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Let’s rock – WinDoor 2019 will kick out all the stops

WinDoor lands back at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ont., Nov. 20 through 21. The later date coupled with a return to the Toronto area after a year away in Quebec should add some extra interest for anyone making and selling windows and doors in Ontario.

If one thing is becoming clear in the event business these days, it is that the opportunity to network, socialize and have unstructured conversations is just about as important as anything else that goes on at trade shows. We do most of our communicating with the outside world over text and email – here’s a chance to get together face-to-face and meet some people that you didn’t know you wanted to meet. In 10 years of being a magazine editor and 10 years before that as a machinery salesperson, I have never walked away from a show without multiple new contacts and multiple valuable conversations that have helped my business. You think you can do without it, but you can’t. Every time you skip a show your competition is in there having the conversations that you are not.

Fenestration Canada has taken note of how important networking is and expanded its WinDoor program with some new opportunities to get together and talk.

MAIN EVENT
The brainchild of Mike Bruno of Everlast is back. Three years ago, as Bruno was getting more and more involved with the association, he turned his attention to the need for a major networking event at WinDoor that Fenestration Canada could call its own. His simple yet powerful twist on the standard trade show reception was to make it a paid sit-down dinner with entertainment, and to give exhibitors and industry suppliers a chance to purchase seats and tables at a reasonable price and pass the invitations along to their customers…you. Instead of everyone scattering to restaurants and bars around the city for dinners and meetings after the show, everyone could come together in one place. Instead of a 15-minute chat on a booth, suppliers could treat their clients to a nice dinner and a fun night. Instead of standing around in a beige hotel ballroom with a drink and some finger-food, the group gets to enjoy a great dinner served in a classy hall with a busy dance floor and an open bar – all because the event is well-funded by sponsors. The inaugural Main Event two years ago is still talked about, with around 600 window and door people in attendance.

Don’t miss this year’s. Fenestration Canada has kicked it up to 11 by bringing in Destroyer, a Kiss cover band, to terrorize the crowd. It’s a big ole starship back to the late ‘70s and we’re all going to get on board. Dig deep in the closet for your three-quarter-sleeve concert tees and come on out. It’s on the evening of Nov. 20 at the Embassy Grand Convention Centre in Brampton (there are shuttles). If you can’t wrangle an invitation from one of your suppliers, individual tickets are available from Fenestration Canada.

 LEARNING LOUNGES
Fenestration Canada is making the education program more relaxed and integrated with two dedicated Learning Lounges built into the trade show floor. The talks will be easy to walk in and out of without leaving the action. A lot of the program is still up in their air at press time, but you can be assured that your regular update on codes and standards will be available, as well as special educational presentations from many of the experts on the floor. Additional smart people are being brought in to discuss such topics as getting government funding for employee hiring and training.

NEW PRODUCT LOUNGE
This year Fenestration Canada is reviving the New Product Lounge which can feature anything that is new and exciting from the exhibitors. It’s fun to wander through these areas and check out the items that the exhibitors feel are especially noteworthy. Then you can go to their booths and ask questions about anything interesting. The New Product Lounge is going to be combined with a cafe and some seating to enhance the area and give you that all-important chance to pause and have a good conversation.

Then, of course, there’s the show floor. Check out our special preview in the following pages.

WinDoor 2019 at a glance
Date: Nov. 20 – 21
Location: International Centre, Mississauga, Ont.
Time: Wed. 10 – 5, Thurs. 10 – 3

Main Event date: Nov. 20
Main Event time: 6 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Main Event location: Embassy Grand Convention Centre, Brampton, Ont.

Partner hotel: Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites

Visit windoorshow.ca for links to special hotel and flight rates.

Who’s going to be there?
Here are some of the the confirmed exhibitors at press time.

• AD Fast
• aluplast
• Amesbury Truth
• AquaSureTech
• Can-Best Testing Laboratories
• Cartons Corruguard
• Continental
• Doorcom
• Elton Manufactoring
• Endura Products
• Energi
• Erdman Automation
• Everlast
• Exova
• Fenestra
• Fenestratio
• Fenestration Review
• FeneTech
• Fentro
• Fenzi
• Fiberglass Fiberlink
• Forel Spa
• HB Fuller Window
• Interlock USA
• INT Machines
• JSA Machinery
• Kear Fabrication
• Klaes
• Kleiberif Canada & American Renolit
• Laurentide
• LePage/Henkel
• LM Packaging
• Lothar’s Industrial Sales
• Mennie Canada
• Novagard
• Novatech
• ODL
• Paradigm
• Passive House
• PH Tech
• Prolux Paints Inc.
• Protomach
• Quanex
• Radisson
• Richersons
• Roto Fasco Canada
• Screenco
• Skyreach Group
• Sturtz Machinery
• Sun-Spot
• Tremco
• Trimlite
• TruForm
• UL
• Ultrafab
• VEKA
• Vi-Lux Building Products
• Windowmaker