Island Structural Systems Inc. (ISSI), a truss plant, which opened in Kensington, P.E.I., in January 2024, is adding a second production line.

GM and owner Matthew Bowness said the idea for opening ISSI was based on truss shortages in the province. “The lead times (for builders) could be eight to 12 weeks even before Covid.” It got worse when the Covid boom in homebuilding hit. Then, the island was facing up to six month waits for trusses. Not an acceptable situation, Bowness added.

He gathered investors together, and was helped in his fundraising by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACEO). It put a “repayable contribution” of $2 million into the mix.

This is only ISSI’s second year of business. Yet the roof and floor truss manufacturer is already adding a second production line, something that the business plan didn’t predict until year five.

This is a truly independent truss plant. It sells to every channel it can: building supply dealers, homebuilders, farm building contractors, commercial clients, plus homeowners building their own homes.

The 25,000 square foot facility is state-of-the-art, with high-tech Simpson Strong-Tie equipment that builds a lot of trusses at a high rate of speed.

P.E.I. is now self-sufficient on trusses. Bowness said he doesn’t have to search farther afield, for example to New Brunswick, for customers. ISSI opened with 18 employees in January 2024 and now, with the new production line coming on-stream in February, that will increase to 32 employees.

“It’s been a great first year,” Bowness said. He points out that the homebuilding future for Canada’s smallest province is bright. With a 14.1 percent five-year growth rate, P.E.I. led all Canadian provinces and territories in population growth over the last five years.

Supply-Build Canada, formerly known as the WRLA (Western Retail Lumber Association) has joined the fight against tariffs misinformation.

Liz Kovach, president of Supply-Build Canada, based in Winnipeg, recently sent a bulletin to her members about the tariffs. “We recently met with various economists along with James Rajotte, special advisor to the Alberta premier on U.S. relations, and his team in Washington,” Kovach said.

Supply-Build Canada also met with Global Affairs Softwood Lumber Division to get their insights and perspective on the issue “and learn how we can support their efforts and, in turn, our membership and partners.”

Kovach said that “Canadian lumber is taking a beating in the media.”

“One of the key reasons behind that is the power of the U.S. Lumber Coalition (USLC). It is an alliance of 19 private timberland owners (all unnamed on their website) who are working to protect their self-interests which are not aligned with the bulk of the industry, including end users. The data they use to back up their claims are either old charts from the pandemic days or snippets of data taken out of context to support their narrative rather than present the facts in context.

“They have also been the largest roadblock to getting a new Softwood Lumber Agreement in place and are why the Canadian industry is currently facing 14.4 percent duties on lumber products exported to the US. As a result of their campaigning, this duty will double to 30 percent in August. The proposed 25 percent tariff on top of the duties will be crippling. We have already seen layoffs in Canadian steel and aluminum and we will begin to see this in lumber as well.

“With input from our members, including mills and remanufacturers, we are developing a strategy to advocate for our industry, combat misinformation and refute USLC’s major claims,” Kovach wrote.

Portland Snap-Lok Panels

Portland Snap-Lok Panels feature pre-punched slots with a hidden fastener system for quick and secure installation. They also come with a pre-finished paint system to resist fading, cracking, and shrinking, backed by a 40-year paint warranty. Portland/Snap-Lok panels come in 16-inch or 12-inch coverage and either 26-gauge or 24-gauge steel. Portland/Snap-Lok panels are built to last. westmansteel.ca

IKO Dynasty Shingles

IKO Dynasty Shingles, now available in matte black, offer peace of mind and protection from inclement weather. These shingles are made with a durable, thick coating of weathering asphalt and feature a Class 3 impact resistance rating, potentially helping homeowners qualify for reduced residential insurance premiums where available. Enhanced with ArmourZone technology, the shingles are designed to withstand high winds, featuring a limited wind resistance warranty up to 210 kilometres per hour. iko.com

IKO Roof-Fast Cap and Base

IKO Roof-Fast Cap and Base are said to be extremely high-quality roofing products. IKO Roof-Fast cap is constructed of a durable, reinforcing mat of nonwoven glass fibres that have been coated and permeated before applying a mineral surface. Available in a range of attractive colours. Can be used alone or in combination with IKO Roof-Fast Base. This is a self-adhesive product that can easily be cold-applied, or using an optional mechanical installation method. Iko.com

