MCEE 2023
After a two-year hiatus, the MCEE show was back in full force in Montreal. Held from April 19 to 20, the mechanical and electrical trade show welcomed around 400 exhibitors and 7,000 guests, all occupying 65,000 sq. ft. of new products and the latest technology.
Held in downtown Montreal at the Palais des Congres Centre, guests got their hands on the newest technology and products. The show reports that 82 per cent of guests stated that they came just for the new products. The VIP reception, which was held the night before the show floor opened, showcased the winners of the New Product Competition. To see the full list, visit our website.
The show runs bi-annually and is produced by the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH), the Corporation of Master Pipe Mechanics of Quebec (CMMTQ), the Corporation of Master Electricians of Quebec (CMEQ), and Corporation des entreprises de traitement de l’air et du froid (CETAF). The show will return on April 24 and 25, 2025, at the Palais des Congress Centre in Montreal.
Wolseley Toronto Expo
Over 800 people, including contractors from all across Ontario, attended Wolseley Canada’s Expo on May 11 at the Toronto Congress Centre. In The trade show floor was packed with more than 50 exhibitors in plumbing, HVAC/R, IAQ, and tools/instruments.
The show ran from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and allowed for plenty of networking opportunities, with food and drink tables set up around the facility, including some kettle chips that seemed to be snatched up as soon as they were put out.
Attendees were also able to attend four educational seminars, which were presented by Greenbrain and the Wolseley Tech team, Google, GE, and ADS.
Wolseley is heading east for its next trade show. The Wolseley Halifax Expo will take place on June 1st and will feature a Wolseley exclusive concert featuring a performance by Signal Hill at a post-expo private event from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Ont. Skills Competition
Skills Ontario held its first in-person competition since before the pandemic and it was jam-packed with competitors, trades enthusiasts, and lots of happy faces. The event took over the Toronto Congress Centre from May 1st through 3rd. A formal closing ceremony took place on the final day of the show. Over the three days, there were an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 people walking around supporting those competing or competing themselves. A full list of this year’s winners can be found on the Skills Ontario website.
First ever Ont. based apprenticeship summit
Supporting the apprenticeship and certification model, promoting the skilled trades, facilitating research in the skilled trades, and building an inclusive skilled trades sector are the four pillars that Skilled Trades Ontario will be working on over the next three years. The strategic plan was announced at the government agency’s first Industry Summit on Apprenticeship, which was held at the Toronto Congress Centre on May 3 during the Skills Ontario Competition.
The framework was shared with over 250 industry leaders, educators, and apprentices.
Guests of the summit were able to provide feedback on the strategic plan by asking questions and participating in workshops.
New Watts learning centre opens in Fort Worth
Watts Works opened its seventh learning centre in North America in Fort Worth, Texas. The training centre is set to train Canadian contractors on many different Watts-specific products, many of which are manufactured at the facility.
A group of trades-specific media were invited down to tour the 3,600 sq. ft. learning centre, office areas, and manufacturing floor. We were able to see Watts employees conduct robotic welding and cutting, laser metal cutting, and sheet metal rolling. At this specific facility, PVI water heaters, Blücher stainless-steel trench and HygienicPro drains, and Ames and Watts in-building risers are produced.
To commemorate the official opening of the facility, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held.
Hydronic training offered by Eden Energy
Eden Energy Equipment hosted a “building science” training event, which featured Dr. Allison Bailes as the keynote professor. The event lasted two days and provided attendees with an insight into how a home can run more efficiently. Most of the source material for the training came from Bailes’ book, “A House Needs to Breathe… Or Does It?”
As such, the presentation explored the basic science of buildings and explored the myths and misinformation that pervade the world of home building, remodelling, maintenance, and operation.
The training session consisted of Bailes walking guests through three main chapters, starting from the end — the building enclosure and the mechanical systems. Around 40 guests attended both training days. In between training sessions, guests were able to walk the Eden Energy training facility and enjoy refreshments and lunch. Bailes also had copies of his book available for purchase.