TAOL - Ontario Locksmiths - Your opinion?

[jgardhouse]

Any locksmiths in Ontario that are members?

Do you find your money to be well spent?
Courses?
Is the annual confrence of any real substance?
Rangles?


Considering taking some courses through thier subsidary/partner, they offer reduced annual rates, but then, is it even worth it?

Cheers!

[ldnlksmth]

I'm personally not a member, but I work with a number of people who are. Generally, they seem pleased with their membership, though most don't bother with the courses (they've been doing it too long, they don't care anymore). Depending on where you are, talk to th regional rep (in my area, it's Pete Bowley of Pete's Lock Repair). See if you can get some course outline stuff before committing.

[Romstar]

I've never really understood the TAOL.

I would have expected them to long ago have gotten legislation passed regulating locksmiths in Ontario. Especially when you consider all the things that are in Ontario.

Yet, like Nova Scotia, anyone can become a locksmith. I am not sure of regional restrictions, but from a provincial standpoint there is no legislation at all.

Toronto is the largest city in Canada, Ottawa is the nation's capitol and between those two places, there are so many people and places that just stand to be at risk and still no legislation.

Maybe the have managed self regulation, and that would be great, but for whatever reason they don't seem as active as they could be. Although I will admit, at least they have an association. There is nothing of the sort in Nova Scotia. Here an association existed long enough to defeat some bad legislation, and then they couldn't work together long enough to come up with something better.

The association dissolved in bickering and lack of direction. Everyone wanted to go in a different direction. Thus we have no protection from anything.

Romstar

[ldnlksmth]

the problem in Ontario seems to be that everyone's too busy looking out for themselves as individuals to see that working towards a common goal would help everyone. We get close every few years, but then a new government comes into power and wipes the slate clean. We just went through a major re-organization of the Security Guard and Private Investigators Act, which is pretty self-expalanitory in what it covers. There was talk of legislating all 'security practictioners' then, but it never materialized (the re-vamp was from a coroner's inquest, and didn't include lockies/alarm techs). Theory is that next go-around the rest of 'us' will be included, but until then, we just weed out the hacks as best we can.

[linty]

i read the TOAL magazine but it's not particularily informative. i don't really know much else about TOAL.

[ldnlksmth]

yeah, I had about enough of their magazine as well. Their 'apprenticeship' program is a bit of a joke. I never got involved in it, but a friend of mine did, got his son registered and they just kind of said 'okay, see you in three years'. No mandatory education or testing. It really is pointless.

I think under competent leadership it could do great things, such as ALOA, I've heard good things about the North Carolina assoc., New York has an excellent program.

It really does boggle the mind that we can possess tools and knowledge specifically intended to break into peoples houses and we're not even required to carry a bond, have any kind of training or be regulated in any way except by the business licence departments of the municipalities in which we reside/work.

[I Pik U]

My father was a member for many years, even designed their logo. He was a member up to about 5 years ago. Just didn't find it provided enough for him to stay a memebr. He had a hand in the magazine as well, until he got fed up and started his own, 25 years ago.
Over the years there have been lots of changes in membership and staff.
I was also a member when I started Locksmithing. As I didn't attend meetings and such, as I used my weekend/etc for other purposses, being young, and then having my own family, I didn't stay a member as I could find out what was going on through my father.
I have been keeping an eye on the Assoc. more lately, reading their magazine to see whats been going on, and thinking about joining up again.

[ldnlksmth]

that statement 'doesn't seem to be worth it in the long run' seems to be the consensus around here. There is no doubt that they do good, but I think there are other ways of getting the same information. I would be significantly more tempted to join if I saw some legislative action, higher training standards etc.