Tropicana Tanning Studios joined the  Joint Canadian Tanning Association when it was first formed. We saw the need to have one association to represent all provinces and deal with the issues that are a concern to the health of our industry.

The JCTA appealed to us as a way to get information that affects the tanning industry. It provides a way of bringing together information and industry leaders with the same goals, helping make tanning great again. Through weekly member updates we get the latest research reports, what’s happening with any government regulations and the latest news stories; a valuable resource in keeping up the changes that effect the tanning industry. We find it important to have the right response and answer to questions that can be challenging for the average salon owner or employee to answer. Five different salons can have five different opinions to the same question. The JCTA has become the “go to association” to get a clear, consistent answer.

A few years back when the teen tan ban was being debated in British Columbia, the JCTA was involved and, through meetings and correspondence with government officials, we got a law that worked for all. It was a long and time-consuming process, plus an expense, that could be over whelming for the average salon owner to take on by themselves.

For the consumer, JCTA has put together a website, www.tanresponsibly.ca, that will help educate the client on all aspect of the tanning process and can guide them to the nearest JCTA member salon. It’s another reason why I’m a member.

In the past 30 years that I’ve been in the tanning industry, I’ve seen a lot of changes. For years, we got negative press and seemed like we just got walked on by anyone who was against tanning. Yes, we still get negative press, but we now can respond with solid facts and get our views heard. It will always be an uphill battle, but by becoming a JCTA member, our industry gets that much stronger to fight back.

Tom Wientjes,

JCTA BC Salon Director and co-owner of 2 Tropicana Tanning Studio