Industry News News
Got plans this year? Have a look at the 2022 in-person forestry events

[Updated Jan. 4, 2022] – Things are looking up when it comes to rubbing shoulders with our peers in the forestry world this year.

As we prepare our 2022 events calendar, we’re noting that most forestry events across Canada and the U.S. are planning for in-person, business-as-usual conferences and trade shows. However, new gathering restrictions in most provinces from the spike in COVID-19 cases over the holidays may change things.

Here’s a snapshot of the events we’re looking forward to, much of which is still planned for in person.

As always, the Truck Loggers Association (TLA) is going to kick things off with their mid-January convention and trade show. Originally set to take place in downtown Vancouver, the convention has since moved to a virtual platform due to gathering restrictions in B.C. “Firmly Planted. Standing Strong,” is the TLA’s theme this year, and condensed program will focus on the recent changes to the province’s forest policy.

A February event has also been affected by the worsening pandemic situation. Ontario Forest Industries Association recently postponed its annual AGM, planned for in-person in Toronto. The agenda includes Ikea Canada’s Cynthia Chau, and Hamir Patel, CIBC’s executive director of equity research.

The Montreal Wood Convention is still on for March 2022 and we’re anticipating a full program with both the trade show and conference sessions. And, as always, plenty of networking opportunities.

Vancouver will host the BC Council of Forest Industries Convention in late April. The program is not yet released but we’re saving the date: April 27-29.

The Interior Logging Association is also planning for an in-person conference and trade show May 12-14 in Kamloops, B.C.

In June, we’ll be personally hosting our future-focused forestry technology events – OptiLog and OptiSaw, on June 8 and 9, respectively. This will be the inaugural in-person OptiLog event, and we’re looking forward to assembling a team of presenters who will give loggers insight into the future of harvesting operations in North America.

On June 9, we’ll host OptiSaw, the Mill Optimization and Automation Forum – in Kelowna, B.C. This is our first time taking OptiSaw to the Interior, but, as usual, the program will feature industry-leading manufacturers who are changing the sawmilling game.

Fast-forward to September 2022 and our travel itinerary is already filling up fast, starting with OptiSaw East taking place in Quebec City on Sept. 13. This event, hosted with our sister magazine Opérations forestières, will include simultaneous French-English translation.

DEMO International beginning on September 22 in Ottawa and Gatineau, Que., is undoubtably going to be a highlight of the year. The highly-anticipated (particularly after two years of postponement due to COVID-19 restrictions) live demonstration trade show allows OEMs to showcase their hottest equipment advances right in the woods. We’ll certainly be there to take in all the action, along with thousands of loggers and manufacturers.

And back again this year is the Timber Processing & Energy Expo, taking place in Portland, Ore., in late September. The three-day trade show is a one-stop showcase of the newest wood products machinery.

Check out our full list of industry events here.

And watch for our annual CFI wall calendar mailed out as part of our November/December issue.

Is your event missing in our online events calendar? Send me a note at mchurch@annexbusinessmedia.com.