EFMA 2026: Kimco’s Focus on Maintaining Valued Relationships

Casino Royale night at EFMA 2026. Tuxedos. Cowboy hats. As per tradition. The boots stayed home this year, but the team more than made up for it.

By the Kimco Team | June 2026

After more than twenty years of supporting the Education Facility Managers Association conference, Kimco still shows up and gives it everything.

The EFMA conference is where we reconnect with the people who run BC’s schools. It’s also where new connections start. For Kimco, it has never been a trade show. It’s a reunion.

Quick Answer: The EFMA (Educational Facility Managers Association of British Columbia.) conference is an annual gathering for the people who manage BC’s school facilities. Kimco Controls has attended for more than twenty years. We go for the relationships, not the booth traffic. Those connections show up in the HVAC, building automation, and electrical work we do in schools across BC’s Interior.

Twenty-Plus Years, and We’re Still Bringing the Mustard

The conference kicked off with a sunny golf tournament. Our team was there to keep the golfers going with refreshments, sausages on a stick, and an array of mustards. We shared some laughs and caught up on the proceedings as the day moved along. Anything to keep them rejuvenated for their swings.

It was in those moments that we reconnected with familiar faces and met new ones. What better way to do that than with some good old barbecued meats and mustard?

Casino Royale, Cowboy Hats, and Four Years Running

The conference included a Casino Royale-themed night, and our team came dressed for it. Tuxedos. And, as per tradition, cowboy hats. The boots had to stay home this year, unfortunately.

Our traditions make us recognizable. People who’ve seen us before look forward to what Kimco will bring each year. One delegate shared that in each of the four years he’s attended EFMA, Rob Demman, our Electrical Service Estimator, has been his favourite Kimco representative.

That says something. Sometimes it isn’t about the conversations you have. It’s simply how you show up. When care comes naturally, people feel it.

The Kimco booth at EFMA 2026. The Delta Controls Authorized Distributor badge is something we're proud to show anywhere we go.

Standing Side by Side with Ainsworth

We had the pleasure of sharing the floor again this year with Ainsworth. It’s a partnership with real history, and we always pick up right where we left off.

Standing together meant we weren’t only representing the Thompson-Okanagan. We were also giving delegates from the Lower Mainland a chance to learn more about who we are. Another way new relationships start, including some who were excited to take home Kimco merchandise.

The Friendships That Keep Us Coming Back

The EFMA conference is where relationships start and where they deepen. The reason Kimco has been part of this conference year after year is the people.

This year, we were fortunate to share several meals with our good friend J. Groetchen from School District 23. Through something as simple as sitting down together, those friendships keep getting stronger.

Our giveaway winner this year was Joe Tank from School District 5. Joe is someone who, over the years, has become a genuine friend. He truly is a legend to our team, and it was good to recognize that out loud. The giveaway may have looked like a grand gesture. To us, it was a small reflection of how much we value the connection.

Ken Watt at the Kimco and Ainsworth booth at EFMA 2026. The prize draw box was hard to miss, and so was the merchandise.

Showing Up for the Community First

Kimco believes in showing up for our community first, and this conference was exactly that.

When people come back to share those moments with us, that’s the impact we’re aiming for. Not a pitch. Not a transaction. Just people who are glad to see each other again.

We’ll see everyone next year. The cowboy hats are already pressed!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the EFMA conference?
A: The Educational Facility Managers Association of British Columbia. (EFMA) is a BC-based professional association for the people who manage school and education facility operations. The annual conference brings together operations managers, school district staff, and industry partners from across the province. Learn more at efmabc.com.

Q: How long has Kimco Controls been involved with EFMA?
A: Kimco Controls has supported the EFMA conference for more than twenty years. Over that time, we’ve built relationships with school district staff from across BC’s Interior and the Lower Mainland. Several of those connections have grown into long-term working partnerships.

Q: Does Kimco work with school districts?
A: Yes. Kimco has serviced over 100 schools across the Okanagan and BC’s Interior, delivering HVAC, building automation, and electrical services. School districts work with us for reliable maintenance, technology upgrades, and multi-building management solutions. Learn more about our work in the education sector.

Working on a school or education facility project? Talk to the Kimco team.

Kimco Controls helps school districts, property managers, and general contractors across BC’s Interior with commercial HVAC, building automation, and electrical services. Based in Kelowna and serving the region since 1984, Kimco has serviced over 100 schools in the Okanagan and holds certifications with ASHRAE, WorkSafe BC, BCEA, and ITA.