February 7, 2012

World Plumbing Day gets promotion nod from Canadian senator Don Plett

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

For Manitoba senator and former plumbing contractor Don Plett, World Plumbing Day is an event near and dear to the heart.

“Every person on this planet is affected by the availability of clean drinking water and basic sanitation,” says Plett, who delivered a statement in the Senate last year recognizing the March 11 event.

Established in 2010 as a result of the efforts of the World Plumbing Council, World Plumbing Day is dedicated to helping the general public better understand the vital role the plumbing industry plays in protecting public health and safety.

Plumbing organizations across the country are joining forces with the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada and the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) in undertaking activities to promote the event.

Plett, who grew up in the town of Landmark, Manitoba “at the longitudinal centre of Canada” and who headed family-owned Landmark Mechanical Ltd. for 20 years, didn’t think twice about lending a hand after being approached by CIPH president Ralph Suppa.

“I was thrilled to do so,” he said, noting that the Senate “each and every year” recognizes worthy organizations, groups and causes by specifically dedicating a day to them.

Plett plans on pitching in again this year.

“I have been talking to Ralph (Suppa) about finding a way of having World Plumbing Day recognized in Parliament as well.”

World-wide, it is estimated that preventable diseases related to water and sanitation claim the lives of about 3.1 million people a year.

In Canada, there have been longstanding water-related issues on some First Nations reserves, Plett said.

“During my days as a plumbing contractor, I spent much of my career working in northern Manitoba and northwestern Ontario,” he said. “I’ve seen first-hand some of the problems that are out there.”

Suppa, whose institute represents manufacturers and distributors of plumbing and related products, said the CIPH is “honoured” that Plett has seen fit to help elevate within government circles a recognition of the important role that plumbers play in safeguarding the health of nations.

Plett, who was appointed to the Senate in August 2009 and is a former president of the Conservative Party of Canada, currently sits on several Senate committees.

He is one of the speakers at the institute’s upcoming annual business conference in June in Quebec.

“It is not that often that a relationship is built with a key senator who has a plumbing background and is very familiar with the Canadian plumbing and heating industry,” Suppa said.

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