True Nature Slate Metal Shingles

True Nature North Ridge Slate Metal Shingles are designed to last a lifetime. Featuring innovative Quadra-Loc technology, each shingle locks securely on all four sides, providing water-tight protection and resilience against extreme weather conditions. The True Nature product line includes a seamless, matching trim system and advanced water-shedding channels to efficiently divert water from the underlayment, reducing the risk of leaks and water damage.vicwest.com

GAF Timberline UHDZ Shingles

GAF Timberline UHDZ Shingles are designed to withstand wind and blue-green algae. They feature GAF’s Dual Shadow Line for dramatic sunset shadows all day. They also offer the 30-year StainGuard Plus PRO limited warranty against blue-green algae discoloration. Plus, when installed with the required combination of four qualifying GAF accessories, they are eligible for the 15-year WindProven infinite-speed limited wind warranty. taigabuilding.com

BP Signature Shingles

BP Signature Shingles come in natural, vibrant colours. They combine durability, style, and unique character. Crafted to withstand the harshest weather conditions, these Canadian-made shingles offer a selection of natural and vibrant colours. With advanced Weather-Tite Plus Technology and a reinforced Hurricane Band, they provide outstanding defence against wind-driven rain and blow-offs, along with superior resistance to nail pull-through.saint-gobain.com

Toronto-based Cooper Equipment Rentals, with 80 branches in six provinces, has acquired a trio of rental operations. It announced in February that it had purchased Rent All Centre and Skyhigh Platforms in Ontario, as well as Big Stick Rentals in Alberta.

In a release, Cooper said that the Ontario brands have served contractors and businesses since 1973. “Their full-service rental locations across Cobourg, Port Hope, Peterborough (two branches), Belleville, and Trenton, along with Skyhigh’s aerial specialty location in Whitby, will now operate under the Cooper banner.”

Big Stick Rentals, meanwhile, is based in Grande Prairie, Alta. Cooper said in the release that it has “built a reputation for reliability and service excellence since its founding in 2013.”

“Big Stick’s strategic location in Grande Prairie strengthens Cooper’s coverage in Western Canada, enabling broader geographic reach, equipment availability, and service flexibility across Alberta and beyond.”

In 2023, Cooper Equipment Rentals acquired Warner Rentals and Scotty’s Rentals and Landscaping.

Target Building Materials, a Windsor, Ont.-based member of AD Building Supplies Canada, has announced it is under new ownership since Jan. 15, when Windsor contractor Max De Angelis acquired the business.

De Angelis bought the pro store from the Drouillard family. Target was founded in 1967 by Maurice (“Moe”) Drouillard, who ran it until 2001 when he retired. His son, Greg, was a partner with his father in the early days and took over the business. Greg is a well-known industry figure, helping his buying group, TORBSA, merge with AD (Affiliated Distributors) in 2022.

Target specializes in residential, industrial, and commercial construction and has many kinds of concrete products, sealants, ceiling tiles, foundation products, waterproofing, insulation, safety products, and tools.

Last year was a very difficult one for the Drouillard family. Not only did Maurice die last August at the age of 93, but Greg became seriously ill. A decision was made to sell the business that had been in the family’s hands for almost six decades.

De Angelis is the president of Fortis Group, which is one of Canada’s “top 40” construction firms—and one of Target’s biggest customers. It pursues large commercial and public projects. Fortis Group was formed in 2016 when De Angelis Construction merged with former Windsor rival STC Construction Group.

De Angelis posted an Instagram video at the time of the acquisition. “I would like to wish the Drouillard family the very best as they pass the torch along to us after an amazing 57 years of hard work, dedication, and loyalty to their clients and customers. On a personal note, it’s Greg Drouillard himself who, over 35 years ago, helped me start my first summer business.

“Early on in those days, Greg’s insight, mentorship, leadership, and most important his friendship, guided me along and provided confidence as a young entrepreneur. It is my honour and pleasure to continue to serve his legacy and the legacy of the entire Drouillard family.”

In our latest issue yesterday of our PRO Dealer Business e-newsletter, we wrote an article headlined “American private equity consolidates grip on Canadian GSDs.”

In that article, we wrote about Gypsum Management and Supply Inc., of Tucker, Ga., and its recent acquisitions. We implied that GMS Inc. is “backed” by private equity money. In actual fact, GMS Inc. has operated as a publicly-traded company since 2017.

