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ISSA Show Canada 2019 Proves to be an Industry Hit

The premiere of ISSA Show Canada is now one for the books and, by all accounts, the exposition proved to be an outstanding success. The show made its debut at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, June 11 to 13, 2019.

“It’s been four years since the last major sanitary maintenance and cleaning exposition was held in Toronto,” said ISSA Canada Executive Director Mike Nosko. “By partnering with the REMI Network and IFMA, we have taken this trade event to the next level and are making great strides in our efforts of uniting the industry.”

On Tuesday, June 11, ISSA Canada was pleased to host ISSA’s Cleaning Management Institute (CMI) Accredited Auditing Professional (AAP) certification program for the Canadian marketplace. The CMI AAP program is designed for industry professionals looking to enhance their knowledge and skill with regard to quality assurance and building audits. Approximately 30 forward-thinking professionals participated in the session which ran from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ISSA Show Canada kicked off at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, June 12, with a well-attended infection control session presented by Michael Patterson, IEHA executive director, and Julie Hoeflaak, CSS leader/trainer for Hamilton Health Sciences and education chair of the Ontario Healthcare Housekeepers Association (OHHA). Delegates were then treated to an informative and inspiring session by Tim Poskin, founder of Cleaning Change Solutions, and Jenean Merkel Perelstein, Cleaning Change Solutions’ process owner for culture change and leadership, who encouraged participants to take what they learn out of the classroom and onto the front lines to affect lasting change within their organizations.

At 10 a.m., the trade show floor welcomed over 1,000 guests representing the building service contractor, in-house service provider, infection control, and environmental services sectors, as well as the property management and real estate markets. The exhibit floor sizzled with energy for the better part of the day as deals were made and new contacts established. According to ISSA President Paul Goldin, the beauty of this trade event was that the exhibitors not only included manufacturers, but also distributors, wholesalers, and building service contractors, so even when there was a break in the crowds, key contacts could still be made between those exhibiting.

Education opportunities carried on into the afternoon on Wednesday as Tim Miller, president of Business Development Associates (BDA) Inc., presented two sessions focused on business growth and evolution, and Mark Heller, MBA, one of the foremost environmental hygiene professionals, explained that “Something is Better than Nothing” by showcasing the evidence in support of better cleaning process.

Day one of the trade show concluded with an All Industry Reception featuring fine food, beverages, and entertainment, as well as a platform to network with industry peers.

On Thursday, June 13, the Annual Industry Breakfast, Awards, and Keynote kicked off with opening remarks from each of the ISSA Show Canada partners – ISSA, IFMA, and MediaEdge.

“Thank you for joining us for the launch of the ISSA Canadian show,” ISSA Executive Director John Barrett, told delegates. “This is really a big deal for us and I want to recognize our partners MediaEdge, who’s Kevin Brown who leapt at the opportunity to serve the cleaning industry in Canada, and IFMA’s top dog, Don Gilpin, who just as enthusiastically jumped in the boat to provide new value to the facility management community.’’

Following the opening remarks, attendees heard the case for building to zero carbon with Thomas Mueller, president and CEO of the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC), who reinforced the importance of green building and sustainable practices.

The Industry Breakfast, Awards, and Keynote also provided ISSA, IFMA, and the REMI Network an opportunity to recognize individuals who have been leaders within their industries. ISSA was pleased to present the first annual Industry Leadership and Outstanding Contribution Award to Mike Watt, director of training and new product development at Avmor Ltd.

“We don’t always take the time or opportunity to honor and recognize special people within our industry,” Nosko told delegates during the presentation. “The ISSA Canada Industry Leadership and Outstanding Contribution Award does just that, and I am pleased to be able to present it to such a deserving individual as Mike Watt. His vast knowledge and industry passion only furthers our goal of changing the way the world views cleaning.”

Although day two attendance was affected by the media hype surrounding preparations for the eventual NBA champion Toronto Raptors’ Jurassic Park, it didn’t stop others from maximizing the day’s events. Once again, delegates were able to connect with exhibitors as well as attend the educational sessions offered during the day.

Not only did Mark Warner, ISSA’s CMI education manager, offer tips for leveraging standards and practices to drive a business, Patterson returned to the podium to detail the importance of sustainability as a planetary and business imperative.

The highlight of the day was an in-depth and interactive industry panel discussion sponsored by the ISSA Canada Building Service Contractor (BSC) Council. Approximately 50 delegates filled the room to hear from the expert panel of senior executives from leading facility management companies in Canada. Moderated by ISSA Canada BSC Council Chair Ken Hilder; John Castelhano, associate vice president of strategic sourcing and procurement for BGIS; Sante Esposito, vice president of Eastern Canada REMS for Colliers International; David Matarasso, vice president of property management for Bentall Kennedy (Canada) Ltd.; and Kimberly Train, director of national programs for Oxford Properties, offered insight and perspective to help building service contractors successfully navigate the issues of minimum wage adjustments and labour cost increases. The session concluded with a lively Q&A session.

“It has been a long time since Canada has had an exposition like ISSA Show Canada, and the industry was certainly ready for a new and exciting event that had one common goal of uniting the industry,” Nosko said. “Moving forward, I believe the partnership between ISSA, IFMA, and the REMI Network has been beneficial, and we look forward to organizing an even bigger and better trade event in 2020.”

For more information on ISSA Show Canada, please visit www.ISSAShowCanada.com.