June 10, 2010 – The CanWest Hort Show runs Sept. 29-30 and has moved to the Vancouver Convention Centre's west-side building. With a new space to fill, the show’s planners have stepped up their game to offer an unprecedented four full-day clinics, one half-day clinic, 15 “short course” seminars.
The excitement is building for the CanWest Horticulture Show in September, which moves ‘Under the Green Roof’ at the Vancouver Convention Centre’s new west-side building. With a new space to fill, the show’s planners have stepped up their game to offer an unprecedented four full-day clinics, one half-day clinic, 15 “short course” seminars which also includes FREE training for qualifying entry-level staff through BCLNA’s Horticulture Basics® program.
With a wealth of additional networking opportunities, a new after-party, and tours that take the show on the road, the horticulture professionals who sit on the show committee have said that this is one trade event their colleagues cannot afford to miss.
Karen De Jong, CanWest Show Manager, indicated that this year’s aim was to infuse more energy and activity into the show; “We really wanted to build on the excitement of the Olympics and take a celebratory approach to CanWest this year as an antidote to the caution and reserve that has pulled our industry through recent economic stress. We created the theme ‘Masterpieces’ to be mindful of the creativity and endurance of our exhibitors, who come together to create one of the most beautiful trade shows in Canada.” A container garden competition replaces the former People’s Choice floral design element to better inspire the show’s growing landscape maintenance and installation clientele, and an ‘Iron Chef’ container plant-off will add some spice. Opening day brings “happy hour” to the show floor; and dinner at Vancouver’s liveliest pub, Steamworks, to follow. The show wraps up with tours of local innovators.
“It’s been a real challenge to select tour locations this year,” says Barb Nelson, Exhibitor Relations & Tour Coordinator. “Nursery and landscape professionals have honed their operations for efficiency and a top-notch product. It’s difficult to choose from so many excellent tour options.” One landscape tour will travel to Whistler, while a second will focus on Vancouver’s sustainable sites. A perennial favourite, this year’s Fraser Valley tour will include specialty nursery sites. For “budding” staff, a free industry sampler tour will be offered to qualifying participants; designed to intrigue new and under-trained hires so that they may consider horticulture as a viable career path, this tour is being hosted by the Horticulture Basics® program.
“We are thrilled with our line-up of workshops and professional speakers,” said CanWest Show Chair, Michelle Pain. “We are bringing in the best of the best to help horticulture businesses thrive as they prepare for 2011.” Delegates can customize their own schedule to include both business and professional development sessions including:
Clinics:
A New Marketing Era – Are You Ready? with John Stanley, John Stanley Associates, Australia
How to Sell Contracting Services Successfully with Kevin Kehoe, Kehoe & Co., California
Taking Amazing Landscape Photo’s with Martin Mosko, Marpa Design Studio, Colorado
Designing for Sustainability with David Reid,HB LANARC, British Columbia; Melanie Sifton, Humber Arboretum & Centre for Urban Ecology, Ontario; Owen Dell, Owen Dell & Associates, California
Seminars:
Estimating & Job Costing half day workshop with Mark Bradley, Landscape Management Network, Ontario
The Enjoy Centre with Jim Hole, Hole’s Greenhouses & Gardens, Alberta
Dazzling Residential Entry Ways with Paul Zammit, Toronto Botanical Garden, Ontario
Garden Retail for Sustainability with Jim Hole, Hole’s Greenhouses & Gardens, Alberta
Gardening Without Flowers with Paul Zammit, Toronto Botanical Garden, Ontario
Creating Waterwise Landscapes with Owen Dell, Owen Dell & Associates, California
Right Plant, Right Place with Owen Dell, Owen Dell & Associates, California
Technology to Improve Operations & Profit with Mark Bradley, Landscape Management Network, Ontario
Fallscaping with Stephanie Cohen, The Perennial Diva, Pennsylvania
The Retail Business is Show Business with Anne Obarski, Merchandise Concepts, Montana
Shrubaganza with Stephanie Cohen, The Perennial Diva, Pennsylvania
The Art of Rock Setting & Water Shaping with Martin Mosko, Marpa Design Studio, Colorado
Safe Excavation Practices 101 with Dave Baspaly, BC Common Ground Alliance, British Columbia; and Darlene Dyson, BC One Call, British Columbia
Bullfrogs Have it Easy – they eat what bugs them with Anne Obarski, Merchandise Concepts, Montana
Solutions for Retailers with Jim Hole, Hole’s Greenhouses & Gardens, Alberta
Solutions for Landscapers with Mark Bradley, Landscape Management Network, Ontario
CanWest is Western Canada’s largest horticulture trade show which gathers buyers and sellers of BC’s nursery, floriculture and landscape products and services. The 2010 trade show dates are Sept. 29 & 30; clinics are scheduled for Sept 28 and Oct 1 with tours also taking place on Oct. 1. Known for colourful décor and remarkable displays, CanWest welcomes over 3,000 attendees and 422 exhibitor booths!
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