Furthermore, we omitted from our reportage that Titan GMS Canada Inc. is a wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary that is headquartered in Vaughan, Ont. GMS Canada has 43 points of sale in Canada, from British Columbia to Quebec, employing more than 1,450 Canadians.

We also referred to GMS’s acquisition in 2018 of WSB Titan, a Canadian GSD buying group, with GMS “acquiring two-thirds” of the group. GMS, in fact, acquired WSB Titan entirely with one associated member in Quebec.

Hardlines regrets the errors, which implied that GMS is a private-equity-funded American operation. GMS Canada Inc. is a Canadian firm serving its Canadian customers.

DuPont Tyvek Flexwrap

DuPont Tyvek Flexwrap is a fastener-free way to prevent water intrusion. Its self-adhered flashing does not require mechanical fasteners, even in flexed corner areas around building openings. This allows it to provide easy, one-step insulation for hard-to-seal corners around windows and doors. It has high-performance durability: 100 percent butyl adhesive performs through extreme temperatures. Does not contain asphaltic/bitumen adhesive materials which many window manufacturers prohibit. dupont.com

Dupont Styrofoam Cladmate CM20

Dupont Styrofoam Cladmate CM20 Extruded Polystyrene Insulation (XPS) is a name you can trust. Whether it’s new construction or a retrofit application, this product can help you reduce the potential for moisture condensation in wall cavities and improve energy efficiency in both residential and commercial buildings. It’s a durable, lightweight XPS board often used for interior framed walls, exterior and interior masonry as well as residential basement floor slab insulation—highly desirable for in-home comfort. dupont.com

MAX SuperFramer Nailer

MAX SuperFramer Nailer features the world’s first Anti Double-Fire mechanism. The CN890F2 SuperFramer by MAX is a high-performance coil framing nailer designed for professional contractors. This powerful tool drives 2-inch to 3-1/2-inch nails with precision and speed, making it ideal for heavy-duty framing applications. The CN890F2 features the world’s first Anti Double-Fire mechanism, introduced in 1994. This feature prevents accidental double firing and enhances user safety. Large-capacity magazine holds up to 300 nails. maxusacorp.com

BP Canada Signature Shingles

BP Canada Signature Shingles perfectly balance performance, lifestyle, and individuality. These one-of-a-kind shingles are designed to resist the worst weather. They also deliver a versatile range of 12 beautiful and natural colours. Signature shingles ensure superior protection against blow-offs and wind-driven rain thanks to their high resistance to nail pull-through and their innovative Weather-Tite Plus technology featuring the Hurricane Band. bpcan.com

MAX PowerLite Concrete and Steel Pin Nailer

MAX PowerLite Concrete and Steel Pin Nailer is designed for pros operating in demanding construction environments. The HN120 is an innovative tool, part of MAX’s PowerLite series, which revolutionized the industry when MAX introduced the world’s first high-pressure nailing system in 1994. Powered by a 500 PSI compressor, the HN120 delivers exceptional driving force for fastening into concrete and steel surfaces. Lightweight with less recoil than P.A.T. tools. maxusacorp.com

Diablo Masonry Cut-off Discs

Diablo’s masonry cut-off discs provide extreme durability, faster cuts, and long life in concrete, concrete with rebar, brick, and cinder block. The disc’s industrial-grade diamonds with hardened disc body deliver durability and maximize cutting quality in hardened materials even in extreme applications. Diamond segment SPEED-Edge slot design reduces vibration, providing high quality speeds and producing tall segments containing superior quality diamonds.diablotools.com

In 2023, Canada’s federal and provincial governments spent more than $33 billion on building and infrastructure projects. The 2023 spend was about half the $60 billion that Canadians spent on home improvements in our industry.

And that post-pandemic year saw sales drop for most building supply dealers and hardware stores. Not so for the Investing in Canada Infrastructure program, which has so far committed to spend $180 billion over a dozen years.

No wonder Norm Williams, owner of Advanced Building Materials in Sarnia, Ont., would like to increase the amount of government-funded projects that account for around one percent of his current company’s business. “The money is always there,” Williams told Hardlines.

