At the end of 2023, I retired as president of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH) after a 35-year career — a personal milestone that occurred during the organization’s 90th anniversary year of its official incorporation in Montreal, which occurred on Feb. 8, 1933. The nine founding members recognized the need to lobby the federal government to amend the Dominion Housing Act to encourage renovation and housing, and its mission continues to this day.

My career began at CIPH in 1988 as a program manager. Over the years, I have played a key role in developing CIPH programs and services. During that time, I worked closely with industry members, allied North American associations and the government to help establish uniformity and harmonization of codes and standards. 

Collaboration with allied associations to establish memorandums of understanding was critical to enhance common North American goals such as training, regulations and code-related support — a process in which I played an instrumental role. 

In addition, I played a key role in combining Canadian trade shows related to the plumbing, heating, cooling, piping and electrical lighting industries. And I was the first Canadian to serve on the National Association of Wholesaler Distributors board of directors. 

During the last 21 years of my career at CIPH, I served as president and general manager. A large portion of my CIPH career — and one of the most satisfying — has been to bring groups of people together. 

This would not have been possible without the support of the CIPH team, which operates in nine regions across Canada and provides members with business, education and training, networking opportunities and social programs. Because of this, I was blessed with the opportunity to travel around our wonderful country many times and meet the members who have now become friends. 

My 35-year tenure at CIPH has seen some of the most remarkable achievements of the industry:

• The development of the CSA B214 Installation Code for Hydronic Heating Systems, the installation and designed standard referenced in the national model codes. The standard was the first of its kind in North America and brought the hydronics industry together from coast to coast.

• The timely adoption of our national model codes. Each province and territory in Canada adopts and enforces our national model codes within a 24-month window of publication and has free access to them.

• Bringing the World Plumbing Council to Calgary, Canada, with the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada. 

• Our 30-year relationship with Habitat for Humanity Canada to help families move into safe, decent and affordable homes. 

• Our current work with an indigenous community to help bring clean, safe drinking water. 

A Sincere Thank You

I am particularly proud of the many relationships I have built within government, North America and with allied associations — especially those who design, manufacture, distribute, sell, certify, install, inspect and maintain plumbing and heating systems. 

It’s been a remarkable journey, and I left with no regrets, as the association is well-positioned strategically to meet future challenges, including the environmental and climate change demands and the changing demographic needs of the industry. 

The members in these regions have embraced all the challenges that came their way without losing focus on our organization’s primary goal — to serve our members’ needs and wants — and I believe they will continue to do so. Thank you for your investment in CIPH and the continued support you provide toward our overall work, moving forward and strengthening our mission and objectives. Your significant contributions have not gone unnoticed.

I would also like to thank our allied association friends in both Canada and the United States; I appreciate the opportunity to work together with trust and appreciation. Collaboration and mutual respect are, indeed, alive and well.

Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not thank the CIPH board, past chairs and boards with whom I had the opportunity to work to serve this wonderful industry. I am thankful, grateful and blessed to have you in my circle of life. You helped shape me to be a better person and leader. 

Thank you for the precious gift of influence afforded to me to help make our CIPH, our industry and our country a little better than I found it when I was appointed president in 2002. 

None of this would have been possible without the support of my family. My parents, Antonio and Carmela Suppa, taught my siblings and me the values of respect, humility, gratitude, integrity and the importance of a solid work ethic. Without my family, I could not have achieved the work done for CIPH. 

My beautiful wife, Susie, has always been my rock throughout my career. She always made sure everyone felt welcome during CIPH conferences as she has always done at our home — with good food and wine, ensuring that all were left with a sense of friendship until we met again. 

I’ve always lived by the mantra that whatever you put out in the world comes back to you. Now that I am retired, I want to spend more time with my family, and do a little bit of world traveling and golfing. More importantly, I want to continue paying it forward by serving on a charitable board. 

Ralph Suppa, CAE, is the former president of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating. He retired in 2023 after 35 years with the organization.