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TR Trades Travel Ready Fabric Assists in Fight to End Plastic Pollution

Meet Pete Clarkson, an environmental artist from Tofino, BC, who has made it his mission to transform beach-combed debris into powerful art installations. Pete approached TR Trades with a problem: he needed a 5’x7’ high quality photographic print, quickly, that was able to compress into his suitcase for a trip to Ottawa without being damaged. His art installation, ‘Styrofoam Shores’, was designed to visually bring attention to the massive amounts of Styrofoam circulating in our Oceans and was to be exhibited at the UN’s Global Plastics Treaty Conference in Ottawa. Working with TR Trades, Pete was able to set up his installation successfully and on time, while also staying true to his artistic vision.

Pete Clarkson’s Journey

Pete Clarkson
Pete Clarkson, Artist

Pete Clarkson has long combined locally sourced, beach-combed objects into his artworks, creating impactful wall hangings, sculptures, and outdoor installations. Pete partnered with Surf Rider Canada for their ‘Foam Free Waters’ campaign, which advocates for banning the use of Styrofoam in marine habitats. With his extensive experience in coastal shoreline cleanups, Pete was keen to help shape policy at the UN Global Plastic Treaty negotiations in Ottawa.

Faced with the challenge of creating a compelling, travel-ready installation, Pete recognized the potential pitfalls of transporting art. He needed a high quality, large format photographic print that was portable enough to fit in a suitcase and survive a flight without damage. Furthermore, the risk of putting any art into oversized luggage was not only a hassle but carried the risk of not arriving in Ottawa on time.

The TR Trades Difference

Gord Johns, MP; Pete Clarkson, Artist; Steven Guilbeault, Minister or Environment and Climate Change of Canada
From Left: Gord Johns, MP; Pete Clarkson, Artist; Steven Guilbeault, Minister or Environment and Climate Change of Canada

Recommended by the Ocean Legacy Foundation, TR Trades stood out as the ideal partner for Pete’s project. Together they embarked on a mission to find the ideal material for his photo installation. They settled on TR Trades Travel Ready Fabric, renowned for its inkjet coating that ensures vibrant prints.
Its ability to remain flat and crease-free while being ultra-lightweight made it the ultimate choice for Pete’s project.
TR Trades printed Pete’s photo on their new 64”, 10 Colour Ink, Epson Large Format Printer, at 5’x7’. This impressive size was crucial for Pete’s vision, allowing viewers to feel as though they were actually standing on the shore, surrounded by the pressing issue of Styrofoam pollution.

Pete was not only thankful for the expert advice but also the swift action of TR Trades. With the installation scheduled in Ottawa and time ticking, the TR Trades team managed a remarkable 48-hour turnaround, ensuring the artwork was printed, packed, shipped, and delivered to Vancouver Island in time for Pete’s trip. The contribution of TR Trades and the reliability of the fabric were instrumental in successfully bringing Pete’s vision to life.
Pete was recommended to TR Trades through the Ocean Legacy Foundation who has used TR Trades for other environmental graphic display projects.

A Vision Realized Through Collaboration

Pete finally got his first glimpse of the finished print as he was setting up in Ottawa, and he was immediately impressed by its size, clarity and material quality. He knew it was exactly what he had been hoping for! He mounted the fabric onto a lightweight wooden frame using double-sided tape and propped the full frame against a wall. To enhance the immersive experience, Pete arranged Styrofoam pieces collected from shoreline cleanups in front of the canvas, creating a 3D affect that made it feel as though viewers were standing right on the beach shores amid the Styrofoam debris.
Thanks to the expertise of TR Trades, Pete crafted a successful installation that spotlighted a critical environmental issue in Canada.

