STAFF WRITER
– The OCR Special Feature
ROOFTech 2017, the Canadian Roofing Exposition, will return to Toronto’s International Centre next April 25 and 26. The biennial show provides a special opportunity for roofing contractors, suppliers and manufacturers to congregate, learn, do business and build relationships.
Canadian Roofing Contractors’ Association (CRCA) executive director Bob Brunet says the show, held every two years, rotates between Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. The last show, in 2015, had been the first time in 15 years the show was held in Vancouver.
“2017 marks the thirteenth biennial ROOFTech and will, by popular demand, be returning to the International Centre which boasts complimentary parking and Wi-Fi within the public lobbies,” says show director Karen Maki.
She says The International Centre, located just three km. from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, is easy to get to by GO train or car and is highly accessible. “All of the lobbies and main entrances are accessible with wheelchair ramps and power operated doors. There are 55 designated accessible spaces and barrier-free washrooms.”
Also by popular demand, will be the return of the show’s seminar program and live demonstrations. New for 2017 however, Maki says the seminar program will double to offer four hot topic sessions – two per day. “The seminar program is currently being created by the show committee made up of roofing industry members with full details to be available on the show website in October 2016.”
Maki says each day will see one session geared towards property managers and building owners, developers, facility managers, and another session geared towards the contractors, architects, inspectors and construction management.
The majority of seminars and demonstrations, she says, will be eligible for continuing education credits through BOMA (The Building Owners and Managers Association) and OAA (Ontario Association of Architects).
Another popular component of the show is the live demonstrations. This year’s lineup includes demos on six major roofing systems: Thermo-plastic roofing; EPDM (ethylene propylene diene terpolymer) roofing; steep slope roofing; green roofing; modified bitumen; and built-up roofing. Each demo, Maki says, is both planned and executed by experts on that specific roofing system to ensure that the information and techniques provided are relevant and of greatest value.
Brunet says additional educational opportunities will be available through the more than 200 exhibits both indoors and outdoors in the heavy equipment space.
New confirmed exhibitors include Gaco Western; Go Resilient Canada; Hawkeye Bird & Animal Control Inc.; Innovative Fall Protection Inc.; Malarkey Roofing Products; Mule Hide Products; Platinum Technologies; Royal Adhesives & Sealants; and Tuff Industries Inc.
OIRCA (Ontario Industrial Roofing Contractors Association) is the title sponsor. Other key sponsors include Soprema; Convoy; IKO and Lexsuco.
Brunet says ROOFTech has always been a big industry relationship-building draw. “Where else can you meet and shake the hand of just about every supplier to the roofing industry?”
Registration is open online. Maki says registering in advance of the show will save the $20 registration fee. “People who register early will also receive valuable show updates.”
For more information, visit www.rooftech.ca.