Your Canadian Self Storage Association 2026 Board of Directors
Alain Gingras, Steven Scott, Sue Margeson, Robert Madsen, Bliss Edwards, Patrick Wood and Marcus Lowe
Mr. Robert Madsen – Current President of the Canadian Self Storage Association
Robert Madsen grew up in self storage, having been introduced to it at the age of 5 when his parents bought their first conversion facility in downtown Vancouver. Forty years later self storage continues to be his passion and livelihood as he operates his ‘small family business’ under the U-Lock Mini Storage brand, in British Columbia. Operating, in communities big and small he loves the industry and all things storage. He remains active in advocating for the industry and helping it evolve in productive and positive ways. He’s currently President of the Vancouver Island Self Storage Association and a Director on the Canadian Self Storage Association. He enjoys writing articles, presenting at conferences, sharing storage know-how and contributing as a moderator on the industries largest online self storage forum for owners, staff and vendors. He values the importance of giving back as a Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Steveston and currently serves as their Public Relations Chair. In his spare time, he loves spending time with family and friends while participating in new adventures and travel.
Ms. Sue Margeson – Self Storage Facility Owner/Investor, Director/Secretary and Executive Director of the Canadian Self Storage Association
Sue is the founding Director of the Canadian Self Storage Association and has been on the Board of Directors in many capacities since 2004. Sue has owned her storage facility since 1989 and still currently is involved in ownership now of a few facilities in Ontario and Alberta. Upon creating the C.S.S.A. as we know it today, Sue realized that the self storage community in this vast country really needed to have a means of communication, obtaining good resources, a voice for advocacy and lobbying, learning and sharing of information with others in the industry and these were some of the reasons why the CSSA was born! Since 2004 Sue has been extremely involved in the planning and implementing of many CSSA programs, initiatives, events and more. Sue really cares about the industry in Canada and the people in it and spends endless hours assisting others in self storage with anything that they require help with. Sue created the motto of the CSSA and truly lives by it….T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone Achieves More).
Mr. Steven Scott – Director/Treasurer
Steven has, since August 2000, been the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Access Group of Companies focusing on the ownership, acquisition, development and management of self-storage, infill residential and commercial real estate in Canada. The Access Group of Companies is comprised of: (i) Access Self Storage Inc. (ASSI) which is the third largest self-storage company in Canada with over 40 locations and over 2 million square feet; (ii) AMR Homes, which specializes in in-fill housing developments within the greater Toronto area; and (iii) Access Commercial, which holds and manages industrial, retail and commercial real estate. He is also an independent director of Timbercreek Senior Mortgage Investment Corporation as well as an independent director of HSBI Benefits Inc. (a private company). Mr. Scott worked in public accounting prior to joining ASSI and is a chartered accountant having articled with Deloitte & Touche. Mr. Scott holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Dalhousie University.
Mr. Alain Gingras – Director
Alain is the Senior Vice President of Operations at Storage Mart. After a short time owning a business, Alain’s entire career has been in self-storage. Alain held his first position in the industry with Forteresse Self-Storage as the General Manager, building and operating 2 facilities in Montreal from September 1993 , he then became the Director of Operations for Apple Self-Storage, He joined InStorage LP in May 2007 as the Regional Director of Operations and held this position until his promotion to Vice-President Sales and Marketing in January 2009. In 2009, following the purchase of Instorage LP by StorageMart, Alain was promoted to the position of Regional Vice President for StorageMart. After being responsible for Western Canada and Quebec for 2 years, Alain took on the operations on the Eastern USA operations in 2011, adding the UK operations in 2016. In 2021, After the purchase of MMS by Storage-Mart, Alain was appointed to lead the transition of this Self-Storage icon to the Storage-Mart SOP, Alain is now Senior Vice-President Operation, overseeing the 350 facilities portfolio field operations. During his career, Alain, built, managed, sold and acquired properties, managed Marketing and call center operations. He has touched on every aspect of the business.
Mr. Patrick Wood – Director
Patrick has spent the last 10 years working with various groups across Canada in the self-storage industry. His activities included consulting on development, operations, and valuations. Recently, he has focused on assisting owners looking to retire or divest their properties to attain the highest values possible.
Additionally, he has participated actively with the Canadian Self Storage Association, volunteering to speak at educational events on behalf of the association and working to collect up-to-date statistics within the industry.
Mr. Marcus Lowe – Director
Marcus Lowe has over two decades of operations management and frontline leadership experience in both the public and private sectors. His expertise includes administration, acquisitions, customer service, human resources, investor relations, financial accounting, property management, information technology and privacy.
Ms. Bliss Edwards – Director