The Woodworking Machinery & Supply Conference & Expo, scheduled for Feb. 24-26, has been cancelled due to the just announced provincial lockdown resulting from governmental concerns about the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
“COVID-19 has, once again, forced our hand to make this difficult decision,” said Tim Fixmer, president and CEO of CCI Canada, organizers of the event.
WMS had already been postponed from its Nov. 4-6, 2021 time slot because of COVID-19.
On Monday the Ontario government moved the province into a modified version of Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen, effective yesterday (Wednesday Dec. 5) for at least 21 days. As such, indoor meeting and event spaces are closed.
“Even if the government begins easing restrictions in February our exhibitors will not have sufficient time to prepare for the event,” said Fixmer. "Our priority is the health and safety of our attendees and exhibitors.”
He said WMS will return to its regularly scheduled time slot in the fall of 2023. The date and venue will be announced as soon as possible.
"We remain committed to WMS for the future and for the benefit of the Canadian woodworking industry," said Fixmer.
WMS is world-renowned as Canada’s preeminent industrial woodworking event. For more than four decades, WMS has connected Canada’s woodworking professionals with the world’s most prominent machinery manufacturers and suppliers. WMS 2019 attracted attendees from nine Canadian provinces and two territories.
The 2019 edition featured 75,000 square feet of exhibit space and more than 175 exhibitors.
More upcoming Woodworking Network events
- Closets Conference & Expo co-located with Wood Pro Expo California, April 27-29, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, Calif.
- Executive Briefing Conference, Sept. 15-17, 2022, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colo.
- Wood Pro Expo Lancaster, Oct. 13-14, 2022, Spooky Nook Sports Center, Manheim, Pa.
- Salon Industriel du Bois Ouvré (SIBO), Oct. 27-29, 2022, Centrexpo Cogeco, Drummondville, Quebec.
For more information contact Harry Urban at harry.urban@woodworkingnetwork.com
