Industry Awards
Celebrating The Industry
The lumber and building supply industry is full of incredible people. To recognize their hard work and dedication, WRLA presents two prestigious awards: Sales Representative of the Year Award (one per province) and Industry Achievement Award.
These awards honour our industry’s best and brightest.
Sales Representative of the Year Award
Submission deadline: December 20, 2024
Do you have a sales representative on your team that you think should be recognized?
This individual has achieved success in sales due to the relationships they build and the success of the retail customers they serve. Dealers do well because this rep has supported them through the knowledge of the product they sell and willingness to support those products directly to the consumer when necessary. If there is a sales rep that has a whatever it takes attitude, and has made your business better, we want to hear from you!
NOMINATION FORM
Click more to read about eligibility and the award process. [More]
Eligibility
Any sales representative employed by a WRLA member.
Nominating Regions
The Sales Representative of the Year Award is split up into regional categories:
British Columbia
Alberta, Northwest Territories, Nunavut
Saskatchewan
Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario
Nomination Process
Nomination forms must be completed and submitted to the WRLA Office by the deadline to be admissible. Nominees may be interviewed by the WRLA president using a set of standardized questions.
Selection Process
The selection committee will evaluate all nominations and select a recipient for each region.
[Less]Congratulations to the 2023 Sales Representative Award Recipients
Joe Maher– Taiga Building Products – British Columbia
Jillian Richards – Canadian Engineered Wood Products – Alberta
John Randell – Gillfor Distribution – Saskatchewan
Derek Warren – Metrie – Manitoba
Past Sales Representative Award Recipients
| 2022 | Mark Wandy | Taiga Forest Products | British Columbia |
| 2022 | Jodie Porter | Taiga Forest Products | Alberta |
| 2022 | Jil Reid | All-Fab Building Components | Saskatchewan |
| 2022 | Rob St. Onge | All-Fab Building Components | Manitoba |
| 2021 | Clay Stenberg | Orgill Canada | British Columbia |
| 2021 | David Johns | Orgill Canada | Alberta |
| 2021 | Andy Reimer | Alexandria Moulding | Saskatchewan |
| 2021 | Tim Colosimo | Metrie Canada Ltd. | Manitoba |
| 2020 | Bryan Hamilton | Orgill | British Columbia |
| 2020 | Curt Butala | McLean Lumber | Alberta, Northwest Territories, Nunavut |
| 2020 | Preston Boyce | Taiga Building Products | Saskatchewan |
| 2020 | Jonathan Middlestead | Domtek | Manitoba, Ontario |
Industry Achievement Award
Submission deadline: October 25, 2024
Do you have a supporter, teacher or mentor who should be recognized for their work? The lumber and building materials industry is full of strong leaders, and we want to celebrate them!
The purpose of this award is to acknowledge an individual for the impact they have made on the industry. Through their lived example, they elevate their teams, and communities around them. This is a person who not only embraces change, but seeks it out and leads forward with innovation and courage on a daily basis.
NOMINATION FORM
Click more to read about eligibility and the award process. [More]
Eligibility
Any current or former WRLA member or their employees.
Nomination Process
Nomination forms must be completed and submitted to the WRLA Office by the deadline’s end of day. The nominee should be interviewed by the nominator in the process of completing this form. In addition, all nominees are interviewed by the WRLA president using a set of standardized questions.
Selection Process
The WRLA board of directors will carefully evaluate all nominations and select the recipient at a WRLA Board meeting. [Less]
Congratulations to the 2023 Industry Achievement Award recipient:
Murray Finkbiner – Gillfor Distribution Ltd.
Past Industry Achievement Recipients
| 2022 | Steve Buckle | CEO of Sexton Group | Regina, SK |
| 2021 | Trent Balog | Co-CEO of Taiga Forest Products | Calgary, AB |
| 2019 | Rob Hauser | Owner Operator Hauser Home Hardware Building Centre | Camrose, AB |
| 2018 | Brian Kusisto | CEO of Sexton | Regina, SK |
| 2017 | Stan Burkholder | Industry Trainer & Advocate | Bluesky, AB |
| 2016 | Doug Lemieux | L.B.H Building Centres Inc./ Onoway TIMBER Mart | St. Albert |
| 2015 | Vic Lemieux | Econo Lumber Mart | Prince Albert |
| 2014 | Martha Konantz | North American Lumber | Winnipeg |
| 2013 | Grant Wilson | Wood Country Building Supply | McLean |
| 2012 | Rod Mancini | DomTek Building Products | Selkirk |
| 2011 | Ernie Penner | EG Penner Building Centres | Steinbach |
| 2010 | Matt Stayner | TimberTown Building Centre Ltd. | Calgary |
| 2009 | Frank Perra | Lancashire Distribution | Regina |
| 2008 | Gord Wiebe | All Weather Windows Ltd. | Edmonton |
| 2007 | David Holst | Warman Home Centre | Warman |
| 2006 | Provan Wylie | Castle Building Centres Group | Ontario |
| 2005 | Merv Weiss | Merv Weiss Consulting | Saskatoon |
| 2004 | Harold Tiemstra | Can-Cell Industries Inc. | Edmonton |
| 2003 | Jim Thorogood | Totem Building Supplies Ltd. | Calgary |
| 2002 2002 |
Ken Sexton Cam White |
Kenroc Building Materials Ltd. Taiga Forest Products |
Regina Calgary |
| 2001 | Judy Huston | WRLA | Winnipeg |
| 2000 | Chuck Fisher | C.A. Fisher Lumber Co. Ltd. | Edmonton |
| 1999 | Raymond Nelson | Nelson Lumber | Lloydminster |