Senso Group Building Supplies in Toronto does a whopping 7 to 12 percent of its annual revenues from government-funded projects, according to its president Cynthia Prazeres.

Like most pro dealers, Senso gets this business through its contractor customers that do the heavy lifting in terms of negotiating contracts with the government for materials and labour. Senso typically provides materials for the building envelope, and the majority of those construction or renovations projects are hospitals and schools.

It helps that Senso has been in business for 35 years, so most of its government-related orders come from word-of-mouth contacts.

Meanwhile, one of the biggest renovation projects in Canada is the heritage rehabilitation of the Centre Block of the Parliament Building in Ottawa. It will cost between $4.5 billion and $5 billion. One of Canada’s primary masonry suppliers, Merkley Supply in Ottawa, is benefiting from the enormous spend.

“Getting government work depends on who lands the contract, and we hope it’s one of our customers,” says Paul Mutter, purchasing manager for the firm. Merkley is working with Atwill Morin, which specializes in masonry restoration, and the general contractors PCL and Ellis Don Construction.

The project, which is scheduled for completion by 2031, is being managed by Public Services and Procurement Canada. Mutter says this project’s biggest challenge is meeting the expectations of its architects—HOK, in association with Architecture49, DFS, and ERA Architects—for bricks that match the building’s 1920s-era exterior.

Sycamore Partners, a New York City-based private equity firm which in 2023 bought the Canadian operations of Lowe’s Co. (RONA, Réno-Dépôt, and Dick’s Lumber), has bought All-Fab Group, a Winnipeg-based manufacturer of building components with operations that extend from the Pacific Ocean to the American Midwest.

All-Fab was sold to Sycamore and RONA inc. by a Canadian consortium of private equity money—PFM Capital and Roynat Equity Partners. PFM Capital, based in Regina, had purchased All-Fab, along with its partners, in 2018. During their almost seven years of ownership, All-Fab had achieved significant growth under the control of the Canadian PE firms.

All-Fab Building Components was founded in 1970. It manufactures roof systems, wall systems, and floor systems. It manufacturers i-joists, engineered beams, and laminated posts. It also is a major manufacturer of stairs. It has manufacturing facilities in Winnipeg and Brandon, Man.; Regina and Saskatoon, Sask.; Edmonton, Alta.; and Cobble Hill and Creston, B.C. It also has a facility in Winsted, Minn. All-Fab Group has, in total, 18 business units. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Ed Richmond, CEO of All-Fab, said in a release that “PFM and Roynat have been invaluable partners, providing strategic guidance and support to help us scale our operations and improve our product offerings.” PFM acquired a majority interest in our industry’s seventh largest building supply dealer buying group, the Sexton Family of Companies, in December 2022.

The Beauchesne group of companies, a major dealer presence in the province of Quebec, has joined Castle Building Centres Group’s commercial division.

Founded in 1964 by Édouard Beauchesne, the Beauchesne group grew over time to three yards around the Montreal area. It joined with the two Quebec City locations of Distribution Ste-Foy in 1978, to form a powerful multi-outlet pro dealer in Quebec.

“We are excited with this new chapter as we team up with Castle,” Carl Leonard, president of Groupe Beauchesne, said in a release. “We believe the group is positioned for major growth through this partnership.”

In 2009, Beauchesne joined with Watson Building Supplies of Ontario and Shoemaker Drywall Supplies on the Prairies to found a powerful GSD buying group, WSB Titan. While under the leadership of Doug Skrepnek, the group was purchased by an American company, GMS Inc. of Tucker, Ga., in 2018. Beauchesne was not actually part of the sale, but Beauchesne stayed connected with the group on an affiliated basis.

Skrepnek himself resurfaced in the industry as co-owner of Encore Drywall Material Supplies last year, operating two locations, in Vaughan and Trenton, Ont. Encore quickly became a part of Castle’s commercial division.

Given his past connection with Beauchesne, it was not surprising that Skrepnek was involved in Castle’s signing of the GSD. Skrepnek and the Leonard family have been both business colleagues and close friends for many years. Says Skrepnek: “I think we chose the right group for growth and we chose the right group for flexibility.”

Castle president and CEO Ken Jenkins called the deal “a pivotal moment for Castle in Quebec.” Dubbing Beauchesne “a powerhouse,” Jenkins hinted at more big announcements to come from Castle in the year ahead.