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SERVING CANADA’S RV INDUSTRY SINCE 1971 268 - 44 Crawford Cres., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Publications Mail Agreement #43638025 CANADA’S FOREMOST RV INDUSTRY MAGAZINE TM TM TM TM RV / MH HALL OF FAME CLASS OF ‘25 Profiles of the inductees VOL 54 NO 2 RVDA of Canada Update RVDA Provincial Reports And much more… RVDN 54-2-COVER.indd 1RVDN 54-2-COVER.indd 12025-10-14 3:47 PM2025-10-14 3:47 PM• Creditor Life, Disability & Critical Illness Insurance • Mechanical Breakdown Plans • Appearance Protection Products WE PROVIDE PROTECTION TO CANADIAN FAMILIES FOR WHEN “WHAT IF?” BECOMES “WHAT NOW?”. 320 Sioux Rd, Sherwood Park, AB T8A 3X6 F inancial G r oup Phone: 780.467.9575 • Fax: 780.467.4016 • Toll Free: 1-800.561.3242 RV Lifestyles publication - 2024.indd 1RV Lifestyles publication - 2024.indd 12024-09-27 10:55 AM2024-09-27 10:55 AM Trevor Smolski Director - Business Development 780-819-3271 tsmolski@firstcanadian.ca Darrell Boughton Director - Business Development 204-612-1550 dboughton@firstcanadian.ca first canadian.indd 1first canadian.indd 12025-10-14 11:33 AM2025-10-14 11:33 AM3 Volume 54 Number 2 | RV Lifestyle Dealer News contents 32 6 38 COVER STORY: 14 RV / MH Hall of Fame Class of ‘25 Profiles of the RV and Manufactured Housing inductees. IN THIS ISSUE: 4 Canada’s RV Industry News – from a Canadian Perspective Looking ahead to a positive year for the RV industry 6 In Memoriam – Garry Bewernick Reflections on the loss of an RV industry legend. 8 Marketing – by Nick Farnell Beyond the Average – a data-driven look at RV pricing. INDUSTRY UPDATES: 22 RVDA of Canada Update 24 CRVA – Celebrating 50 Years across Canada 26 ORVDA Update – Fall 2025 28 GO RVing Canada – Update Autumn 2025 Update 30 RVWA Susan Carpenter - RVAA Lifetime Achievement Award 31 E Fire USA Protects RVs 32 Hershey RV Show Highlights North America’s largest RV Show draws strong attendance. 38 Elkhart Dealer Days Recap An interesting blend of new concepts and technologies. 42 New Products RV Shows and Events Calendars – Canada - https://www.rvlifemag.com/rv-show-calendar-2025 USA - https://www.rvlifemag.com/rv-show-calendar-2025-usa-events Looking for late-breaking news of interest to the Canadian RV industry? Check out the RV Dealer News website – www.rvldealernews.com Contentspub page.indd 3Contentspub page.indd 32025-10-14 3:49 PM2025-10-14 3:49 PM4 RV Lifestyle Dealer News | Volume 54 Number 2 TM TM TM TM RV Dealer NEWS CANADA’S FOREMOST RV INDUSTRY MAGAZINE AD EDITOR’S MESSAGE Editor’s Notebook, Autumn 2025 A Sad Farewell to a Canadian RV Legend As we prepare to begin our 55th year serving the Canadian RV industry we are deeply saddened by the loss of a good friend and leader in the parts and accessory sector, Garry Bewernick of Atlas Trailer Coach Products, Calgary AB. Garry was a leading proponent of Canadian businesses for more than 50 years. We had the pleasure of meeting Garry as we travelled the country in the 1970s to visit with all of the leading suppliers to the industry, and our connection spanned half a century. Please take a few minutes to read the tribute to Garry in this issue follow – the link to his obituary on the Arbor Memorial website where you can share your thoughts with the family by signing the memorial book. Looking ahead to a positive year for the RV industry The 2025 RV model year was a challenge for many industries in North America, including the RV manufacturing and the parts and accessory sector, which were forced to adapt to constant changes brought on by the application and revocation of tariffs throughout the key spring and summer selling seasons. Despite these challenges, the Canadian RV industry weathered the storm and emerged from the difficult period with strength and resolve. All indicators point to a more robust 2026 model year, with dealers enthusiastic about product innovations, new models designed for younger markets, and prices appropriate for the widest range of new RV buyers. AI and Influencers Impacting RV Sales These days, everyone is racing to implement AI technology in the workplace and marketing assignments. As traditional print and online publishers, we see this as a mixed blessing. Yes, there are ways AI can assist in the creation of some projects, but you have to understand that AI relies extensively on scraping information from existing online sources. We had a visitor suggest that we could generate much of the content for our magazines and websites by simply utilizing AI technology. We tested the project by giving AI ten