Andre Pachon Awarded Lifetime Membership at TIAC Conference 2025
By Chris Ishkanian
Over the years, TIAC has shown its appreciation for members who have made a valuable contribution to the association and the mechanical insulation industry. The time has come for TIAC to show its appreciation once again, as the association enthusiastically presents Andre Pachon of C&G Insulation with a Lifetime Membership at TIAC.
As is often the case in our industry, this story starts with a young man working in the family business. His goal was to graduate from high school and go to college. Working in the family business was a way to make some money but unknown to him it planted the seeds for his eventual career path.
As it sometimes happens, personal plans and life’s realities don’t always mesh. At some point the college plans took a detour and our honouree ended up back working in the family business. He progressed from installing duct liner in the shop to installing mechanical insulation on jobsites to running projects.
In 2003, Andre purchased the family business from his parents and, along with his wife Judy, continued to operate the business. They worked through challenging times but with the help of family, mentors, and a dedicated workforce, they persevered.
Along the way, Andre recognized the value of belonging and participating in industry associations. He has been a long-time advocate of trade associations, and for 15 years he invested his time into being an active board member for BCICA and TIAC.
Despite the business success, Andre’s legacy will be his dogged determination to get the Western Canada Mesothelioma Fund Society up and running. Since 2009, this organization has managed to raise $750,000 to finance medical screening of high-risk candidates for early-stage mesothelioma. Funding has also been used by cancer researchers in Vancouver who are advancing treatment and detection methods otherwise unattainable without this funding.
These are all admirable achievements, but they weren’t possible without a team behind him. Judy has also been an active partner in the business from the beginning and was heavily involved in the Mesothelioma Fund. They were a formidable team, and it’s hard to think of one of them without the other’s name popping into your head. Andre’s and Judy’s children Steph, Robert, and Raymond have also spent time working on and off for the company. Today, the family business continues to thrive, and now that the parents have retired, Raymond and Steph have filled their roles in the business.
Andre learned from other mentors, as well. His father George is one of the early members of BCICA and TIAC, and he is a lifetime member of both organizations. Family members Dave Kermode and Jerry Kermode and coworkers Harold Nygren and Ken Rae taught our honouree the right way to run a business. Do good work, charge a fair price, and treat your staff, customers, and suppliers with respect.
It's my honour to welcome Andre Pachon as the newest Lifetime Member of TIAC.
