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Profile Soaring above the clouds in Western Canada
A past-chair of CIPH, Ross Robinson is one of those people in the industry, and in his community, who truly believes in giving back and helping out. Beyond being active in industry associations, Robinson also devotes time to the Western Canada Aviation Museum, the United Way and several other charities. The president of B.A. Robinson, a plumbing, heating, electrical and lighting wholesaler with locations from Kenora, Ont., to Vancouver, B.C., Ross is the second generation in his family to operate the business, but the fourth generation of Robinsons in the lighting business – Thomas Robinson started the family venture into the lighting industry as a chandler in Montreal around 1850.
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How did you get started in the industry? I was building a house in 1978 and after a frustrating look in dusty wholesaler “display areas” I opened up Robinson Waterworks, the precursor to Robinson Bath Centre.
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Ross brought the plumbing side to the electrical and lighting business in the late 1970s as the result of a homebuilding project that left him desiring a clean, open and professional environment in which to plan out the plumbing designs for his home. The company now has over 20 distribution warehouses and showrooms that operate under the trade names B.A. Robinson Co. Ltd., B.A. Express, Robinson Lighting and Bath Centre, Robinson Bath Centre, B.A. Robinson Electrical, and Elegant Bath Gallery. We recently caught up with Ross to talk a bit about the company, as well as about some of the things that keep him active when he’s not in the office.
As a business owner, how have the economics of the past few years affected your operations? You know, the last year has been challenging largely because you can't do anything about pockets of what I call “industry stupidity,” but we still grew our business while converting over to a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, so we are doing fine.
Was it a given that you’d be in the family business? I was conscripted into the family business, which at the time was an electrical wholesaler. Today we bring plumbing, hydronic, HVAC, pumps, water works and water products, as well as electrical and lighting products, to the licensed installing trade and showroom consumer.
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Tell us about your involvement in aviation. How did that start? It’s a long story, but have you ever driven through Northern Manitoba as a sales rep? Flying is tons of fun, and it’s even better if you can combine it with work! What’s in the hangar? Separately, two elderly gentlemen pilots asked me to look after their planes, so I have a 1944 Douglas B26 and a 1952 Harvard 4 trainer.
Tell us a bit about 17 Wing Winnipeg. I was asked last year if I would let my name stand for nomination for Hon. Colonel of 17 Wing. It is a real honour to wear the blue.
Is there a motto, or words of wisdom, that you hold close and make use of? A motto: "Perfection is our goal … excellence will get us there."
DID YOU KNOW? • Ross is a pilot with multi-engine land, sea and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) ratings, and is active in the Western Canadian air show scene. • Ross enjoys cross-country and downhill skiing, as well as spending time at the lake with his family.
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BIO Name: Ross Robinson Title: President, B.A. Robinson Co. Ltd. Location: Winnipeg, Man.