Wood Convention (MWC) are looking forward to being back in person on March 29-31, 2022. The event, that has its roots in the Canadian Lumbermen’s Association (CLA) Convention, first held in 1908, was revamped and restarted in 2013 by four industry associations in Eastern Canada, the Maritime Lumber Bureau (MLB), the Ontario Forest Industry Association (OFIA), the Québec Forest Industry Council (QFIC) and the Québec Wood Export Bureau (QWEB). At that point the operations of the CLA had been taken over by the OFIA.
The Montréal Wood Convention has gone from success to success in its new format and grown steadily drawing over 1,000 participants from 14 countries and 115 exhibitors in 2019.
According to Sven Gustavsson, the Event Director of the MWC, “This meeting between producers and buyers of wood products enhances the key business contacts which leads to the creation and the maintenance of sustainable alliances.
“The Montréal Wood Convention is not only a trade show,” he stated, “it is also a learning experience. Seminars are set during the week to inform people about industry news and elite speakers share their knowledge about innovations to come.”
Although trade of wood products is at the core of the MWC, the event attracts company management, production executives as well as service and equipment suppliers to the industry. The information obtained and the networking opportunities are what make the event.
The organizing committee is presided by Christian Gilbert, Sales Manager of J.D. Irving. Other companies represented on the committee include Weston Forest, White River Forest Products, Hornepayne Lumber, GreenFirst Forest Products (ex-RYAM), Resolute Forest Products, EACOM Timber, Group GDS and Arbec Forest Products. This group ensures input from the industry in all corners of Eastern Canada.
According to Christian Gilbert, “It is very inspiring to work with such a dynamic group of industry peers in the creation of one of the best industry meetings in North America.” He went on to say, “The direct industry input on the content and the format of the event is a key factor in its success to attract suppliers and buyers from across the United States, Canada and beyond.”
In 2020, the MWC was canceled due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2021 the virtual MWC Experience was held with glimpses back to past editions and a forward-looking CEO-panel discussion with Craig Johnston of the Forest City Trading Group, Andy Goodman of Sherwood Lumber, Kevin Edgson of EACOM Timber and Cees de Jager of the Softwood Lumber Board.
For 2022, the industry is eager to get back in person, to meet and greet business partners face-to-face. The program includes high profile speakers covering the key challenges and opportunities for the wood products industry in the near to medium term. The exhibition hall, company meeting rooms and receptions provide for ample time to meet new and existing customers and suppliers.
All activities are taking place at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel in downtown Montréal. The hotel was completely refurbished a few years ago and it remains the perfect venue for an event such as the MWC.
For an early start to the Convention, NAWLA is inviting people to their Eastern Canadian Regional Meeting on Tuesday, March 28, the evening before the opening of MWC 2022.
Nathalie Houde, the MWC Event Coordinator, said, “The event will benefit from some of the new technology that has developed so quickly during the pandemic. This enables us to offer a virtual participation in many of the sessions and the event mobile application is completely new for 2022. It will offer many new features to easily schedule your convention and connect with other participants for instance”
Judging from the interest already shown from sponsors and previous participants, the 2022 convention may very well be the largest yet. The program will be finalized during this autumn and registration is NOW open! For more information go to
www.montrealwoodconvention.com. We also invite everyone to follow the MWC on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
