A total of 1,668 buyers representing 3,309 pet stores, pet supply outlets and other companies attended the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council of Canada’s 21st National Pet Industry Trade Show, held Sept. 20-21 at the International Center in Mississaugua, Ontario.

The buyer count increased 3 percent from 1,625 last year,andthe company count increased by 9 percent from 3,029 outlets last year, according to Josée Newton, communications coordinator for the Ottawa, Ontario-based trade association.

The show featured 204 companies in 383 booths, compared with 208 companies in 395 booths last year.

PIJAC Canada held its annual general meeting in conjunction with the show, electing three people to three-year terms on the national board of directors: Jim Harrison of Pets Unlimited (Halifax, Nova Scotia), retailer; Warren House of Rolf C. Hagen Inc. (Baie d’Urfe, Quebec), manufacturer/distributor; and Paul McGrath of Burgham Sales Ltd. (Surrey, British Columbia), manufacturer/distributor.

Leading up to PIJAC Canada’s national show were regional shows in Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec.

A total of 316 buyers (up 0.6 percent from 314 last year) from 226 companies (up 2.3 percent from 221 last year) attended the fourth annual Calgary Pet Industry Trade Show, held April 26 in Calgary, Alberta. The show featured 66 companies (compared to 65 from last year) in 114 booths (up 6.5 percent from 107 last year).

Western Pet Expo, which reverted back to its two-day format, was held May 3-4 in Richmond, British Columbia. A total of 340 buyers (up 65 percent from 206 last year) from 227 companies (up 13.5 percent from 200 last year) attended the event. It featured 56 companies (down 5 percent from 59 last year) in 83 booths (down 2 percent from 85 last year).

A total of 1,155 buyers (up 9 percent from 1,058 last year) attended the 11th anniversary edition of ExpoZoo show, held Aug. 30-31 in St-Hyacinthe, Quebec. Buyers represented 632 companies, down from 915 last year; however, show organizers said two companies that did not return this year represented 300 of those outlets. Factoring out those companies, the number of companies increased 2.8 percent.

The exhibit hall featured 97 companies (down 5 percent from 102 last year), and 180 booths (compared with 179 last year).

PIJAC Canada has scheduled four events for 2010:

• Calgary Pet Industry Trade show, April 25 in Calgary, Alberta.
• Western Pet Expo, May 2-3 in Richmond, British Columbia.
• ExpoZoo, Aug. 29-30 in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec.
• The 22nd National Pet Industry Trade Show, Sept. 19-20 in Mississaugua (Toronto).

For details on upcoming PIJAC Canada shows, contact Roselyne Levêque at 800-667-7452 or 613-834-2111, or visit www.pijaccanada.com. [December 2009 PET AGE]