The Stratosphere Tower AirBar, rising 800 feet above the Las Vegas Strip, hosted the CSSA’s 6th annual Canadian Firearm Industry Reception on January 23, 2019.
This event, held in conjunction with the 41st annual SHOT Show, brings Canadian manufacturers, retailers, media and advocacy groups together under one roof for an evening of networking and camaraderie at one of the premier venues in Las Vegas.
The 2019 event broke previous records for both pre-registration and attendance, with over 300 people representing some 125 firearm-related businesses.
CSSA Director Mike Duynhoven founded the networking social as part of the CSSA’s commitment to unite Canada’s firearm industry and the larger firearm community.
“In 2013, I met Phil O’Dell (O’Dell Engineering Ltd.) on the first day of SHOT Show and he gave me $300 from him, Chris Youngson (Canada Ammo) and Mark Gdak (Trigger Wholesale Inc.) ‘to make the tradition grander.’ With that we bought beer, liquor, pizza, chips and 18 of us packed into my hotel room,” recalled Mike.
That informal networking event led to a more formal one the following year in a small Bally’s Hotel conference room.
The event now draws over 300 members of the Canadian firearm industry, including representatives from both the Canadian Coalition for Firearms Rights and the National Firearms Association.
“Thanks to the CSSA for having me there. [A] lot of the organizations, they seem to have a hard time doing that kind of stuff and I was treated really great… so thanks to Tony [Bernardo] for that,” CCFR executive director, Rod Giltaca, said during his January 31st podcast.
While this was Mr. Giltaca’s first visit to the CSSA’s industry networking social, the NFA’s vice-president Blair Hagen attends it every year.
“I always look forward to the Great Canadian reception. It’s an opportunity to meet and greet the who’s who of the Canadian firearms industry,” said Hagen.
The CSSA could not host this celebration of the Canadian firearm industry without the generous financial donations of our event sponsors.
Once again, we thank the following companies and individuals for making this annual event possible.
Platinum Sponsors
- CapriCMW/Firearms Legal Defence, Zack Schwingenschloegl
- Edward L. Burlew Law Firm, Edward Burlew
- North Sylva Co., Domenic Saverino
- Trigger Wholesale Inc., Mark Gdak
Gold Sponsors
- 5.11 Tactical, Kerin Sparks
- Calibre Magazine, Dan Fritter
- Mossberg, Gilles Stubbins
- SAKO/Beretta, Spyros Chrysochou
Silver Sponsors
- Marstar Canada Inc., John Arcobelli
- Meggitt Training Systems, Jeremy Penney
- Movie Armaments Group, Charles Taylor
- Scorpion Outdoor Products, Bob Shebalyo
- SureFire, Donald Turcotte (The Evans Group)
- T.E.C. Trade Ex Canada, Anthony Tornyi
- Tasmanian Tiger Canada, Marc Beaudoin
Bronze Sponsors
- Bell Outdoors, Kevin Lavoie
- Big Rock Sports, Steve Dorey
- Canadian GunHub Inc., Rocky Rutledge
- CTC Supplies, Philip Chau
- Drummond Shooting, Adam Riddle
- Eli’s Guns & Archery, Dan & Leigh Nagy
- Firearms Outlet Canada, Fred Pellegrino
- Gunsmith Canada Inc, Faouzi Younes
- High Capacity Magazine, Doug Hopkin
- Holosun Technologies Inc., James Cook
- Hudson Supplies Inc., Marc Beaudoin
- Kodiak Defence Inc., Steve Goulet
- Outdoor Canada, Mark Yelic
- Tactical Ordinance Inc., Casey Brouwer
- Wiley X, Donald Turcotte (The Evans Group)
- X-Reload Inc., Rene Deveault
Thanks to all of our sponsors once again. Your support is very much appreciated!
NRATV’s Cam Edwards talks with Tony Bernardo about the 2011 Election Results