More than a half million dollars was pumped into the local economy this week as the municipality hosted the Association of Ontario Road Supervisors (AORS) Municipal Public Works Trade Show conference at the John D. Bradley Convention Centre.
Thomas Kelly, General Manager of Infrastructure and Engineering Services, said hosting the event is a major coup for the community.
“This is by far the largest event of its kind in the province,” he said. “We are hosting over 2,000 visitors, with over $50 million in equipment in the Bradley Centre parking lot on display.”
As a result, the municipality used the former Navistar site for parking and a shuttle was used to bring people across Richmond Street. The municipality has an agreement with Navistar to use the property and assign property maintenance cost to the tax bill.
Kelly said the municipal budget for hosting the event consisted of $60,000 of in-kind services. AORS and the Chatham Kent Road Association (CKRA) have also contributed significantly to the event. Proceeds generated by the event will be redistributed to local charities.
Chief Administrative Officer Don Shropshire said the event is the largest trade show ever hosted at the convention centre, with more than 200 exhibitors from across Canada and the U.S. “The conference was a major economic boost for hotels and restaurants. All hotels and motels in Chatham-Kent are sold out, and restaurants were full,” he said.
John Maheu, Executive Director of AORS, said he was “very impressed” with the facilities and staff at the Bradley Centre as well as the hospitality in Chatham-Kent. “When our conference is held in any particular corner of the province there is always the concern that we may attract fewer people but we’ve had strong registration and participation.”
Andy Davidson, General Manager of the Convention Centre, said the vendors and attendees have been excellent to work with. We are at our capacity inside and out and I couldn’t be happier with the event.”
Carol Summers, Sales and Events Manger for the Convention Centre was impressed with the event.
“This event was two years in the making and it has been a real pleasure working together with the local CK Road Association Committee and John Maheu from AORS, it’s extremely rewarding to see it all come together,” she said.
Roads Supervisor Glenn Harding, said representatives from virtually all major equipment manufacturers across Canada and the United States took part in the event.
The conference also has an important safety and technology element, Kelly said. “Exhibitors are engaging with people who operate the equipment, and both sides get valuable feedback. The industry is changing quickly. There are several pieces of equipment on display that will help us improve our operations,” he said.
In a report to Chatham-Kent Council, Harding noted, “the majority of AORS members come from its 32 Local Associations (LAs), the close- to-home organizations that bring members together. The CKRA is an independent association comprised of supervisors, managers, administrative support staff, and local suppliers of municipal equipment, products and services in the public works sector. The CKRA provides opportunities for local public works professionals to exchange ideas, and increase professional proficiency for themselves, their municipalities, and companies.”
