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The official magazine of the Canadian Office Products Association

Winter 2012Office

The Office of 2020

Flash Forward:

Also Inside:Finances for the FutureTelecommuting Changing the Environment And More!

The official magazine of the Canadian Office Products Association 3

Published for:Canadian OffiCe PrOduCts assOCiatiOn 402 - 2800 Skymark Avenue Mississauga, Ontario Canada L4W 5A6 Telephone: 905.624.9462 Fax: 905.624.0830 [email protected] www.copa.ca

MeMBersHiP serViCes Sam Moncada President Jo Anne Falkenburger Director, Operations Ana Maria Sierra Events & Membership Coordinator

COMMuniCatiOns Arlene Allen Editor, Membership Communications eduCatiOn TOPIKSource www.TopikSource.com

Published by:MatriX GrOuP PuBLisHinG inC.Return Undeliverable Addresses to:52 Donald Street, Suite 300Winnipeg, MB R3C 1L6Toll Free: 866.999.1299Toll Free Fax: [email protected] www.matrixgroupinc.netPublications Mail Agreement Number: 40609661

President & CeOJack Andress

senior PublisherMaurice [email protected]

editor-in-ChiefShannon [email protected]

editorAlexandra [email protected]

finance/administrationsShoshana Weinberg, Pat Andress, Nathan Redekop

director of Marketing & CirculationShoshana Weinberg

Chief Operating OfficerJessica Potter [email protected]

sales Manager - WinnipegNeil Gottfred

sales Manager - HamiltonBrian Davey

sales team Leader Rob Choi

Matrix Group Publishing inc. account executivesAlbert Brydges, Ali Mian, Benjamin Schutt, Brian Davey, Brian MacIntyre, Brittney Black, Chantal Duchaine, Colleen Bell, Dan Tilston, Dean Guzzo, Declan O’Donovan, Dianne Loveman, Jeff Boyle, Jeff Cash, Jim Hamilton, Ken Percival, Kyle Yewman, Michael Gray, Miles Meagher, Patrick Lymburner, Peter Schulz, Rick Kuzie, Rick Moulden, Wilma Gray-Rose

Layout & designTravis Bevan

advertising designJames Robinson

©2012 Matrix Group Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Matrix Group Publishing Inc.


Greetings5 A message from the

Chair of the Board, Edouard Pahud

5 A message from the President of COPA, Sam Moncada

Cover Story6 Flash Forward: The

Office of 2020

Features8 Telecommuting:

Coming Soon to a Home Near You

9 Clouds, Cool Phones and Customer Service

10 Training for a New Age

11 Finances for the Future

12 Changing the Environment

COPA News & Views13 COPA Stars Gala &

Fundraiser 13 The office* Canada

Trade Show13 2012 COPA Golf

Tournament: Save the Date!

14 COPA’s 2012 Environmental Symposium

14 COPA Membership Benefits

15 Buyer’s Guide

Office

Winter 2012

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ContentsTable of

A Message from the President of COPA

A Message from COPA’s Chair of the Board

When asked to write a message for this issue of Your Office, the theme of which is “the Office in the Future,” I began with a basic Google search on the topic and was fascinated by one of the first items listed, a Businessweek reprint of their original 1975 article titled The Office of the Fu-ture. A most interesting article focusing on “…how the wave of new hardware...can help to improve…office productiv-ity.” And the head of the Xerox Research Center said “…that there will be a revolu-tion in the office over the next 20 years.”

Isn’t this interesting, that 36 years later, we are still focusing on improving office productivity with new devices,

systems and software. And, no change; the revolution remains strong! New tech-nologies and devices are rolling out daily, bringing offices into the future at a furi-ous pace.

As in the past, today’s office trans-formation is being driven by the never ending need to control costs, particularly with new mobile and remote computing technologies. The recession forced busi-ness and office managers to do more with less office space, less office supplies and less personnel. These managers have needs beyond basic productivity issues and require new efficiency tools and ser-vices from non-traditional vendors if they are to deliver. Mobile and remote com-puting are also changing the office land-scape, forcing offices of all types to reor-ganize their physical spaces and sizes.

