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Jack Bavis is the new president and chairman for the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (MCAC) 2018/2019 board of directors, bringing with him more than 40 years of experience in the industry.

Bavis, who was preceded by Dave Flamand of Peak Mechanical Services, was elected at the association’s conference in Whistler B.C.

Bavis joined the MCAC in 2009, as vice-president, eastern, representing Atlantic Canada and was previously a director with MCA Newfoundland and Labrador for several years. He currently works for the Cahill Group.

Bavis said he understands the value the association brings to the mechanical contracting industry in Canada on issues of importance to members. One of the files the association has been working on over the past year is federal prompt payment and he hopes to get that legislated by the end of the year.

“The goal while being president for me is to follow up on prompt payment, which has been on the go a while and hopefully to get the federal government to get this legislated,” said Bavis. “Hopefully then we can get this to trickle down into the provincial zones across Canada so that provincially we can also have this bill passed for prompt payment right across the board.”

The MCAC has also been working with the National Trade Contractors Coalition of Canada on an initiative to name subtrades in tender documents, including Public Services and Procurement Canada’s recent commitment to the practice in several pilot projects. The association has also taken a strong stance against the use of community benefits clauses in the procurement process and is working with like-minded stakeholder groups to oppose the practice.

The MCAC also provides education for the industry with access to training through the Construction Education Council. The association is taking steps to support the service contractor sector of the mechanical contracting industry, Bavis added. “I would like for MCAC to continue to educate new members and existing members through the Construction Education Council.”

“If we can attain those goals it will be a great success for our members.”

Bavis began his career as an apprentice plumber in 1974. He started with Becker Contractors, working his way up through the ranks, beginning in estimating and then getting into procurement. He then merged to the buying of the equipment materials and eventually started creating shop drawings, ending as a project manager. He spent 17 years with Becker before starting with the Cahill Group, where he has been for 20 years.

Bavis was quick to point out the MCAC has a few big events coming up. An innovation conference is taking place in early 2019 and will be a first for the association. It will focus on technology and how it can be applied in the industry.

A committee for women in mechanical construction has also been started and its first meeting was at the conference in Whistler. There are also initiatives with young emerging professional groups to promote diversity and engage those who have not yet been engaged by the association. Scholarships are also in the works for young people entering the mechanical contracting industry.

A new president and board chair will be elected at the association’s next annual conference in Nashville in October 2019.