factors to use in the creation of a feature article. After only a few minutes the AI bot presented a feature article that included eight major points that were thinly veiled plagiarism from our own website features, and two concepts drawn from online sources of very questionable credibility. As a former adjunct professor in professional writing at university level, and an editor for more than 50 years, I would give the AI bot a failing mark for this type of content creation. Many RV manufacturers are relying on social media posts and “influencer” content to stimulate retail sales. This is a complex approach that can produce results in some cases, but can lead to massive headaches if your influencers see themselves as “citizen journalists”. Choose your influencers wisely – their efforts can help build your brand, or destroy generations of customer goodwill. Since 1971, we have provided expert content that is trusted by our trade and consumer audiences. We are now booking magazine and website ads for the 2026 model year – join us as we present the finest in RV content to millions of North American families – visit our media kit page to plan your 2026 marketing campaign at 2025 rates. https://rvldealernews.com/ advertise-with-us-your-multi- media-keys-to-the-rv-market/ Norm Rosen, VP Special Projects, Editorial Director, Taylor Publishing Group nrrosen@rvlifemag.com VOLUME 54 NUMBER 2 Publisher William E. Taylor Associate Publisher Melanie Taylor-Wallis V.P. Special Projects/Editorial Director Norm Rosen Technical Director Garth Cane Production Coordinator Giselle Bansal ADVERTISING SALES Norm Rosen Melanie Taylor-Wallis Todd Taylor ADMINISTRATION William E. Taylor President Melanie Taylor-Wallis Group Publisher Norman Rosen VP/Special Projects Nancy Mueller Accounting EXECUTIVE OFFICES Toronto: 268 - 44 Crawford Crescent., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Tel: 905-844-8218 Montreal: Tel: 514-856-0788 Vancouver: 1745 Rufus Drive North Vancouver, BC V7J 3L8 Camping Canada’s RV Lifestyle Dealer News is published by Camping Canada Magazine Ltd. Reproduction of any mate- rial appearing in this magazine in any form is forbidden without prior consent of the publisher. Advertising rates available on request. Camping Canada Magazine reserves the right to refuse any and all advertising and disclaims all responsibilities for claims or statements of facts made by its advertisers or independent columnists. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #43638025 Undeliverables to: 268 - 44 Crawford Crescent., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 MONTREAL, QUEBEC © 2025 CAMPING CANADA MAGAZINE PRINTED IN CANADA aaaa Contentspub page.indd 4Contentspub page.indd 42025-10-14 10:06 AM2025-10-14 10:06 AM6 RV Lifestyle Dealer News | Volume 54 Number 2 It is with great sadness that we have learned of the recent passing of Garry Bewernick, President of Atlas Trailer Coach Products, of Calgary, Alberta. Garry was a dynamic personality within the RV industry and the community at large. His energy and enthusiasm for the outdoor lifestyle was evident through more than fifty years of service to the Canadian RV dealers, and to the many suppliers whose products he distributed across Canada. For many years, the Atlas Fall Festival in Niagara Falls, Ontario, was the highlight of the year for the Canadian RV parts and accessory sector, with hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of RV dealer attendees participating. Garry thrived on the energy of this event, and welcomed everyone with his friendly and outgoing personality. The Niagara Falls event often included a gala dinner and entertainment evening at the Greg Frewin Theatre, where Garry and the Atlas team would participate in magical entrances that amazed his guests – appearing out of thin air surrounded by Greg’s lions, or descending from the ceiling in a helicopter… it was “show biz” at its finest, and Garry loved every minute of it. See a gallery of images from the 2019 Niagara Fall Festival here: https://www.flickr.com/ photos/191472165@N02/ albums/72157717422209652/ with/50737144347 IN MEMORIAM A TRIBUTE TO GARRY BEWERNICK Always eager to roll up his sleeves and contribute to the many RV industry associations, Garry served for many years on the Board of the Warehouse Distributors Association, now known as the RV Aftermarket Association, including several terms as Vice-President of the WDA. Atlas Trailer Coach Products was honoured with the 2025 WDA / RV Aftermarket Association Distributor of the Year 1954 – 2025 garry.indd 6garry.indd 62025-10-14 1:06 