More than 900 participants and some 100 exhibitors gathered on May 24 and 25 at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal to take part in the Montreal Wood Convention, the largest event of its kind in Canada.
This unmissable event undoubtedly contributes to maintaining the strength and vitality of the wood industry. After two years of waiting, the event welcomed buyers from all over North America and some European countries. The goal of this initiative is to allow them to create and maintain valuable business links and to discuss the issues of the vast wood market.
“This great return of the convention in a face-to-face format was a great success. With the health and geopolitical uncertainties of the moment, in addition to the postponement of the event, we had mixed expectations at the outset as to how many people would make the trip to Montreal. We were pleasantly surprised by a large number of participants and exhibitors from across North America. It was very special to see all these industry people again and to welcome them to Montreal,” said Sven Gustavsson, event director.
“The expert speakers gave a very detailed picture of the situation in the wood industry. A reminder to our participants of the challenges that lie ahead as well as innovative solutions. We can think here of logistics and the constantly changing economic picture.”
The forest industry is a major contributor to the Canadian economy with a GDP contribution of nearly $20 billion (2012 chained dollars), representing eight per cent of Canada’s manufacturing sector. With exports of over $45 billion in 2021, the sector has a strong positive trade balance (over $30 billion). In terms of softwood lumber, Canada remains the world’s second largest producer and the second largest exporter. The forest industry provides nearly 200,000 direct jobs (foresters, scientists, engineers, computer specialists, technicians, and skilled workers) and is a pillar of economic development for many municipalities from coast to coast.
“The Montreal Wood Convention is the perfect opportunity for Canadian wood product industrials to meet with a multitude of investors from North America and overseas in one place, in a short period of time and at a low cost, to expand their export activities to a greater number of markets,” explained Sylvain Labbé, president and CEO of the Quebec Wood Export Bureau and organizing committee member of the event.
“The U.S. market has long been Canada’s main importer of forest products and will remain so. However, the consequences of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have reminded our producers of the importance of diversifying exports by accessing other markets, notably through increased visibility and canvassing activities such as the Montreal Wood Convention. Opportunities like this allows Canada to ensure the sustainability of its industry and to gain new market share in a constantly changing world,” he added.
The Montreal Wood Convention has continued to grow in popularity since its inception, despite a hiatus due to the global pandemic of COVID-19. Each year, the varied program reflects the latest market trends and the many changes in the industry. The 2022 program included speakers on the economy, the state of the global market, and the latest in logistics. A panel of four industry experts presented a global and current vision of this sector of activity. A luncheon hosted by the keynote speaker, and Olympic champion Alexandre Bilodeau was also on the agenda.
The Montreal Wood Convention is organized in partnership with the Ontario Forest Industries Association, the Maritime Lumber Bureau and the Quebec Forest Industry Council.
Learn more: www.montrealwoodconvention.com.
