Opening Night – Monday, October 16, 2023
7:00-10:00 pm: RONA Pub Night
Location: Merlin’s Bar and Grill, 4553 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, BC
It’s a Hardlines Tradition: we gather everyone each year before the Conference to share a drink and get to know one another better at a unique location. This year we are hosting Pub Night at Merlin’s Bar and Grill, just a 5 minute walk from the Fairmont Chateau Whistler!
Located at the base of Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler’s Upper Village—Merlin’s vibe is just one small reason why après sessions are so off-the-hook.
Merlin’s has cultivated the spirited vibe of an old-school recreation room party (free of fun-depriving chaperones) with its laid-back mountain cabin décor.
Come meet our Outstanding Retailer Award Winners, some of the Speakers, our Conference Sponsors, and of course, the Hardlines Team! The Pub Night is courtesy of RONA.
Day 1 – Tuesday, October 17, 2023
7:30-8:45 am: Registration and Breakfast
7:30-8:45 am: BSIA Product Showcase
8:45-9:00 am: Welcome
9:00-9:45 am: Jim Inglis, Retail Consultant, former Home Depot Executive
9:50-10:35 am: Geneviève Gagnon, Groupe Gagnon
10:35-11:05 am: Networking Break
11:10-11:55 am: David Ian Gray, DIG360 Consulting Ltd.
12:00 -1:15 pm: Lunch
12:00 -1:15 pm: BSIA Product Showcase
1:15-1:20 pm: Announcements
1:20-1:35 pm: Michael McLarney, Hardlines Inc.
1:40-2:25 pm: Dan Tratensek, North American Hardware and Paint Association
2:30-3:15 pm: Cody Smith, Federated Co-op
3:15-3:20 pm: Conclusion
3:20-5:30 pm: BSIA Product Showcase
4:30-6:00 pm: Industry Reception presented by Home Hardware
6:00-9:00pm: Outstanding Retailer Awards (Separate ticketed event)
Honouring the best retailers in the country, the Outstanding Retailer Awards (ORAs) are the industry’s only independent awards program dedicated to celebrating the achievements of hardware, home improvement and building supply dealers in Canada. The ORAs are a separate ticketed event. Purchase your ticket here.
Day 2 – Wednesday, October 18, 2023
7:30-8:45 am: BSIA Product Showcase
8:00-8:45 am: Breakfast
8:45-9:00 am: Welcome
9:00-9:40 am: Sylvain & Marilyne Laferriere, ACE Victory Building Centre
9:45-10:30 am: Romain Mercier, Customer Engagement & Communication Expert
10:30-11:00 am: Networking Break
11:00-12:00 pm: Jim Inglis, Retail Consultant, former Home Depot Executive
12:00-1:00 pm: Lunch
12:00-1:00 pm: BSIA Product Showcase
1:00-1:10 pm: Announcements
1:10-1:45 pm: Zaida Fazlic, Taiga Building Products Ltd.
1:50-2:30 pm: Jean-Sébastien Lamoureux, RONA
2:30-2:40 pm: Closing Remarks
