ISSA Show Canada 2019

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, ON, 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 a 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, 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, 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 sectors. 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 June 12 as Tim Miller, president of Business Development Associates (BDA) Inc., presented two business sessions focused on business growth and evolution, and Mark Heller, MBA, one of the foremost environmental hygiene professionals, explained by “Something is Better than Nothing,” 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/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 FM community.’’

Following the opening remarks, attendees heard the case for building to zero carbon with Thomas Mueller, MA, Hon. FRAIC, LEED^® AP 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 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, Michael Patterson also 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 Industry Consultant, Ken Hilder, John Castelhano, AVP strategic sourcing and procurement, BGIS; Sante Esposito, VP Eastern Canada REMS, Colliers International; David Matarasso, VP Property Management, Bentall Kennedy (Canada) Ltd.; and Kimberly Train, director, 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.

ABOUT ISSA SHOW CANADA

ISSA Show Canada is the result of a partnership between ISSA, IFMA, and MediaEdge’s Real Estate Management Industry (REMI) Network. The goal of the show is to provide a platform to connect like-minded industry professionals focused on keeping buildings clean, green, and operating in a sustainable and energy-efficient fashion.

ABOUT ISSA

With more than 9,300 company members—including distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, building-service contractors, in-house service providers, residential cleaners, and associated service members—ISSA is the world’s leading trade association for the cleaning industry. The association is committed to changing the way the world views cleaning by providing its members with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment, and an improved bottom line. Headquartered in Northbrook, IL, USA, the association has regional offices in Mainz, Germany; Botany, Australia; and Shanghai, China. Visit www.issa.com, call 800-225-4772 (North America) or 847-982-0800, join the discussion with ISSA’s LinkedIn group, and follow ISSA on our Facebook page and Twitter account.

ABOUT IFMA

IFMA is the world’s largest and most widely recognized international association for facility management professionals, supporting 24,000 members in more than 100 countries. This diverse membership participates in focused component groups equipped to address their unique situations by region (138 chapters), industry (16 councils) and areas of interest (six communities). Together they manage more than 78 billion square feet of property and annually purchase more than US$526 billion in products and services. Formed in 1980, IFMA certifies professionals in facility management; conducts research; provides educational programs, content and resources; and produces World Workplace, the world’s largest series of facility management conferences and expositions. To join and follow IFMA’s social media outlets online, visit the association’s LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr pages. For more information, visit the IFMA press room or www.ifma.org.

 ABOUT MEDIAEDGE

For more than 25 years, MediaEdge has been at the forefront of communication solutions, providing innovative products and services to organizations within a variety of business sectors. The company is currently partnered with upwards of 80 associations, has launched and produced more than 100 conferences and trade shows across Canada, and offers award-winning 360-degree integrated marketing solutions. MediaEdge also owns and publishes seven market-leading print, digital, and website products focused on the real estate management industry.