PGAC/AQP CONVENTION COVERAGE

Propane Canada, May/Jun 2006

GAC & AQP UNMASK THE FUTURE IN QUEBEC CITY

PGAC & AQP UNMASK THE FUTURE IN QUEBEC

PGAC & AQP UNMASK THE FUTURE IN QUEBEC CITY

C & AQP UNMASK THE FUTURE IN QUEBEC CITY

PGAC & AQP UNMASK THE FUTURE IN QUEBE

Some places are timeless in their beauty and setting. Quebec City, which will celebrate its 400th anniversary in 2008, is such a place. It was 22 years ago that the Propane Gas Association of Canada held its annual get-together of propane professionals in Quebec's capital, and while the city has grown and prospered, its presence over-looking the mighty St. Lawrence River is still as breathtaking now as it was in 1984 and 1608.

About 175 delegates gathered on May 31 to June 2 to "unmask the future," said Guy Marchand, Committee Chair of the conference hosted jointly by the PGAC and the Quebec Propane Association (AQP).The array of things to see and do was unbeatable. And the lineup of speakers was impressive, as was the simultaneous translation.

Welcoming everyone were PGAC Chair Sharon Lemke, AQP President Jean Malouin, Quebec City representative Ralph Mercier and Pierre Corbeil, Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife.

An overview of Transport Canada's freight programs was presented by Brigitte Rivard, Manager of the Freight Efficiency & Technology Initiative (Transport Canada is working with industry to reduce the growth of greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector). She was followed by Wayne Moore of CleanFuel USA, who explained LPG Vehicles and Fueling Infrastructure, Dan Granger, President and CEO of EDPRO Equipment Inc., who talked about the SEQUIN(TM) technology (propane injection technology is a viable option for specific fleet applications), and Air Canada's Doug Martin, who presented Alternate Fuels and Ground Support Equipment (propane has the most advantages - see November-December 2005 issue of Propane Canada)

A panel discussion rounded out the first morning's presentations. Mr. Martin of Air Canada joined Gar Irwin of the London, Ontario Police Service, who oversees 200 propane-powered vehicles, five technicians and 10 garage attendants, and George Doughty of TransHelp, which assists those unable to use conventional transit ("TransHelp is contributing to a healthier environment for the Region of Peel citizens by using an environmentally friendly and cost saving fuel."). After lunch and before an afternoon of exploring, Jeff Thompson of Propane Resources delivered Trader Influences in Today's Market and the Tools Employed.

A wonderful reception, sponsored by Superior Propane, took place in a revolving, sky-top restaurant (a bird's eye view of an incoming thunder storm was exhilarating).

Thursday's breakfast speaker was Mike Scarland of the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (for the TSSA he manages 45 provincial offence officers across Ontario who are responsible for licensing fuel suppliers and facilities, along with investigating incidents for fires, explosions, carbon monoxide fatalities, spills, etc.). His talk was entitled Working Together with Industry to Ensure Long Term Success.

It was unfortunate that Roy Willis, President of Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), wasn't allotted more time because his illuminating presentation set the scene for what might be possible once Canada gets its PERC. The U.S. PERC, which is responsible for propane safety and training, research and development, and consumer education, is now 10 years old (56,000 Americans earn a living in the propane industry; 7 million households use propane; there are more than 670,000 propane-powered forklifts in the U.S.; 78% of all American farms use propane (1.1 billion gallons a year); there are 47 million propane grills south of the border).

Mr. Willis was followed by Gordon McAlary of Fuel Cell Technologies Ltd., who explained Propane Use for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, and Stephanie Flamberg of Battelle Memorial Institute, who described the current and future uses of composite propane cylinders.

Next was an update on Canada's PERC with the PGACs Leslie Siegman, OPAs René Chartier and the AQP's Normand Fournier answering any and all questions.

The final three presenters were: Propane Resources' Bard Black (The Shifting Sands of North America), Doyle Consulting's Randall Doyle (Change Management - Critical for Implementing New Technology) and Purvin & Gertz's Gerry Goobie (21 st Century Developing Trends in Propane Supply Demand and Pricing).

All these presentations are available in their entirety on the PGAC's website (www.propanegas.ca).

Since any propane get-together is not complete without golf, all of Friday, June 2 was devoted this gentle pastime at the nearby Le Grande Vallon, one of the most challenging courses in Eastern Canada.

Traditionally the PGAC alternates its national convention between East and West, but it appears that Ottawa will become the site every second year in order for delegates to help with lobbying to ensure a bright future for propane. Stay tuned for more details.