FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2005-10-14

SCC celebrates 35 years of standards for a safer nation

OTTAWA – The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) commemorated its 35th anniversary with a special event held today, on World Standards Day, at the Marriott Hotel in Ottawa. The event was an opportunity to look back on its achievements and honour the collaborative efforts and partnerships that are at the core of all standardization work.

"For the last 35 years, the SCC has been promoting and supporting the development and use of standards, not only to make Canada a safer place to live, but also a more prosperous one," noted SCC Executive Director, Peter Clark. "Canada’s prominence on the world standards scene can't be attributed to the work of any one individual or organization," he added. "It is thanks to our partners and the dedication of the many individuals involved in the National Standards System that we have been able to accomplish so much."

Over 150 attendees from among Canada’s National Standards System, partners, committee members, accredited clients, as well as consumers and the Canadian public took part in the day's activities. Seven exhibitors, including the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB), IHS Canada, the Information and Communications Technology Standards Advisory Council of Canada (ISACC), the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Standards Engineering Society (SES), Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada (ULC), and Ulrich Metrology Inc., contributed to the celebration, bringing their messages of congratulations and support for the years ahead.

A series of workshops enabled participants to learn more about Canadian standardization and engage in discussions with leading experts. The following presentations were delivered:
 

• Focus your future on standards: Get Involved! Speaker: Chantal Marin-Comeau, SCC Advisory Committee Member and Acting Director, Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) 
   
• Working towards Smart Regulation. Speaker: Ken Moore, ISSR Senior Policy Analyst, Privy Council Office, Implementation Strategy for Smart Regulation (ISSR)
   
• The Consumer's viewpoint. Speaker: Jeanne Bank, SCC Advisory Committee Member (CPIC), and Manager, Consumer Program, External Affairs, Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
   
• The Business of standards. Speaker: Hugh Krentz, Chairman of the SCC

The festivities were capped off with coffee, cake and a focus on the future.

Celebrated annually on October 14th, World Standards Day is an opportunity to highlight the importance of standards-related activities. The 2005 theme for World Standards Day, "Standards for a Safer World," emphasizes the role that standardization plays in contributing to a more secure world.  From food safety management systems to anti-locking brakes and airbags in cars to fire and alarm systems, standards help make work, home and transport safer. 

The Standards Council of Canada is a Crown corporation with the mandate to promote efficient and effective use of voluntary standardization. It is Canada's representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The SCC also coordinates and oversees the efforts of the National Standards System and offers a variety of standardization-related programs and services. For more information on the Standards Council of Canada, including the Canadian Standards Strategy, visit www.scc.ca or email [email protected].

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