Slide Show: WMS 2019 draws attendees from all provinces

By Harry Urban

November 5, 2019 | 5:03 pm CST

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Woodworking industry executives kick off WMS 2019 with a ribbon cutting ceremony. From left to right: Tim Fixmer, President and CEO of the Woodworking Network, which owns and operates WMS; Sandra Wood, Executive Director of the Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association; Laurel Didier, Publisher, Closets & Organized Storage; Ian Christie, Upper Canada Forest Products and AWMAC Ontario Board Member; Wes Love, President, Taurus Craco; and Richard Lipman, President, Wood Manufacturing Council.

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Mike Holmes Jr. greets the WMS crowd before the events' opening with his keynote, "Making it right."

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Mike Holmes Jr. meets attendees after his keynote presentation.

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Activity in the Venjakob booth.

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Luke Elias, president of Muskoka Cabinet Co., discussed his company's commitment to automation in his October 31 luncheon keynote.

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Stefano Tibe of Giardina discusses emerging finishing technologies that enable matte finishes during WMS Live.

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Will Sampson's keynote on November 1 addressed "Solving the Pricing Puzzle."

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Dr. Eugene Wengert presents at Day 2 of WMS.

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Mike Baker of the Bluewater Wood Alliance presents at WMS Live.

MISSISSAUGA -- WMS 2019 concluded its 3-day run on November 2 with exhibitors reporting healthy sales activity and attendees offering very positive feedback. More than 4,500 attendees from all 10 provinces and two territories took in the event. Attendees ranged from professionals involved in furniture and cabinet manufacturing, architectural woodworking, flooring, windows and many more. WMS 2019 also saw attendees from 34 countries outside of Canada. "We're very pleased with the attendance," said Tim Fixmer, CEO of CCI Canada, the show's organizer. CCI Canada is owned by CCI Media, owner of Woodworking Network. "WMS was the largest show in Canada in more than 15 years," said Fixmer. "We look forward to continuing to build this show for years to come." The next WMS will be held November 4-6, 2021.

Comments from attendees:

"WMS has been a staple of product and equipment education for us as a company for the last 6 years, and will continue to be our go-to for new equipment purchase decisions, and upcoming product changes." --Jordan Parker, Grafted Kitchens, Sarnia, On.

"This was my first time at the expo and being the owner of a small business, I learned a lot things though the sessions and keynote speakers, made great connections and got to learn about new product lines. I loved to be part of this event and looking forward to next year!"-- Rod Da Silva - Owner Chosen Finish Carpentry, Inc., Toronto.

Next stop SIBO

Woodworking Network will produce Canada's next major trade show, Salon Industriel du Bois Ouvré (SIBO), at the new Centrexpo Cogeco in Drummondville, Quebec April 23-25, 2020. Other events produced by Woodworking Network include the co-located Cabinets & Closets Conference and Expo and Wood Pro Expo Texas, the Executive Briefing Conference, and Wood Pro Expo Lancaster.

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WMS 2019

About the author

Harry Urban is the retired publisher of the Woodworking Network. Urban spent more than 30 years working in business-to-business publishing, trade shows, and conferences. He has travelled extensively throughout North America and overseas visiting and reporting on major manufacturing facilities and trade shows. In retirement, he's still following the woodworking industry, but he plans to do a lot more fishing.