A simple question related to all of this change: what is COPA’s role in the revolu-tion? We believe that its traditional core membership has to be expanded to in-clude representation from all types of services and products that contribute to office productivity. The association will continue to strive to deliver programs and services that are fresh, unique and highly valued by its current and future members.

We hope that this issue of Your Office, our official magazine, delivers worth-while information and insight for today’s offices and the offices of the future.

Edouard PahudPresident and General ManagerKerr NortonChair of the BoardCanadian Office Products Association

One word may define the office of the future: less. Employees can expect to see less usage, less reliance on wired tech-nology, fewer people in the office, less waste and generally a more streamlined and productive space. Not only will it help reduce costs, but it may also make employees more productive, which can do wonders for morale.

The main driver of change will be the younger workers who are highly adept at

using the latest information technology, are accustomed to working anywhere, anytime, and tend to shun workspaces that feel formal, rigid and isolated.

With the emergence of new technolo-gies, how we do business has changed rapidly over the past decade. New tech-nology will continue to make our envi-ronmental footprint smaller and give us greater flexibility. I have only played with an iPad a few times but I have no doubt that in a couple of years we will be work-ing on a device like it—continuously connected with a device small enough to take anywhere. We are getting to the

point that not only is your office where you are, your office is at your fingertips and in your pocket.

The economy, environment and technology continue to bring dramatic changes that impact stability for busi-ness and the daily routine. The future is now. For successful results, we must learn to collaborate and accept change as part of the new direction today and tomor-row.

Sam MoncadaPresidentCanadian Office Products Association


W hile flying cars, colonies on the moon and robot nan-nies never quite panned out, it is fun to speculate on what the future is going

to look like. Will life become easier as we invent new things that will help us to do our work? When you try to imagine what the office of the future holds, how do you even know where to start? The best idea is to ask the experts.

John Mahaffie and Jennifer Jarratt are futurists; people who speculate on what the future may be like. No, futurists are not mystics who gaze into a crystal ball looking for the an-swers; instead they analyze how society is changing, what trends are emerging and come up with pos-sibilities of how

these changes might affect the future. Ma-haffie and Jarratt are members of Leading Futurists LLC, a consultancy established in 2002. They prepare their clients, govern-ment and the non-profit sector for future changes.

When you think of the future, you think of technology. What new gadgets will come out and how are they going to make our lives easier. In the office of 2020, you will see a lot of familiar technology we have right now but we will be using it in

new ways. Jarratt says the technol-ogy we have right now should

enable us to do more but we are not pushing it to

its potential. “Interestingly, great-

er mobility has been a po-tential work life changer

for years, yet people have stayed tied to

offices, probably for the benefit of line-of-sight management,

and the serendipity of having face-to-face col-

leagues,” says Jarratt. “Plus, the idea of work in most peo-ple’s minds implies

going someplace

and doing work there, even though the technology exists to make that less neces-sary.”

By using mobile technology with the cloud (backing up our files, preferences and contacts into a virtual space to pull down and edit anywhere, anytime), Jarratt and Mahaffie believe we may begin to see work and the office as two separate ideas.

“We are moving computing and com-munications capabilities into our hands,” says Mahaffie. “The cloud, combined with tablets/mobile/handheld devices, means a true decoupling of work from location. We ought to be able to realize the long-held vision of working anywhere and col-laborating with anyone.”

Meetings and collaborationIf the office of 2020 embraces the full

possibilities of mobile technology, meet-ings (which can take up a lot of time in the average work week) might look a lot dif-ferent. Jarratt sees employees attending meetings virtually, using their device from the comfort of their work station (be that in the office, home or on the road), wheth-er the meeting is across the world or even just down the hall. If we have a conflict where we have to attend two meetings at the same time, we might be able to send a digital avatar to one of these meetings who can communicate our point of view and record highlights from the meeting for later viewing.

