HHCC’s Business Model

Established under national letters patent in 2002, HHCC’s mandate was clearly articulated, “.…to promote, support and facilitate the study, research and understanding of the history and development of the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry in Canada…”. The Centre’s Letters Patent, setting out its full range of objects for which it was granted national charitable status are included as Attachment A

Its letters patent clearly mark HHCC as a new kind of 21st century cultural organization, contributing to Canada’s “post-industrial”, “information”, and “knowledge” society. Its core business, in “promoting, supporting and facilitating the study, research and understanding of the history and development” of HVACR technology, puts HHCC firmly in the research and inquiry business. And research and inquiry are recognized as providing the substantive basis of all scientific knowledge – here scientific knowledge and understanding of HVACR technology as Canadian material culture and cultural property.

The frame of reference adopted by HHCC for the production of substantive knowledge about the historic artifacts held in its custodial care is based on 5 fundamental questions of inquiry: 

  • What is it,
  • What does it do,
  • How does it work,
  • With what results, and

With what consequences for Canadian society and culture?

  1. HHCC’s business model is here taken to be defined by the public products or services it provides by virtue of its national letters patent.
  2. Terms “Post- Industrial” and “Information” society became part of the Western popular lexicon, following the late 20th century work of a host of writers reflecting on the contemporary driving forces reshaping Western society and culture - including Yonegi Masuda. Alvin Toffler, and Ruben Nelson, and so forth