The Montreal Wood Conference began in 1908, when the Canadian Lumbermen’s Association (CLA) organized an annual meeting of Canadian and American wood product manufacturers. Held at Montreal’s Queen Elizabeth Hotel, the event was mainly focused on high-level networking activities between businessmen. At its peak, the CLA event brought together 500 to 1,000 guests. After more than 100 editions, the social event gradually ran out of steam and ended in 2008.
In 2013, the Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA, which had taken over for the now defunct CLA) in collaboration with the Quebec Forest Industry Council (QFIC), the Maritime Lumber Bureau (MLB), and the Wood Products Promotion Bureau (QWEB), took over and revamped the event, giving it a more contemporary allure and renaming it “Montreal Wood Conference”. Geared toward manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers as well as service and production equipment suppliers, it has grown to become one of the most productive business-to-business gatherings in the North American wood products industry. With 1,000 attendees, the Conference attracts importers and buyers of wood products from North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Panels, conferences and industrial visits are but a few of the Conference’s activities.
This year, unable to hold the Conference due to the public health situation, MWC organizers have chosen to create an original, customized virtual experience for participants, addressing current market issues and transformations in the wood products industry.
The MWC 2021 experience tailor-made for you:
With the expected resumption of business activities and the progressive withdrawal of confinement measures, 2021 will require all industry players to adapt their processes while demonstrating a strong sense of innovation in order to be active participants in the recovery.
The new year will also redefine the way things are done. By necessity, and in order to better address increasingly stringent ecological and environmental standards, innovative technologies will have to be developed and implemented, as mandated by many governments including those of the United States and Canada. With various environmental standards and a supply of certified, high-quality products, the wood products industry is well-poised to take advantage of this context and improve its market position.
Manufacturers will have to multiply their efforts in an increasingly competitive marketplace. New strategies will have to be implemented to increase productivity, adjust to new demand levels and conform to regulations and agreements. Collectively, companies will have to face new challenges, such as transportation constraints and the promotion of the added value of our products.
In this shifting and evolving context, the Montreal Wood Conference offers a unifying, original and vibrant activity that will allow us to look to the future with optimism. Both fascinating and instructive, the “MWC 2021 Experience” will address such relevant issues as the fundamental and current concerns expressed by the wood products industry. It will also deal with the expected transformation of our industry in terms of best practices, operations, innovation and development. To address these topics, a number of panelists and experienced CEOs will share their vision and their perspective, and answer participants’ questions.
The 2021 Experience is offered free of charge to participants, thanks to the unwavering support of our loyal sponsors.
For more information, visit www.montrealwoodconvention.com.
