonald’s restaurants terrace awnings, this project required designing a shape that was different from existing awnings on the market and would be visually striking and unconventional. Particular attention was given to the strength of the awnings’s structure. The awning also had to protect customers from the sun and partially serve as rain protection. The project for this flagship restaurant was so successful that Bellon Industries has made several more. A heat-sealed, 18-ounce orange vinyl from Ferrari was used for the cover.

Commercial Canopies

Award of Excellence- Raymond Brothers Ltd. | London, Ontario | Project: Copacabana Canopy

Raymond Brothers had an open budget to create a free-standing entrance canopy for a restaurant location, which required a solution that was both unique and sturdy enough to withstand the area’s high winds. The canopy also features three-dimensional graphics using a styrofoam backer. The client chose 502 fabric from Ferrari.

Outstanding Achievement Award- Canfab Products Ltd. | Edmonton, Alberta | Project: Sorrentinos

Canfab needed to provide protection over a patio area for a restaurant client. The patio had a 70-foot radius with an approximate 12-foot projection. The canopy was designed around an existing post and beam structure that was incorporated for support. The fabric was 104T by Hiraoka & Co.

Illuminated Awnings and Canopies

Award of Excellence- Raymond Brothers Ltd. | London, Ontario | Project: Aux Ano Wealth

Raymond Brothers created a 30-foot backlit awning and sidewalk cover with a four-foot projection for a commercial customer that wanted to dress up the company’s building and be more visible. The three-piece awning was constructed so that there is no bar showing when the awning is lit at night. The lighting was stepped off the building by two feet to provide optimal effect. Cooley Bright fabric by Cooley was used.

Outstanding Achievement Award- Lethbridge Custom Canvas | Lethbridge, Alberta | Project: Network Business Awning

Lethbridge Custom Canvas was hired to supply an awning for a new business location; specifically the client wanted to dress up the otherwise plain storefront and make it stand out from the surrounding signage. Additionally, the awning needed to fit over and hide an existing concrete overhang running the length of the storefront, and tie in with supports to the center of the overhang. The finished awning presents the crisp, professional look the client desired. Hiraoka & Co. 104T Light Structure fabric was chosen for the project.

Marine Products

Award of Excellence- DRH Canvas | Halifax, Nova Scotia | Project: New cockpit interior

When DRH Canvas completed this project, the client had a completely new upholstered cockpit for a Chaparral 26, including all new substrates and foam, which replaced rotted wood and created a new look. The client wanted a section of the back of the settee to be removable for a better aft seating arrangement, which made the solution more complex to achieve, but the final product was such a success that the customer ordered new carpets and canvas work as well. DRH used Windsurfer Extra vinyl from J. Ennis Fabrics.

Residential Awnings and Canopies

Award of Excellence- Lethbridge Custom Canvas | Lethbridge, Alberta | Project: Travel Cover with Deflector Skirt

A customer needed a canopy between the house and garage to provide protection over both entrances and shade in the summer for their small dog. Lethbridge Custom Canvas was also challenged to make the custom canopy fit around a second floor balcony, tie in with the slope of the garage roof and maintain access to the rain gutter. All the cutomer’s requirements were satisfied for an aesthetically pleasing and practical all-weather canopy. The fabric was Symprol by Sattler.

Outstanding Achievement Award- Raymond Brothers Ltd. | London, Ontario | Project: Octagon canopy

The project, a backyard 30-foot-diameter deck canopy, was created for a customer to cover his deck, which was too hot in the summer sun to be useable. Raymond Brothers needed to carefully finesse multiple angles to make sure the job went smoothly. The final result was a comfortable deck in full shade. The fabric used was a Sunbrella product by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC.

Signage and Graphics

Award of Excellence- Raymond Brothers Ltd. | London, Ontario | Project: Dardanellas Bar

The purpose of the project was to enhance the exterior of a building and offer a livelier face for the tenant, an open-air bar. Large images that fit into stucco openings on the building were produced from 4-by-6 photographs and printed on Ferrari 502.

Outstanding Achievement Award- Raymond Brothers Ltd. | London, Ontario | Project: Images on a vacant building

Raymond Brothers’ client wanted to enhance a vacant building while the owner was searching for a tenant. The signage designed to accomplish this was fixed to an aluminum frame and fastened to window trim. The owner had the building rented in less than four weeks after the project’s completion. Ferarri 502 fabric was used.

Miscellaneous

Award of Excellence- DRH Canvas | Halifax, Nova Scotia | Project: ATV curtains

DRH Canvas designed, manufactured and installed a two-section, removable curtain enclosure for an ATV without using any frame work, and with a back section completely separate from the cab. Even the front windshield top is removable with zippers. The client now stays warm and dry while riding in the woods, and his friends are so impressed that they want the same enclosure for their ATVs.

Outstanding Achievement Award- Lethbridge Custom Canvas | Lethbridge, Alberta | Project: Quilted RV skirt

Lethbridge Custom Canvas made a custom, insulated RV skirt for use during the winter months when the customer is on location welding in the northern Alberta oil fields. The skirting seals the RV to the ground which prevents cold winter winds from blowing under the unit, which saves on heating costs and keeps the unit warmer. Because of the large size of the unit, the skirting was made in four sections joined with overlapping Velcro® flaps, and made 12 inches deeper to allow for uneven ground. Piling snow on the extra length seals the skirting to the ground and prevents the wind from lifting it. Fitted cut-outs for septic and electrical access required accurate placement.

For more information on ATA Canada, next year’s ATA Canada Expo or the Honours Program contact Elizabeth Newman, ATA Canada managing director, +1 651 225 6925, ednewman@ifai.com, or visit www.ifaicanada.com.