Flash Forward:Where the office is headed and how employees, finances and the environment will be affected by technological advances.By Your Office Staff

The Office of 2020

6 Your Office n Winter 20126 Your Office n Winter 2012

The way employees and management collaborate on projects may be com-pletely revolutionized. Rather than several meetings, reports, e-mails and phone calls between teammates on an elaborate proj-ect, Mahaffie suggests we can synchronize our information with technology in the of-fice of the future so that collaborators can share and access all information related to the project at any time.

“‘Management’ in this new realm be-comes especially enabled by awareness of what the team is doing,” says Mahaffie. “I see there being management/team dashboards—displays that give anyone on a team (bosses, in the more hierarchi-cal situations) instant, intuitive, visual un-derstanding of what’s being done, who is where, progress, etc.”

By using these team dashboards, an employee’s work schedule does not have to synchronize with their co-workers’ schedules because all team members can access the same, up-to-date infor-mation from anywhere, whenever they need it. Management can see what an employee has done so far and what they are currently working on. This means the physical office space may serve as a hub for collaborators to access resources and touch base when it is time to discuss ma-jor projects, but that the specific work for a project is done from whatever location best suits the work they are doing. Ma-haffie believes in order for this shift to be successful, the office of the future has to change the way it evaluates work accom-plishments.

“It’s long overdue that work stops be-ing measured in hours present at a partic-ular location and begins to be measured by accomplishment,” says Mahaffie. “That social change is proving hard for tradi-tional management and is hard for peo-ple orchestrating ‘blue collar’ work to see working well. But it is a direct outcome of decoupling work and location, along with the decoupling of work and time.”

If the office of the future can measure the work an employee does by their ac-complishments rather than the time they

spend behind a desk, this will completely change our work/life balance. Employees can organize their day based on the tasks they have to accomplish, rather than the hours they need to be in the office. Com-bining this way of thinking with the ac-cessibility of work files using the cloud, and up-to-the-minute project status updates using the management/team dashboard, employees may find they have a lot more flexibility in how they plan their personal and professional day in the office of 2020.


“It’s long overdue that work stops being measured in hours present at a particular location and begins to be measured by accomplishment.”

8 Your Office n Winter 2012

I magine wearing pyjamas to work without consequence and having a daily commute that consists of walk-ing from your bedroom, down the hall, to your home office. For many, this is a

day-to-day reality and for others, it’s simply a dream.

According to InnoVisions Canada, a Ca-nadian telework consulting organization, this dream could soon become reality for many Canadians. Telecommuting is grow-ing significantly in North America and is particularly on the rise in Canada.

Telecommuting, or telework, is the concept of working outside the office, usually from a home setting. Telework typ-ically occurs two or three days per week but could also be a full-time arrangement. As of late, if companies don’t offer a tele-commuting program, many employees will quit and new prospects will turn down job offers.

A 2008-2009 WorldatWork survey showed that 40 per cent of Canadian companies offered employees a telecom-muting option and according to the latest

Statistics Canada data, 1.4 million employ-ees work at home at least part-time.

The benefits of telework are numerous. The economic and environmental factors include reduction of cars on the road and lower gas consumption. In some cases, businesses can rent less building space, since staff members are not in the office all at once.

It’s the work/life balance telework pro-vides that is truly the highlight of the pro-gram. Employees are significantly happier and experience far less anxiety. They avoid stressful driving conditions and log less time on the road, freeing up more time for personal life. Coffee breaks can be used to accomplish quick household chores, as op-posed to wasting time in long coffee shop lineups.

Most importantly for employers, pro-ductivity levels increase. There are fewer interruptions, more time for employees to catch up on work and fewer risks of em-ployee burnout. InnoVisions Canada states that telework cuts absenteeism by 20 per cent. This could be the result of increased

job satisfaction or the fact that a sick em-ployee is still able to accomplish small tasks from home.

However, there are obstacles associated with telecommuting, management resis-tance being the biggest challenge. Manag-ing teleworkers remotely can bring up trust issues, which can lead to employee stress and a low morale. If a manager agrees to let an employee work from home, it’s crucial that the employee deliver on what’s prom-ised and not take advantage of the system.

