CSMC strikes chord in Canada 

BURLINGTON, Ontario – The 34th Canadian Seating and Mobility Conference in October was the only game in town in 2022, with the International Seating Symposium scheduled for March in Vancouver canceled, helping to boost attendance. 

CSMC drew about 700 attendees, about 100 attendees shy of its record, says Steve Cranna, director of business development and government relations for VGM Canada, Mobility Group, which has hosted the event since 2009. 

“The DNA of our conference is a little different than ISS in Canada and we were supportive of it,” he said. “It did a good job of looking after the western half of Canada. But I did think it helped us (not having ISS in Canada this year). We did get some attendees from Alberta, British Columbia, who typically gravitate toward that event.”  

CSMC took place Oct. 20-21 at the Delta Hotels Toronto Airport & Conference Centre. 

The event also benefited from a strong rebound in the number of clinicians and other seating and mobility professionals who are back to looking for in-person education, Cranna says. 

“We were worried attendance would be down because of COVID and hospital and clinic policies – things tend to be more cautious up here – but that wasn’t the case, so we were pretty pleased with the numbers, especially for our first conference back in-person,” he said. 

CSMC featured a mix of education – there were six tracks going on at any one time, Cranna says; an exhibit hall that featured a new product showcase; and networking opportunities. 

“There’s a strong social element to it,” he said. “It’s a very warm crowd with a ton of hugs.” 

The word on the street is that ISS in Canada “is going to come back in one form or another,” Cranna says – ISS typically rotates between Canada and the U.S. every year – but there’s room enough for multiple events, he says. CSMC has staked a claim for Sept. 12-13, 2023. 

“I think it’s important for our industry,” he said.