OFMA honors Terry Clark for lifetime achievement
By Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, January 1, 2006
Mississauga, Ontario — Terry Clark has been named the recipient of the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his behind-the-scenes work on behalf of Canada's household furniture industry over the past quarter century.
Bestowed by the Ontario Furniture Manufacturers Assn., the award recognizes an individual who has made exemplary contributions to the industry and his or her community.
Clark owns metal casual dining specialist Acme Chrome Furniture and its contract counterpart, Accro Furniture Inds. He also has served almost continuously as president of the Canadian Council of Furniture Manufacturers since 1988 and has served Furniture West since 1982, first as president and now as board chairman.
The CCFM, an umbrella organization for Furniture West, the OFMA and the Quebec Furniture Manufacturers Assn., represents Canada's furniture manufacturers on a broad range of national and international issues. It also is the administrator of the Canadian UFAC upholstery safety program.
Under Clark's leadership, the CCFM has championed a number of industry causes, including securing federal matching funds for industry improvements in product design, manufacturing techniques and export marketing strategies.
He also was a moving force in the campaign to make upholstery less susceptible to cigarette-caused fires without resorting to government-imposed regulations. Canada's UFAC program enjoys a high rate of compliance.
"His leadership is often quiet and behind the scenes, but has always achieved the best results for our industry," OFMA Chairman Laine Reynolds said in announcing the award. "He is totally committed to this industry and it's seen in everything he's accomplished and continues to contribute. He is an outstanding role model for the next generation in our industry and is a natural recipient for this award."
Art DeFehr, president and CEO of Palliser Furniture, has known Clark for more than three decades.
"Terry Clark is a person who has epitomized the idea of a public citizen," DeFehr said. "Terry has been part of every industry initiative in Winnipeg, Western Canada and then all of Canada since I entered the industry over 30 years ago. He always has time and interest for every issue that affects the health of the industry."
Clark began his career in the furniture industry working with the Edmonton, Alberta-based furniture sales agency owned by his father, the late Bill Clark. In 1958, Terry Clark joined Acme Chrome as sales manager. Almost 20 years later, he became sole owner of the metal casual dining specialist.
Other recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award have been the late Orville Mead, president and CEO of Durham Furniture; Bruce MacPherson Sr., president of The Gibbard Furniture Shoppes of Napanee, Ontario; Patrick Thody, retired president and CEO of Simmons Canada; Serge Racine, retired chairman of Shermag; the Sklar brothers, founders of Sklar Peppler Furniture; and Guy Laflamme, chairman of South Shore Inds.
Clark will be honored at a gala dinner hosted by the OFMA on Sunday, Jan. 15, in Toronto's Pearson Convention Centre as a prelude to the presentation of the 2006 Canadian Home Furnishings Awards.
For tickets and more information, contact the OFMA at (905) 677-6561.
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