When it comes to career and promo-tional opportunities, there are significantly fewer since there is a decreased office in-fluence. As for interaction with coworkers, there is a considerable reduction, which could lead to social and professional isola-tion. Also, if a teleworker becomes a work addict, family life can become strained.

As with anything, you take the good with the bad. Telecommuting lays the foundation for an ideal work/life balance. In the end, it’s what the teleworker does with that framework that really makes the difference.

Telecommuting: Coming Soon to a

Home Near YouFinding the work/life balance.By Kirsten Mangin



F rom laptops and smartphones to apps and clouds, the options are endless when it comes to new technology. Over the next decade, the office will encounter numerous tech toys that

will impact the way people communicate and do business.

The increasing need for mobility has com-panies investing in laptops, rendering desk-top computers obsolete. The Ultrabook series PC hit stores in fall 2011 in a continuing trend towards smaller laptops. At only 20 millime-tres in thickness, the Ultrabook does not com-promise performance or battery life.

Recently released Chromebooks utilize web apps for word processing and busi-ness transactions but have limited use when offline. Users save and access data on virtual space such as Dropbox or Google Docs, com-monly known as cloud technology. Cloud technologies are virtual storage spaces as op-posed to traditional methods of keeping data on hard drives or USB drives.

Eric Boisjoli, owner of The C.I. Team, a custom software company in Winnipeg, is a strong proponent of cloud technology.

“In a way, cloud notebooks are more se-cure than traditional computers because there are no files on the computer,” he says. “Also, the user’s mobility is greatly enhanced since access to documents is no longer lim-ited to one PC.”

Smartphones enhance productivity in the mobile office and new processors such as

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4, released in mid-November, will vastly improve performance and battery life of the next generation of smartphones.

“People are realizing that it is far less ex-pensive to buy a smartphone than a com-puter. Smartphones can now do almost everything a computer does and fits in your pocket,” says Boisjoli. “If voice technology con-tinues to evolve, there will eventually be no need for computers with keyboards.”

Voice technology still has a long way to go but Boisjoli believes it is the key to elimi-nating the archaic part of the computer: the keyboard. Once this technology is sufficiently developed, tablet PCs and smartphones may gain even more momentum and become the utlimate office tech toy.

Embracing changePredicting tools of the future can be a

tricky task. Communication is so vital to any strong business that new tech toys can be

intimidating because they change the way the user communicates.

Isabel Machado, owner and manager of Thomas Cook Algonquin Travel and Cruises in Winnipeg, explains that an enhanced website helps her interact with clients.

“Customers can now shop online, book their trip with up-to-the-minute availabil-ity like they would on any travel website,” explains Machado. “However, with Algon-quin Travel and Cruises, an agent will contact the client to finalize the trip, offer insurance, peace of mind regarding accommodations and suggest activities at the destination.”

Although new toys may enhance commu-nications in the office, many people are reluc-tant to completely remove the human aspect of business.

“There will always be clients that prefer one-on-one service and don’t trust the Inter-net,” says Machado. “I can sell them a product with confidence rather than something that clients don’t know what they are getting.”

By Joel Mangin

Clouds, Cool Phones and Customer ServiceNew tech toys for the office of the future.


B usinesses today deal with con-tinuously-evolving technology and ever-changing office cul-tures. Bridging the generation gap and staying up to speed

with the latest trends can be a tough as-signment, leaving many companies gasp-ing for air.

Fusion Group, a Winnipeg advertising agency, has a good grip on this assign-ment. Placing high importance on new trends and having a mixture of genera-tions working under their roof is their se-cret to success.

“Young, fresh people bring in the new ideas and the latest technology but it’s important that there is balance,” says Ac-count Director, Barrett Peitsch. “Just be-cause it’s new, doesn’t mean it’s necessar-ily going to work.”

For Peitsch, age is just a number. It’s how Fusion Group—and other offices—work with individual abilities that is key. “You see a difference with old school charm, magic and experience; something someone com-ing out of school doesn’t always know about. We choose different people to work on different projects, depending on their strengths.”

