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22 LBMAO Reporter - January-February 2026 www.lbmao.on.caPresident's Message continued from page 6...Atlas Polar.................................................................................................5Auto-Stak Systems (Canada) Inc...................................................11BIK Hydraulics.........................................................................................8Castle Building Centres...................................outside back coverLBMAO Buying Show............................................................................7Nicholson and Cates Limited...........................inside back coverNu-Forest Products (Canada) Inc.....................................................9Polytarp Products..........................................................................................15Sexton Group...................................................................inside front coverINDEX TO ADVERTISERSThe Plans for the LBMAO to help the Industry Grow in 2026The LBMAO has planned many things to help our suppliers and retailers strongly perform this year. We have our best ever plan for training ready. We have all types of classes to help managers, owners, and their staff reach higher levels of performance this year. Our main feature will be our 2026 LBMAO Buying Sho Build & Learn TogetherFrom April 8-10 we have planned events to educate, inform, and enlighten you. We have organized an industry trade show at the Toronto Congress Centre which will have exhibitors from all across the country. Many of our dealers have been to shows that are provided by their buying group. We are taking that to the next level. You will see exhibitors showing their widest range of products. You need new items to grow your business %u2013 we have options. We also have a dedicated training day April 8th. This will be across the street from the Expo hall. We have classes in human resources, sales negotiation, special order processes, loss prevention and building a data base for your website to name a few. We also have a special night of entertainment with our 2026 Gala Dinner April 9th. Our evening starts with cocktail hour from 6-7pm with an amazing dinner to follow. Our entertainment for the evening will include topflight comedians from Yuk-Yuk%u2019s. We hope you have a great year and will be able to join us for all of the events we have planned. We are always looking for additional ways to make this industry work better. If you have suggestions we would love to hear from you. Email me at tsmall@lbmao.on.cathat brought their children with them. It was a great opportunity for families to mix business with pleasure. I know I saw a number of our members with their kids in the arcade, and at the rockclimbing wall. The indoor pool and water slide was a big hit with both young and old this year. Our after-dinner feature was a special presentation from the Canadian Brand Ambassador for Beam Suntory, Michael McLean. Michael has been involved in the alcohol business for over 25 years, and he now specializes in conducting whisky tasting events all across Canada for Canadian Club and their associated brands. His tasting did not disappoint. Our members were able to sample five different types and brands of whisky from the Beam Suntory distillery. It was amazing to see the different colours, smells, and tastes that a small change in ingredients, a variation in barrels and time spent aging makes. We sampled whiskies that had been aged from 5- 15 years and the difference was noticeable. Thank you to Michael and the support from Canadian Club for this special evening. Now if you are reading this and are thinking, wow I missed out on a lot of fun and some terrific networking opportunities, you would be correct. Don%u2019t be upset. Plan to join us this November AGM continued from page 19...in the charming, historic town of Picton for our 2026 AGM. We have set Thursday November 26th as the date for this great experience. We encourage you to bring your significant other and your family as we plan for the future, reflect on the past year, forge valuable industry relationships (and have some fun too!).