If you wish to explore how TR Trades Travel Ready Fabric can assist you on your next long distance project, please call TR Trades for more information at 604.736.4571 x 2 or email digital@trtrades.com

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“McKenzie is always eager to respond and help. Great customer service as always!”
Smart Design Group

McKenzie

Senior Account Manager

McKenzie joined the TR team with a solid foundation of experience in the print industry. His career began in production, where he developed his skills in maintenance, operations and finishing. Quickly recognized for his talent, initiative and charisma, McKenzie was promoted to Production Lead. At the helm of the production team, he proved a natural leader and infected the team with his positivity and work ethic.

After building his knowledge leading the production team, McKenzie progressed into the Sales department, honing his sales skills under the leadership of Carla Duncan and TR’s customer focused approach. His natural penchant for customer service and dedication to quality assurance proved an ideal fit for the TR sales team where McKenzie now functions as Account Manager.

Never one to rest on his laurels, McKenzie enhanced his knowledge with sales courses at BCIT and can regularly be seen applying his skills throughout the shop. Don’t be surprised to find him supporting the finishing department, assisting clients at the front desk, or onsite ensuring installations surpass customer expectations.

Also goes by: Mac

Interesting fact about McKenzie: he can be found on Wikipedia

Best described in three words as: loyal, funny, and stubborn

Cannot live without: his back massager

Quote to live by: “When you look at someone through rose-coloured glasses, all the red flags just look like flags” – Wanda the Owl

“Bruce has always provided excellent customer service.”
InterCAD Services Ltd.

Bruce

CAD & eProject Manager

When you meet Bruce you automatically know he is a seasoned professional in the reprographics industry. Starting out as a driver for Hughes Owens Printing in 1978, he eventually transitioned to Trimen Blueprinting where he acted as a reprographics technician for 13 years. With the onset of the digital era in 2000, TR Trades hired Bruce as CAD Manager. Since then he has been an invaluable asset to the company and anyone who has questions regarding CAD plotting. When Bruce is not overseeing others in the CAD department, he spends countless hours troubleshooting client issues, unearthing customer print errors, and providing eProject software support. He is regularly looked to for printing advice by both coworkers and clients.

Bruce is also well versed in troubleshooting onsite issues and participating in client presentations, having assisted Carla and TR sales staff in many client meetings. If you’re looking for a history lesson on the print industry or if you want to optimize your drawings for print, you’ll want to call on Bruce. Many may not know, but Bruce is a musician at heart! He originally studied engineering and math, eventually realizing it was not the career path he wished to pursue. Following this, Bruce went on to complete both a music program and a piano technician program through Douglas College. During his spare time, you’ll find him creating music or acting as a vocalist in several bands. When he is not playing the guitar and recording music, you can find Bruce tinkering around on one of his computers or watching hockey.

Also goes by: Stretch

Best described as: Humble

Favourite place in Vancouver: Minnekhada, Coquitlam

Guilty pleasure: Audio software

Favourite TV show: Hockey

Ideal meal: Mac & cheese (with ketchup)

Cannot live without: Music

Carla Duncan

President

Having worked in the family business since before she can remember, Carla has a natural talent for helping clients reach their printing goals. Always an advocate for education, Carla completed the Marketing Management course at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and then obtained a degree in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University with a double major in Management Technology and Human Resources. And all of this is in addition to sales and marketing courses at BCIT!

Combining her extensive education with a lifetime of experience, Carla is a driving force behind the success of TR Trades. On a daily basis, she can be found anywhere in the shop, always striving to enhance client satisfaction. Her familiarity with our systems, equipment, and services make her uniquely capable of ensuring clients benefit from every possible way that TR Trades can help businesses grow.

Favourite place in Vancouver: None. She would rather be off the grid camping!

During her free time you can find her: riding her atv or dirtbike, camping in the wild, fishing off the West Coast, fishing in a river, or in her garden.

Ideal meal: steak and double stuffed potatoes

What gets her motivated in the morning: coffee and coming to work!

Contact Me

“If you’re looking for an alternative option to your current print supplier, please call my cell at 604.376.7803. I would love to speak with you about how we can help your business.

604.736.4571 x 121