When it comes to technology, Fusion Group is continually updating computer software and hardware and most employ-ees have all upgraded to smartphones. Wi-Fi pumps through the entire building and Skype is often used.

“We have one employee working in Hawaii. There was a time when no one would have thought of using Skype. Now it’s something we are comfortable using every day.”

Another important element for offices to keep in mind is self education. Employ-ees at Fusion Group attend conferences and follow blogs and Twitter to stay on top of the trends. Peitsch explains that it’s not the company’s goals that are changing; it’s simply a new way of reaching them. A statement that holds true for numerous other businesses. It’s crucial to keep in mind that not every employee is going to instantly adapt to these new ways just be-cause they are being implemented. Guid-ance and patience are needed.

“We invest time in letting people be on Facebook and Twitter because it’s an im-portant part of our business,” states Peitsch. “It’s an allotment of human resources…if you want people to apply the technology you have to give them the time to under-stand it.”

By Kirsten Mangin

Ensure employees aren’t left behind as technology changes the workplace.

Training for a New Age


T here are lots of ways to be green in the office. You can update old equipment with more efficient models, reduce the amount of trav-elling for work and even choose to

buy products from more environmentally-friendly manufacturers. Not only are these green practices good for the environment, but by adopting them now, it may result in big financial savings in the office of the fu-ture.

To get a glimpse at what the future of office work might look like, we can turn to futurists. A futurist explores how society is changing and develops ideas for how these changes could affect the future. Futurists help people understand the possibilities and implications for the future and offer advice on what actions they can take to pre-pare for it.

Jennifer Jarratt and John B. Mahaffie are futurists who are part of a consultancy called Leading Futurists LLC, which was es-tablished in 2002. Mahaffie comes to the field with a social sciences background and a degree in Anthropology and International Affairs. Jarratt has a degree in Future Stud-ies and has been working as an author and speaker on the subject since 1984. They believe we can start planning today to save money for the office of tomorrow, begin-ning with greening up our office environ-ment.

“Green office practices will be the norm in 2020,” says Mahaffie. “Green pressures and cost pressures will align. You don’t have to care about the Earth to want workplace conservation—it saves money.”

Mahaffie sees savings in digitizing stan-dard office forms such as invoicing, agen-das, memos and timesheets to help offices become more environmentally-friendly. The savings of digitizing these records not only uses less supplies and helps clean up office clutter but it also reduces the need for off-site records storage, saving business owners money.

“Sustainability will be critical,” says Jar-ratt. “There are many immediate cost-saving opportunities in greening the office. Reduc-ing materials use and recycling are impor-tant. If most countries adopt producer take-back responsibility, it will influence what happens to equipment and office furniture, for example.”

If significant environmental levies are placed on overseas manufacturers, it could mean an increased cost to buy and ship from international suppliers. Because of this, Jarratt says, green offices may shift practices to depend on local suppliers in the future.

“Local sourcing has been more of a home-based trend than an office one,” she says, “but it could become important to of-fices if long-term use, sustainability and quality become more important.”

Jarratt also anticipates the duality of sav-ing money and being green to come into ef-fect with business travel. She sees employ-ers and employees reducing the amount of international and long-distance travel by embracing technology to simulate face-to-face meetings as the norm. Less travel means a smaller carbon footprint for the company and significant savings related to travel expenses.

Although the office environment will shift as future needs change and compa-nies experiment with reduced space, shared workstations and part-time/contract work to reduce overhead expenses, utilizing green practices may help get offices on the right path to prepare for the office of the future. Integrating environmentally-friendly work methods into day-to-day operations means there is one less change companies will have to worry about as they prepare their work-force for the office of the future.

By Your Office Staff

Finances for the FutureSave money, reduce costs and increase productivity in the workplace.

The savings of digitizing these records not only uses less supplies and helps clean up office clutter but it also reduces the need for off-site records storage, saving business owners money.


