Industry Leaders Gather for TRSA’s Canadian/Pacific Northwest Summit

TRSA continued the commitment of being more active in Canada by hosting the Canadian/Pacific Northwest Summit, drawing industry leaders from across Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest to the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown for two days of collaboration, innovation and strategic insight. TRSA has made an investment to ensure that Canadian members are represented at the association and advocacy levels.

The summit, held Oct. 1–2, spotlighted the evolving landscape of the linen, uniform and facility services industry, with a strong emphasis on technology, sustainability, workforce development and cross-border advocacy.

The event kicked off with an inspiring keynote by Peter Judge, Hall of Fame coach of the Canadian Freestyle Ski Team, who challenged attendees to “Own Your Podium” by fostering ethical, inclusive and high-performance workplace cultures.

Technology took center stage in a session led by Daniel Gelac of Kannegiesser Canada and Anders Hansen of JENSEN, who explored how automation and robotics are reshaping laundry operations and addressing labor shortages.

Policy and sustainability were also key themes, with Nick Koolsbergen (Wellington Advocacy) and Michele Cadario (Vanguard Strategy Inc) discussing efforts to allow operators in the linen, uniform and facility services industry to take advantage of 100% accelerated depreciation, promote reusable textiles and harmonize codes across provinces. Kevin Schwalb, TRSA’s vice president of government relations, discussed issues that TRSA is active in the United States.

The day continued with a dive into tariff impacts on global sourcing, featuring insights from Jeff Courey (George Courey Inc.) and Carter Mills (M+A Matting). The conversation highlighted strategies for navigating international trade complexities.

Dave Kasper of General Recycled introduced innovations in textile recycling, emphasizing the industry’s shift toward circular economies. Additionally, an executive panel brought together leaders from major linen, uniform and facility services firms including HLS Linen Services, Cintas Canada, UniFirst and Service Linen, who shared perspectives on leadership, operational challenges and regional growth opportunities.

The summit concluded with a tour of Alsco Uniforms’ Surrey facility, a 62,000-square-foot operation serving more than 1,500 customers, showcasing advanced laundry technologies and sustainable practices.

Throughout the summit, attendees engaged in roundtable discussions and networking sessions designed to foster collaboration and share regional insights. The event reinforced TRSA’s commitment to strengthening the industry through education, advocacy and innovation.

For more information on upcoming TRSA events and initiatives, visit the event calendar on TRSA’s official website at www.trsa.org.