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INDUSTRY SHOWS

Alberta Show a Success

The Northern Alberta Forestry Show proved to be successful despite uncertain industry conditions. 

By Paul MacDonald

While industry conditions remain somewhat uncertain-with the cloud of what is going to happen to Canadian lumber exports to the United States hanging overhead-they did nothing to dispel the "can-do" attitude of the organizers and participants in the Northern Alberta Forestry Show. Held in Grande Prairie in May, the show drew an estimated attendance of 6,000 over its three days. 

Show organizers expressed satisfaction with the number of people attending-some of whom travelled from various parts of North American and Europe-as well as the wide variety of exhibitors. "There was a good mix of heavy equipment displays as well as portable sawmill and inside displays," said show president Lyle Dalgleish of Brandt Tractor. "The exhibitors put a great deal of work into their displays." 

Dalgleish noted that Evergreen Park in Grande Prairie continues to meet the needs of the show, with the facility's Clarkson Hall being a good location for a panel presentation, which featured a solid line-up of speakers. Saturday was a highlight, Dalgleish said, with a large number of families attending, helping to fulfill the forest education goal of the show. Another highlight was the Friday night dine and dance, with an auction that raised funds for the educational component of the show. 

An important part of the Northern Alberta Forestry Show's mandate is to educate the public about forestry and the forest industry. The major players in Alberta's forest industry -Weyerhaeuser, Canfor and Tolko among others-all had displays explaining forest management at the show. Dalgleish praised the people who helped organize and put on the show. 

"It's done completely by volunteers and they did a great job." A major equipment announcement involving an Alberta company was made during the show, getting a lot of attention. Equipment manufacturer Caterpillar announced that is has acquired the Timberking (TK) tracked feller buncher intellectual property from Risley Manufacturing, which is based in Grande Prairie. "Track feller bunchers are a key step in Caterpillar's forestry strategy," said Dan Binz, manager of the Caterpillar Forest Products Group. 

"The results of this agreement are another example of our commitment to developing a full line of forestry equipment and tools." Under the manufacturing and marketing agreement, Risley will continue to manufacture some of the models while Cat will manufacture other models, especially as sales of the line grows. The Risley machines make extensive use of Cat components and the product line has been marketed through Cat dealers. A highlight on the seminar front was the keynote luncheon on the future of the timber industry in Alberta and global market trends. 

Besides industry people from Weyerhaeuser and Canfor, the panel featured a representative from the government of Alberta who outlined the streamlining the province is doing to assist the forest management process. This policy seems to reinforce the fact that the much talked-about "Alberta Advantage" extends to the forest sector, illustrating a government commitment to keeping the Alberta forest industry competitive in a global marketplace. During the show, the Canadian Woodlands Forum (CWF) put on a luncheon featuring presentations from Guillaume Gignac, executive director of the CWF, and respected industry veteran and consultant John Manz, formerly of Weyerhaeuser. 

Gignac explained that the CWF will be expanding its presence in the West and Alberta with Western Branch co-ordinator Patricia von Ahn. In addition to the Western Branch's annual fall meeting being held October 4 and 5 in Whitecourt, Alberta, the branch is also organizing a series of dinner meetings across the region to provide members with greater opportunities to learn, discuss and network with colleagues within their own operating areas. Alberta's Forest Industry Suppliers and Logging Association (FISLA) used the opportunity of the show to present a logging forum for loggers and log haulers. 

Contractors received an update on the Woodlands Operations Learning Forum (WOLF), a new program that will provide enhanced training for forestry equipment operators in Alberta. It is being co-ordinated by Northern Lakes College in Slave Lake, Alberta. Equipment dealer Finning had a detailed presentation on improving the bottom line, which covered off areas such as preventive maintenance and general equipment upkeep and their importance to the overall success of a contracting operation. 

Overall, the show, its exhibitors and associated events offered industry people a solid package of information on how to stay ahead in the increasingly competitive forest industry. And-as is the case with all well-organized trade shows-the work ends with one show and the planning begins for the next Northern Alberta Forestry Show, which will be held in May, 2003.

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This page last modified on Tuesday, February 17, 2004