President's Message

Jean Pierre (J.P.) Pascoli | President, PEMAC

Welcome to the 2023 Summer issue of our magazine, PEMAC

Now! After a brief hiatus, we're thrilled to be back with exciting updates to share. In this issue, we shine a spotlight on our incredible 1,500 members, who not only excel in their organizations but also dedicate their time as invaluable volunteers for PEMAC. We're immensely proud of their contributions, as they are the driving force behind our association's achievements.

We're delighted to report that our renowned MainTrain event made a triumphant return to its inperson format this past September in Toronto. The conference was a resounding success, with attendees expressing their joy in reconnecting after two years of virtual gatherings. We featured an exceptional lineup of speakers, including the renowned Doc Palmer, and celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of our members through our prestigious awards ceremony. For a detailed list of the winners, turn to page 12. The MainTrain planning committee, composed entirely of dedicated volunteers, wasted no time and has been diligently preparing for the 2023 edition of our conference, scheduled MainTrain 2023 for September 11-13 at the Fairmont Hotel in Winnipeg We are thrilled to bring this event to Manitoba for the first time, making it even more special As an organization that values and relies on volunteers, we announced the addition of a volunteer engagement specialist role during last year's MainTrain conference. To explore volunteer opportunities and access our dedicated volunteer website, visit www.pemac.org/members/volunteeropportunities and don't forget to refer to the Volunteer Handbook, available on our site!

Did you know that PEMAC has an average of approximately 120 volunteers actively engaged at any given time? Last year alone, our volunteers logged over 600 tracked hours, though we believe this is only a fraction of their actual commitment. With over 100 volunteer engagements and opportunities, there's no shortage of ways for our members to get involved and make a difference

In addition to our volunteer initiatives, PEMAC staff and board members have been diligently expanding our network by forging strategic partnerships with like-minded associations. We've had the privilege of speaking and exhibiting at conferences and tradeshows organized by esteemed organizations such as SMRP (Society for Maintenance & Reliability Professionals), CNAM (Canadian Network of Asset Managers), OARS (Ontario Association of Road Supervisors), and CAMA (Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators). Moreover, we're excited to announce that PEMAC and the Society for Maintenance & Reliability Professionals have recently signed a memorandum of understanding, fostering mutual benefits for our respective members.

Personally, I had the honor of representing PEMAC at two face-to-face meetings for the Global Forum on Maintenance and Asset Management (GFMAM), held in Bahrain and Sydney I’m excited for the next meeting of the GFMAM that will be in September and hosted by PEMAC alongside MainTrain in Winnipeg! Through these interactions, the significance of our organization and the achievements have shown through. We've achieved significant milestones in fostering connections, facilitating learning, and encouraging member contributions. However, there is still more work to do in raising awareness about maintenance and asset management, and highlighting how PEMAC can provide valuable support to professionals across industries throughout Canada

Thank you for reading our 2023 Summer issue of PEMAC Now! – we know you’ll discover insights on how you can connect with, learn more from, and contribute to our association. See you at MainTrain!

J.P. Pascoli, PEMAC President