BY BILL PHILLIPS
Have you ever wanted to get a close-up look at some of those big, big machines that work every day in the resource sector here in the North? Maybe even sit in the cab and work a few levers?
You will get your chance to do just that in two weeks when the Canada North Resources Expo is making its return to the CN Centre. Taking place May 24 and 25, the expo is a showcase of the leading companies and products that are part of Northern Canada’s resources sectors.
“It’s a very large show,” said Mark Cusack, national show manager. “We’ve got four acres of outdoor equipment alone and that’s what we call the big iron.
The large-scale event is held every two years, features “the equipment to get the jobs done.” Visitors can explore tons equipment, machinery, products and technology geared to forestry, heavy construction, mining, and major resources infrastructure.
Inside CN Centre it’s wall-to-wall booths of supports and services for the big machines.
“We have quite a bit of live machinery going on outside, like portable sawmills, tractor-loader backhoes digging in the dirt, skid-steers machines going … just to have some movement out there,” said Cusack.
All the major Prince George dealers, like Caterpillar and Case, will be there showing their machinery.
“All of the big projects that are going on in the North right now, they would be represented by this machinery,” he said.
There will be close to 10,000 people go through the show over the two-day period. Friday is more of a business day and Saturday is more of a family day. In fact, there is only one admission price for the whole family on Saturday.
There will be a food court outside CN Centre.
“We will have a bit of career fair there as well,” said Cusack. “In those industries, there is a very large and real shortage of employees, whether it be an operator or a mechanic. A lot of these dealers and these companies will be accepting resumes at the show.”
Cusack, who does these shows across the country, said the worker shortage isn’t unique to the North, it’s happening all over the country.
The 2019 Interior Safety Conference will be held in conjunction with the show in partnership with BC Forest Safe. This year’s theme is “Safety Responsibilities – Everyone’s Role” and the conference will include topics which include managing fatigue, marijuana in the workplace, human factors and workplace injury prevention using physiotherapy. The conference will provide practical information and tools for workers, supervisors, and managers. Registration for the conference is separate from show registration, and is available here.
This is the third resources expo held in Prince George and Cusack said this show is the biggest one yet.
“We always fill the asphalt surfaces at CN Centre,” he said. “But this year we’re down in the field just to handle the overflow.”
All the booth spaces have been filled inside CN Centre as well.
“With the wait almost over, the only thing to do now is welcome everyone to the show in two weeks,” said Cusack. “Canada North Resources Expo is going into its fourth edition, and it’s clear the community and the industry are looking forward to being back in Prince George. Thousands of attendees are already pre-registered, and exhibitors are getting everything ready to set up for two big days of sales and networking.”
For a glimpse at who will be there, the up-to-date exhibitor list is available on the show’s website.
Pre-registration for the 2019 edition of the Canada North Resources Expo is still available. Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of convenient online registration. By pre-registering, visitors can save 50 per cent and fast-track their entrance to the show. Visitors are encouraged to follow the show’s Facebook page for updates on the show’s features and special offers.
For complete show details, visit www.CNRE.ca or follow the show on Facebook and Twitter.