In April 1997, four Canadian companies represented by Murray Farmer of Commercial Crane in Victoria, B.C.; Rob Magee of GWIL Crane in Vancouver, B.C.; Bruce Margetts of Crane Force Sales, in Nanaimo, B.C.; and David Snyder of Sterling Crane, in Edmonton, Alberta, met and decided that a Canadian Association should be established and that a further meeting was in order.
They officially formed the Crane Rental Association of Canada, on November 12, 1997 , followed by the official incorporation on February 4, 1998. It was decided to proceed with organizing the first convention to be held in Victoria, British Columbia in May of 1998. David Snyder agreed to dedicate the services of Murray Farmer (who had sold Commercial Crane to Sterling Crane in May of 1997) to be acting Chair and convention organizer. Bruce Margetts supplied the staff to man the registration desk along with many other duties. Sharon Magee organized the ladies program and invitations were sent to numerous crane rental companies and crane manufacturers to join the newly created Crane Rental Association of Canada.
Since the initial conference in Victoria, BC in May 1998, the annual conference has travelled East and West, giving the crane industry leaders and opportunity to grow their network and their net worth while discovering the diversity of Canada and the construction projects impacting the crane industry from coast to coast.
It should be noted that the association’s name changed to Canadian Crane Rental Association in May 2023. This association would not be where it is today without the efforts of countless volunteers, in particular the present and past Directors.
