September 10, 2024
Snow and ice pros gather at Snowposium 2024
By Yuantong Anita Liu
Landscape Ontario’s Snowposium 2024 took place on July 31 at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ont. Over 400 snow and ice control professionals from across the province attended the annual conference at its new location — a sign of the significant growth the event has continued to enjoy since its inception.
Gerald Boot, president and CEO of Boot’s Landscaping & Maintenance and chair of the association’s Snow and Ice Sector Group, which organized the event, praised the event’s success this year. “I've been doing this for a lot of years, and I would say this Snowposium this year is the best ever,” Boot said.
He highlighted the benefits of the event’s indoor location, noting that it allowed everyone to stay together and made it easier to engage with exhibitors and attendees. “It’s not raining inside, or very hot, so the temperature is perfect, and I think the size of the show is excellent,” Boot added.
Not only was the expanded trade show floor impressive, but Snowposium also featured panel discussions, expert presentations and important updates affecting the industry, such as liability issues. “Right now, the contractors are taking all the risk and absorbing all the claims for slip and falls. That needs to change,” Boot said. He believes that Landscape Ontario is playing a crucial role in advocating for fairer liability standards in the industry.
Kyle Stevenson, sales developer for Ed Stewart’s Equipment, a presenting sponsor, also recognized the value of the event. “Snow is a big part of our business. It has always been since we started in 1955. You could almost say snow is in our blood, and the Snowposium team does a great job of putting this event on,” Stevenson said.
“I like that it’s at the International Centre. It gives more space, a little more of a professional feel to it,” he added.
The timing of the event, which was moved from September to July, allowed exhibitors and attendees to better prepare for the upcoming winter season. “This July time is a good time to get out ahead of their purchasing ideas,” Stevenson noted.
He also appreciated the opportunity to connect with clients in person, strengthening business relationships. “We have a lot of customers in the area. They’re all going to be attending the show today, so it’s good to put some face time in showing that we’re here and show them we care about the industry,” Stevenson said.
Snowposium’s ability to foster community and long-term relationships is what makes it stand out for many attendees. Stevenson shared a personal story about a customer who became a close friend, illustrating the deep connections formed within the industry. “Over the last 10 years, we’ve dealt multiple times on snow and ice control equipment, and today I would say he’s become one of my very close friends,” Stevenson said.
Shawn Collins, general manager of Postcard Perfect, highlighted the importance of the event for connecting with customers and understanding industry trends. “It’s a great way for us to connect with customers, get a better understanding of what the industry is going through right now and what they’re looking for,” Collins said.
For Collins, the event was also about community involvement. “For us, it’s just being involved with the community, understanding what’s going on and what’s coming up,” he added.
Postcard Perfect has been a member of Landscape Ontario for many years, and Collins emphasized how the event strengthens their ties to both the industry and the community. “Being good stewards of communities [is important] as well. It's not always about taking, it's about giving," Collins said.
Nicole Quigley, owner of Storm Solutions Plus, attended the event to establish her company in the market. “We’re fairly new snow equipment suppliers, so we’re just looking to get our name out and supply snow fighters like us with some equipment that we think is well needed in the industry,” Quigley said.
Quigley and her husband have been involved in snow removal for over 16 years, and Snowposium offered them a platform to introduce their products to a receptive audience. “It’s definitely something that’s needed in Ontario with all the snow we get,” Quigley noted.
With strong attendance and positive feedback, Snowposium has solidified its place as a key event for snow and ice professionals in Ontario. The event’s growth from a small parking lot show to a major event at the International Centre demonstrates its increasing importance to the industry.
Boot is optimistic about the future, noting the success of this year’s event sets a high standard for what’s to come. “Hopefully, next year we can have a bigger show and a better show,” Boot said. Plans are already underway to accomplish this for next year, promising continued growth and success for this important industry gathering event.
Details of Snowposium 2025 will be made available via the event website at snowposium.ca.
Landscape Ontario’s Snowposium 2024 took place on July 31 at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ont. Over 400 snow and ice control professionals from across the province attended the annual conference at its new location — a sign of the significant growth the event has continued to enjoy since its inception.
Gerald Boot, president and CEO of Boot’s Landscaping & Maintenance and chair of the association’s Snow and Ice Sector Group, which organized the event, praised the event’s success this year. “I've been doing this for a lot of years, and I would say this Snowposium this year is the best ever,” Boot said.
He highlighted the benefits of the event’s indoor location, noting that it allowed everyone to stay together and made it easier to engage with exhibitors and attendees. “It’s not raining inside, or very hot, so the temperature is perfect, and I think the size of the show is excellent,” Boot added.
Not only was the expanded trade show floor impressive, but Snowposium also featured panel discussions, expert presentations and important updates affecting the industry, such as liability issues. “Right now, the contractors are taking all the risk and absorbing all the claims for slip and falls. That needs to change,” Boot said. He believes that Landscape Ontario is playing a crucial role in advocating for fairer liability standards in the industry.
Kyle Stevenson, sales developer for Ed Stewart’s Equipment, a presenting sponsor, also recognized the value of the event. “Snow is a big part of our business. It has always been since we started in 1955. You could almost say snow is in our blood, and the Snowposium team does a great job of putting this event on,” Stevenson said.
“I like that it’s at the International Centre. It gives more space, a little more of a professional feel to it,” he added.
The timing of the event, which was moved from September to July, allowed exhibitors and attendees to better prepare for the upcoming winter season. “This July time is a good time to get out ahead of their purchasing ideas,” Stevenson noted.
He also appreciated the opportunity to connect with clients in person, strengthening business relationships. “We have a lot of customers in the area. They’re all going to be attending the show today, so it’s good to put some face time in showing that we’re here and show them we care about the industry,” Stevenson said.
Snowposium’s ability to foster community and long-term relationships is what makes it stand out for many attendees. Stevenson shared a personal story about a customer who became a close friend, illustrating the deep connections formed within the industry. “Over the last 10 years, we’ve dealt multiple times on snow and ice control equipment, and today I would say he’s become one of my very close friends,” Stevenson said.
Shawn Collins, general manager of Postcard Perfect, highlighted the importance of the event for connecting with customers and understanding industry trends. “It’s a great way for us to connect with customers, get a better understanding of what the industry is going through right now and what they’re looking for,” Collins said.
For Collins, the event was also about community involvement. “For us, it’s just being involved with the community, understanding what’s going on and what’s coming up,” he added.
Postcard Perfect has been a member of Landscape Ontario for many years, and Collins emphasized how the event strengthens their ties to both the industry and the community. “Being good stewards of communities [is important] as well. It's not always about taking, it's about giving," Collins said.
Nicole Quigley, owner of Storm Solutions Plus, attended the event to establish her company in the market. “We’re fairly new snow equipment suppliers, so we’re just looking to get our name out and supply snow fighters like us with some equipment that we think is well needed in the industry,” Quigley said.
Quigley and her husband have been involved in snow removal for over 16 years, and Snowposium offered them a platform to introduce their products to a receptive audience. “It’s definitely something that’s needed in Ontario with all the snow we get,” Quigley noted.
With strong attendance and positive feedback, Snowposium has solidified its place as a key event for snow and ice professionals in Ontario. The event’s growth from a small parking lot show to a major event at the International Centre demonstrates its increasing importance to the industry.
Boot is optimistic about the future, noting the success of this year’s event sets a high standard for what’s to come. “Hopefully, next year we can have a bigger show and a better show,” Boot said. Plans are already underway to accomplish this for next year, promising continued growth and success for this important industry gathering event.
Details of Snowposium 2025 will be made available via the event website at snowposium.ca.