PM2025-10-14 1:06 PM7 Volume 54 Number 2 | RV Lifestyle Dealer News A TRIBUTE TO GARRY BEWERNICK Award at the recent RV Aftermarket Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Garry was recognized for his 56-years of dedication to the RV industry when he was inducted into the RV / MH Hall of Fame, class of 2025, on August 18, 2025. While health issues kept Garry from accepting his Hall of Fame “green jacket”, his sons Justin and Brayden were on hand, along with several key members of the Atlas team, to accept this ultimate recognition on his behalf. https://rvldealernews.com/rv-mh-hall-of-fame- class-of-2025-inducted-in-elkhart Please follow the link below to read Garry’s obituary on the Arbor Memorial website, where you can access and sign the memorial book: Garry Bewernick 1954 - 2025 Obituary - www.arbormemorial.ca/en/mountainview/obituaries/ garry-bewernick/148288.html There will be a Celebration of Life for Garry on October 15, 2025, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Centre Street Church, Central Campus, 3900 – 2 Street NE, Calgary AB T2E 9C1 The Celebration of Life will be livestreamed on October 15 – here is the link: https://vimeo.com/event/5409250/embed/ interaction In keeping with Garry’s lifelong dedication to local charities, donations may be made to: • Youth Unlimited – https://donorbox.org/bewernick • Camp Chestermere: www.campchestermere.com/donate • Focus on the Family: www.focusonthefamily.ca Garry and Bev Bewernick at the 2019 Atlas Fall Festival in Niagara Falls, ON. Photo by Norm Rosen, RV Dealer News. The Tank Monitor that Works. Trusted by RVers everywhere for reliable tank monitoring. garry.indd 7garry.indd 72025-10-14 1:08 PM2025-10-14 1:08 PM8 Are you maximizing your profits on every pre-owned RV? While the average Canadian price hovers around $33,800, that figure does not tell the entire story. First off, there are three common ways to calculate the “average” price. More technically this is called measures of central tendency which are statistical values that describe the centre or the average of a dataset. The goal is to get a general idea, in one value, to describe all of our data. In our case it would be to get a better understanding of what a common pre-owned RV might be listed for on a dealership lot. These three calculations, mean, median, mode are as follows. The mean is calculated by adding all values together (prices) divided by the total number of values (number of sales). For Canadian pre-owned RV sales in the last two years, this result would be approximately $50,800. Note that this is substantially higher than our median value described above since a few large values can skew that number higher. For example, if a dealer sells five or six pre-owned Tent Trailers and one relatively new Class A Motorhome, the mean would not be a good representation MARKETING BEYOND THE AVERAGE – A DATA DRIVEN LOOK AT RV PRICING RV Lifestyle Dealer News | Volume 54 Number 2 of any of those sales. The median is the middle value when arranged in order from smallest to largest (or largest to smallest). When looking at prices, or income levels, median can be a more appropriate calculation of that average value. The median price for pre-owned RVs sold in Canada in the last two years is approximately $33,800. Mode is simply the value that occurs most frequently in a dataset. Prices vary considerably in pre-owned RVs and the mode or most frequently occurring price is not a valuable calculation when trying to get an understanding of average prices. For more detailed pricing data, visit https://wtrfll.ca and subscribe to our web based sales dashboards. To extend this idea further, we can assign prices to specific “bins”, for example groupings of $10,000. In this case, prices between $10,000 and $20,000 would be grouped together, $20,000 to $30,000 would be grouped together, and so on in increments of $10,000. When grouping prices into these bins of $10,000 and grouping by type, the most common are: • Travel Trailers under $50,000 • Fifth Wheels from $10,000 all the way to $50,000 • Class A Motorhomes over $150,000 This approach is called a frequency distribution, which is a summarized grouping of data which involves categorizing data in to specific groups (the bins discussed earlier) then counting the number of occurrences in each of those groups. This can be very helpful when trying to get a better picture of Report by Nick Farnell RV MarketingREV.indd 8RV MarketingREV.indd 82025-10-14 1:10 PM2025-10-14 1:10 PMSoaring Eagle.indd 1Soaring Eagle.indd 12025-02-26 9:16 AM2025-02-26 9:16 AMNext >