TORONTO — The Woodworking Machinery & Supply Conference and Expo, Canada’s national woodworking show, opened Wednesday with a steady stream of professional woodworkers in search of products that can help propel their businesses.  

The WMS Live Conference also kicked off with an opening keynote address by Larry Coté, Managing Director of Lean Advisors, and Julia Novik, President of Lean Advisors. The duo stressed the importance for woodworking companies to not only use Lean principles to eliminate waste, but to maximize their current assets to meet the current economic turbulence.

The three-day show continues Thursday and Friday at the Toronto Congress Centre, located near Pearson International Airport.

 

Thursday's event lineup includes a trio of sessions that will allow members of the architect and design community to earn CEUs and a Veneer Grading Seminar that will be held on the opening day of the show and repeated on day two. Day 2 of WMS will be anchored by the WMS Live Auction presented in partnership with Boss Auctions. Woodworkers can register to bid at the WMS Live Stage beginning at 3 p.m. Thursday or online.

WMS 2025 features displays of woodworking machinery and supplies manufactured around the globe. Woodworking professionals attending WMS 2025 can experience demonstrations of advanced and classical woodworking equipment and CAD/CAM and ERP software. Attendees will also witness the latest trends in cabinet and furniture hardware, decorative surfaces, components, and a plethora of other products that can help improve their productivity and profitability.

In addition to world-class products, the show is bolstered by a daily robust and free conference taking place at the WMS Live Stage right on the expo hall floor. Several of the WMS Live sessions are presented in partnership with the Wood Manufacturing Cluster of Ontario. Each day includes an opening keynote address followed by a variety of timely presentations mainly focused on industry trends and best practices. 

Following is a summary of Thursday's and Friday's scheduled highlights of WMS 2025.

DAY 2: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13

8:30 AM – 115 PM 
Veneer Grading Seminar 
Sponsored by Columbia Forest Products and Veneer Technologies
Location: Booth #2037
Speakers: Fred Mitchell, Value Stream Manager, Materials of Columbia Forest Products and Greg Simon, Face Sales Manager of Veneer Technologies
Registration required; $99 cost includes networking breakfast, lunch and expo hall admission.
Learn more.

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Expo Hall Open
View Floor Plan & Exhibitor List
 

10:00 AM – 10:50 AM
Keynote: Money Does Grow on Trees
Location: WMS Live Stage, Booth #804
Speaker: Luke Elias, President Muskoka Cabinet
Learn more.

11:00 AM – 11:50 AM
CEU Session 1 | TFL: Exceptional Design, Durability and Sustainability in A High-Value Decorative Panel
Sponsored by Uniboard Canada
Location: WMS Live Stage, Booth #804
Speaker: Laurence Keighan, Marketing Project Manager of Uniboard Canada
Learn more.

12:00 PM – 12:50 PM
CEU Session 2 | Plywood, Seriously?
Sponsored by Columbia Forest Products
Location: WMS Live Stage, Booth #804
Speaker: Kenn Busch, Owner of Material Intelligence
Learn more.

1:00 PM – 1:50 PM
CEU Session 3 | Practical Circularity: Recycled Wood Decorative Panels to Come of Age
Sponsored by Tafisa Canada
Location: WMS Live Stage, Booth #804
Speaker: Janet Paul, Specifications Representative of Tafisa Canada
Learn more.

2:00 PM – 2:50 PM
Navigating Woodwork Projects: Insights from AWMAC's Expert Panel
Location: WMS Live Stage, Booth #804
Speakers: Nick Anastas, President of AWMAC Ontario; Derek Bonnett, Senior Project Architect and Contract Administrator of Diamond Schmitt; and Johnny Farro, President of InterAll
Moderated by Laurie Suikki, Association Manager, AWMAC Ontario
Learn more.

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
WMS Live Auction
Sponsored by Boss Auctions
Location: WMS Live Stage, Booth #804
Learn more.

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Networking Reception
Location: WMS Live Stage, Booth #804
All attendees and exhibitor personnel welcome.

DAY 3: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14

9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Expo Hall Open
View Floor Plan & Exhibitor List
 

10:00 AM – 10:50 AM
Keynote: Fueling Success: Focus, Fire, and Forward Motion (WMCO)
Location: WMS Live Stage, Booth #804
Speaker: Barry Reid, Business and Executive Development Specialist of LMI Canada
Learn more.

11:00 AM – 11:50 AM
Protecting Your Woodworking Business from Cyber Threats (WMCO)
Location: WMS Live Stage, Booth #804
Speaker: Boris Zlatogorov, CIO and VP of Operations of MIT Consulting
Learn more.

12:00 PM – 12:50 PM
Exploring Career Pathways in Today’s Woodworking Industry
Special WMS Student Day Presentation 
Sponsored by the Wood Manufacturing Council, Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association and WMS
Location: WMS Live Stage, Booth #804
Speakers: Amrita Bhogal, People & Culture Director of Sunrise Kitchens; Corey Laurysen, VP Sales & Service of Laurysen Kitchens; and Ethan Kroetsch, Project Engineer of Lignum Consulting
Moderated by Audra Denny, President of the Wood Manufacturing Council
Learn more. 

About the Woodworking Machinery & Supply Conference and Expo
For more than four decades, WMS has connected Canada's woodworking professionals with the world's most prominent machinery manufacturers and industry suppliers. This year's show, November 12-14, moves to the Toronto Congress Centre located minutes away from Pearson International Airport. In addition to being the largest tradeshow, WMS 2025 will feature free industry best practice presentations plus the opportunity for attendees to earn CEUs by attending some of the sessions Also on tap are the returns of Student Day and the popular WMS Live Auction. 

DOWNLOAD

For information about exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities, contact Gavin McAuliffe of Corcoran Expositions at 312-265-9649 or [email protected]. For general inquiries, contact Kim LeBel, Executive Director - Events, [email protected].

More Woodworking Network events
Wood Pro Expo Lancaster, Oct. 23-24, 2025, Spooky Nook Sports/Warehouse at the Nook Hotel, Manheim, Pennsylvania.

Closets Conference & Expo, co-located with Wood Pro Expo Florida, June 30-July 2, Palm Beach County Convention Center, West Palm Beach, Fla.