February 6, 2023
Record breaking Congress
BY SCOTT BARBER
After two years without a live event, it was so nice to be back at Landscape Ontario Congress. Canada’s largest and longest-running trade show and conference for landscape and horticulture professionals celebrated its golden, 50th anniversary Jan. 10-12, 2023. As the official media partner of Congress 2023, the Landscape Trades team was thrilled to be part of a record-breaking event that saw 17,662 visitors at the Toronto Congress Centre.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth. I know the promise of free beer was a strong pull — samples of Great Lakes Brewery Canuck Pale Ale were served at our booth as part of the Congress Ale Trail — however, it was clear there was a lot of enthusiasm for our publication, too.
We had so many great conversations with readers during the show. More than a few people commented on how much they enjoy the new layout and design we implemented in 2021, under the leadership of our creative director Mike Wasilewski. Our goal was to modernize the look and feel of the magazine and to put exceptional photography front and centre.
We also heard some great feedback about the new contributing columnists who joined the magazine’s roster last year. We’re glad you’re enjoying the Internet of Nature and the Art of Gardening columns as much as we are. It is truly gratifying to see the changes we’re making are appreciated by readers.
Landscape Trades staff (from left to right) Scott Barber, Charlotte Guena, Angela Lindsay and Mike Wasilewski.
Believe it or not, we also value hearing constructive criticism, too. Often we’ll hear: “Why don’t you cover topic X. Or, why are you so focused on issue Y…” We love those comments because they give our team a chance to discover and develop new story ideas. After all, we’re in the storytelling and news sharing business. The more ideas we get from professionals in the landscape trades the better! That’s what trade shows are all about: getting together with colleagues and business partners to generate new ideas and get inspired for the year ahead.
Congress is the perfect forum for this, with over 430 exhibitors promoting their latest equipment, products, nursery stock and materials. All this is topped off with a world-class educational lineup at the ticketed conference event and free LIVE Stage demonstrations. Many of the new product introductions from the show are featured in this special new products issue.
I hope flipping through these pages helps get you and your team energized for the season ahead.
Scott Barber is the publisher and editor of Landscape Trades. He can be reached at sbarber@landscapetrades.com.