C orporate social responsibility (CSR) has become the expected code of conduct for businesses operating in Canada and around the world. The idea behind CSR is to find a way to

deliver the products and services that clients and stakeholders expect in an environmental-ly-conscious and socially-responsible way. This goes beyond simply following the three Rs; it is an ideology that sets up the parameters to guide all of a company’s decisions, from cor-porate operations to shipping and delivery methods to finding like-minded suppliers and more.

Grand & Toy is one company that has de-veloped a superior CSR model. Recently, they helped one of their largest clients switch to an online billing system, which helped the compa-ny reduce paper consumption and ultimately streamline their invoice system to a more effec-tive and efficient one.

Natasha Renaud is the director of corporate communications and social responsibility for Grand & Toy. She ensures that Grand & Toy’s CSR efforts are communicated to customers and that the company remains on target with their own sustainability program. Renaud says

while CSR models are meant to benefit the global environment, the task can seem daunt-ing, so it is best to start small and expand up from there.

“A great way of making CSR an important aspect of office operations is integrating the principles of environmental, economic and so-cial sustainability into your supply chain,” says Renaud. “Setting goals and targets for paper consumption, the number of deliveries you receive—or how you receive them—and work-ing with your supply chain partners to under-stand how and where your products are made all contribute to the overall sustainability of an organization and can have positive bottom line benefits.”

Companies like Grand & Toy, which are not only demonstrating leadership in the area of CSR but are also working with clients to help them adopt CSR models that work for their own companies, have made a powerful and lasting commitment to minimize their carbon foot-print. Small changes toward a greener office environment are an easy and important place to start; adopting a CSR plan is good business for your company, your clients and the environ-ment.

Changing the Environment

How corporate social responsibility can reduce your carbon footprint.By Your Office Staff


The 2011 Stars Gala, sponsored by 3M Canada Company and Purolator, was an exquisite evening of networking, philanthro-py and laughter! Themed Mardi Gras, the evening started with cocktails as guests mingled, nibbled on hors d’oeuvres, donned colourful beads, enjoyed a lively jazz quintet and placed silent auction bids.

Camaraderie continued as emcees Norm MacLeod and Harry Wanless delight-ed guests with “industry” humour. After a delicious three-course dinner, co-median Evan Carter had guests laughing to tears!

COPA Awards Program winners were given trib-ute; a list of winners can be seen at www.copa.ca. Community Leadership recognitions were pre-sented to Lyreco and Sta-ples Advantage Canada. Longstanding Service Rec-ognition candidates were honoured, including Brian Henderson, Staedtler-Mars Ltd.; Gerry Reid, Staples Advantage Canada; Gerry Oleksiuk, 3M Canada Com-pany; and Diane Kane, Dicks and Company Basics.

The evening closed with the Individual Award of Excellence, presented to Doug Davis, founder,

CEO and chair of the Davis Group of Companies.

Silent auction and bead sales raised proceeds for the COPA Scholarship Fund, which supports stu-dents connected to COPA member companies.

Thank you to the 170+ industry guests who made this event a great success!

COPA Stars Gala & Fundraiser

Office* is the most important opportunity of the year. From office equipment and business travel to facilities management and recycling, buyers will be there for one-stop shopping and information gathering!

The event will be held April 23-24, 2012 and offers networking opportunities, is co-located with Administrative Professionals Conference Canada and features hundreds of products and services from Canadian and international manufacturers and suppliers.

Demonstrations and mini-workshops will be available at technology and

sustainability pavilions, keynote speakers Ross Shafer and Arlene Dickinson will ad-dress attendees and there are many prizes to be won.

If your target market includes office, facilities, purchasing or training managers; administrative professionals; executive as-sistants or corporate events planners, this is a must-attend event!

COPA members receive a 10 per cent discount on exhibition, sponsorship and registration; branding online and in print; office* VIP program; and a COPA member office* press release.

For more information, contact Nate Bright at (289) 789-2214 and [email protected] or Sam Moncada at (905) 624-9462, ext. 228 and [email protected].

The office* Canada Trade Show

COPA’s annual golf tournament will be held Thursday, June 21, 2012, at The Club at Bond Head and will feature a hole-in-one contest, par 3 contests and more!

