As Canada recovers from the recession, there should be a renewed appetite for heavy construction equipment — particularly in resource-rich Alberta.
Corey Giesbrecht hopes to help feed that demand.
His Red Deer company, Outbound Productions, is organizing a trade show called the Transportation & Construction Expo. Scheduled for May 15 to 17 of 2012, it will focus on construction equipment and the machinery needed to haul that equipment.
“In 2012, we believe there’s going to be a lot more construction going on, and people are going to want to be out there buying equipment, selling equipment, maintaining equipment, servicing it,” said Giesbrecht, adding that Alberta is likely to be a hot spot.
“We’re rich with industry and technology in the construction and transportation industry, and there are a lot of new things that are happening in Alberta.”
Transportation & Construction Expo is slated to occupy the Parkland, Prairie and Stockmens pavilions at Westerner Park, as well as some outdoor space.
Organizers are also looking at setting up “test sites” outside the city, where show attendees will be able to see equipment in action.
“They can get onto a Cat and actually push gravel, or get into a ‘hoe and dig a hole,” said Giesbrecht.
He also expects the show to include seminars on a variety of topics related to the transportation and construction industries.
Giesbrecht anticipates that exhibitors at the expo will range from industry associations to equipment dealers and other retailers.
“We’ve already had phone calls from people from Vancouver and Toronto — head offices — because there’s nothing like this.”
Red Deer seemed like a good location, between Edmonton and Calgary, in which to stage the show, he added.
Giesbrecht has his Class 1 licence and has driven heavy trucks, and also has family members involved in the construction sector.
He sees great potential in a show focusing on heavy construction, as well as the transportation of related equipment.
“If you’ve got a backhoe, you’ve got to haul it around on something.”
Short- and long-haul trucking seemed a natural extension of the theme.
Outbound Productions has a background in event management. It developed the Canadian Off-road Expo and ran it for five years, and is currently responsible for Alberta Employment and Immigration’s twice-yearly Central Alberta Career and Job Fair.
Additional information about the Transportation & Construction Expo can be found online at www.conexpo.ca.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com