Often dependent on the weather for its attendance levels, Congress 2003 enjoyed a cold but snowless welcome at the Toronto Congress Centre, housing over 700 exhibitors from seven countries, proving its international status. Opening a day later than in past years, the show ran on a Wednesday to Friday format, setting an all-time record on the first day, with attendance up by 25 per cent. Exhibitors reported heavy traffic and brisk sales, which continued throughout the three-day show, and ending up with a 12 per cent overall increase in attendance.
New products continued to be a mainstay of the show, with new product lines introduced in exhibitors’ booths and at the New Product Showcase Garden. Located near the front entrance of the show, the garden was one of the first areas attendees walked through prior to traveling the many aisles of the seven-and-a-half-acre show. Attendees got a chance to vote for their favourite new product. This year’s People’s Choice Award went to Rittenhouse Sprayers for its Water Valet (see the March New Products Issue of Landscape Trades for more informtion on the product).
The Awards of Excellence Program for Landscape Design, Construction and Maintenance was reported as the best run and attended in the program’s history. For complete coverage, please see the March issue of Horticulture Review or visit www.loawards.com.
Congress also provided the perfect opportunity to discuss association business, with Landscape Ontario hosting its Annual General Meeting at the International Plaza, located across the street from the Toronto Congress Centre. The points of interest for 2003: the steps necessary to attract young people to the trade, ensuring a larger labour force for the next generation of the industry.
Also receiving accolades for its wide appeal was the Congress Conference program, which touched on a number of issues of relevance to specific industry sectors. “We had tremendous feedback on our program. It was great to see how many sessions were filled to capacity. It showed us that we hit the nail on the head on what people are looking for in terms of education,” says Pat Hillmer, Conference coordinator of the selection of speakers, including international personalities. “They should expect even more great choices next year.”
Tailgate Party VII proved you can’t have too much of a good thing. Held at the Wild Rose Saloon at the International Plaza, the seventh instalment attracted a reported 600 attendees and exhibitors. Food stations located in the lobby outside of the saloon fed the patrons, while Pauly and the Goodfellas entertained the masses and got the crowd dancing until the small hours.
For information on next year’s show, please visit www.locongress.com or look to future issues of Landscape Trades and Horticulture Review magazines.
Landscape Ontario would like to thank all of its sponsors, donators and volunteers who gave of their time, material, labour and support to make Congress a success. In particular, the organizers would like to express a sincere thank-you to Hank Gelderman of Jan Gelderman Landscaping, who donated a truck for use in the Ministry of Transportation booth for the Circle Check Demonstrations.
To talk to someone directly about exhibiting in future LO shows, please contact Paul Day, ext. 339 or Brenda Speck, ext. 353 at the LO office, 905-875-1805.
- Thanks to Congress sponsors
Congress 2003 would not have been as successful without the support of these very generous sponsors. - Educating the future
Last year, Landscape Ontario joined forces with other like-minded associations in an Education Partners program. The result was a top-rated and well-attended Conference program.