The game will be a four person scramble; each team must use a minimum of two drives from each player. Club services include green fees, a golf cart, driving range, locker room access, shower facilities, lunch and dinner. To view a map with directions to the course, go to www.theclubatbondhead.com/map.html.

A portion of the funds raised will benefit the COPA Scholarship Fund. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or to reserve tickets for the event, send an e-mail to [email protected].

2012 COPA Golf Tournament: Save the Date!

COPA News & Views


Stars Gala WinnersCategory Development Award of ExcellenceACCO Brands Canada – Swingline Stack and Shred Automatic Shredder Eco-Friendly Product Award of ExcellenceACCO Brands Canada – Wilson Jones ENVI Binders Eco-Friendly Program Award of ExcellenceHilroy – Spread the Word Marketing Award of ExcellenceMonk Office – Island Grown Most Innovative Office ProductACCO Brands Canada – Quartet Kapture Most Innovative School ProductFellowes – Bankers Box® Classroom Assortment Most Innovative Technology ProductCobra Electronics – Cobra PhoneLynx People’s Choice: Best New Office Product of the YearSwingline Stack and Shred Automatic Shredder


COPA Membership Benefits

COPA is the voice of the office products industry within Canada. With nearly 500 members across the country, we serve re-tailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, distribu-tors, sales agents, as well as those providing services to this industry. Your COPA mem-bership provides:• Company listing in the new COPA online

industry directory;• Banner ads in the Industry Update elec-

tronic newsletter and on the COPA web-site;

• Industry white papers highlighting mar-ket trends;

• A 10% discount on booths at the Office Canada Show at the Metro Toronto Con-vention Centre, April 23-24, 2012;

• TOPIKSource – COPA’s online training re-source with access to free courses;

• Market research and data reports;• Savings on a variety of key business

services (courier, freight, HR consulting, banking, extended health benefits, etc.);

• Programs to directly benefit your em-ployees (Scholarship Fund, gas savings, car and home insurance, etc.);

• Access to exclusive industry events for key networking opportunities; and

• And much more – visit www.copa.ca to learn more about member programs, services and events.

Contact usWe are eager to help you, your business

and your employees succeed: Your success is our first priority.

Canadian Office Products AssociationTel: (905) 624-9462, ext. 223E-mail: [email protected]: www.copa.ca

COPA’s 2012 Environmental SymposiumThEME: Profitable SustainabilityDATE: Tuesday, September 18, 2012TiME: 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.LOCATiOn: BMO Institute for Learning, Toronto, ONDESCriPTiOn: Top speakers will address aspects of sustainable products, packaging and best practices that can positively impact the bottom line. Learn from and get inspired by case studies from key organizations. Advertising packages are available; contact Sam Moncada at [email protected] or (905) 624-9462, ext. 228. To reserve your tickets, contact [email protected].


BUYEr’S GUiDEBallpoint Pens, Pencils and Promotional itemsGreat Lakes Design .......................................12

Custom Planning and Schedule BoardsMarshall Visual Products .............................14

imaging Products – MiCr Security TonerPrime Imaging Products ............................... 7

importor / Distributor of Commercial Office and School ProductsGeocan Imports Inc. .................................OBC

Member Discount Group home and Auto insuranceInsuranceland Inc. .........................................14

name Badge SpecialistsPermark Inc. .....................................................10

Office Products DistributionEsselte Canada Inc. ........................................15

Post-it® Brand Products3M Canada ..................................................... IFC

Presentation Products (Smart Sheets)GH Manufacturing Inc. ................................11

Printing and Technology SolutionsKerr Norton ........................................................ 9

Stamps, Stencils, name Tags and PlatesLondon Rubber Stamp Co. Ltd. ................12

Stationary Products and Office Supplies (Ontario & Québec)Office Pro Kapuskasing ................................. 8

Sustainable Paper ProductsDomtar ................................................................ 4

Tablet Accessories and Office innovationsNext Success Inc. ...........................................10


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Your Office Winter 2012

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