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Canada North Resources Expo: another winning show

The Canada North Resources Expo, held in Prince George, B.C. at the end of May, was a huge success, thanks to features like a 30 per cent boost in outdoor exhibition space and the show hosting the first Northern B.C. Safety Conference.

By Jim Stirling

The Canada North Resources Expo (CNRE) continued to expand its impact in central British Columbia with its recent second biennial show held May 29-30 in Prince George.

The show’s producer, Master Promotions Ltd., and its co-organizers described the event as “a huge success.” Master Promotion’s figures reveal the event was attended by 8,451 visitors, which represents an increase in numbers compared to the more than 8,000 attending the first CNRE in 2013.

“Visitors representing northern Canada’s varied resources and resource industries came out in droves to check out the big iron and live equipment demos,” enthused Mark Cusack, national show manager with Master Promotions, a national event organizing company based in Saint John, New Brunswick.”We’ve had great feedback from show visitors and exhibitors alike.”

For Master Promotions, the local response to this year’s show represented another highlight in what is developing as a banner year for Prince George. Cusack noted in his welcoming comments to the show that 2015 is the city of Prince George’s 100th anniversary and was marked by the city’s recent and successful hosting of the Canada Winter Games.

“There’s no better time to pay tribute to the many sectors that are part of the region’s economy, including mining, oil and gas, forestry, bioenergy, education, health care, transportation and professional services. The Canada North Resources Expo showcases the leaders and rising stars of each of these industries,” said Cusack.

The CNRE’s primary focus in 2015 was providing a showcase for the region’s forest industry, heavy construction equipment and services and natural resource project infrastructure. An appreciated feature of the 2015 show was a 30 per cent boost in outdoor exhibition space. This provision allowed more room for exhibitors to display the latest in machines and services and encourage a broader range of participation.

Among the new features introduced during this year’s CNRE was the hosting of the first Northern B.C. Safety Conference. Its guiding principle is the provision of practical information and tools to help manage safety challenges encountered at work. The conference was designed for workers, supervisors and owners active in the regional forest industry.

The intent is for the safety conference to become a regular feature of future CNRE editions. It’s organized by a committee representing a cross section of the forest industry including licencees, contractors and suppliers along with WorkSafeBC and the BC Forest Safety Council.

A returning and associated feature at the 2015 CNRE was the Health, Wellness and Safety Zone. It’s a cluster of services and information sources collectively designed to improve awareness and safety habits on the job.

The CNRE is produced in partnership with the Resources Expo Society, a locally based, not-for-profit operation with a mandate to promote training and educational opportunities in the central and northern B.C. resource sectors. Funding generated by the show helps the society meet its objectives. Community beneficiaries include a legacy scholarship and bursary program at the regional College of New Caledonia; creating a legacy fund with the Prince George Community Foundation and support for local heavy equipment training programs.

The next CNRE in Prince George is scheduled for May 2017. Organizational work for that event began with an analysis of this year’s successful show as its baseline.