By Melissa Hayes
Hamilton, Ontario — September 15, 2014 — Crowds of towing professionals gathered this past weekend to take in The Provincial Tow Association of Ontario’s (PTAO) Annual Tow and Trade Show.
Marking its 16th year, the event ran Sept. 11 through Sept. 13, and was once again held at the Hamilton CarePort Centre.
The show’s first two days offered attendees a chance to receive hands-on training provided by Wreckmaster, covering levels 4-5. Show goers were given the opportunity to further brush up on industry skills via an additional, separate Friday session focused on TSLA and lien searches.
Day two also saw the kick off of the Trade Show–which ran Sept. 12 and 13–with vendors opening their booths and inviting the public to preview the latest towing and recovery equipment, trucks and industry gadgets.
Two notable member meetings were held throughout the day, organized by the PTAO and the Ontario Recovery Group (ORG) respectively, touching on industry-specific topics, including the challenges of Bill 15.
Friday drew to a close with an organized reception with cash bar, followed by a light show competition, challenging hopefuls to compare the effectiveness of their truck’s emergency and regular running lights.
The show’s third day hosted continued member discussions covering provincial regulations and insurance issues, as well as the Tow Truck Display–featuring some of the province’s finest vehicles–along with various beauty and driver competitions.
Children were kept busy with scheduled family-friendly activities, including a kids rollover and hired caricaturist on hand.
Attendees helped cap off the event with a prepared evening reception and Awards Banquet, followed by the ORG pancake breakfast served Sunday morning.
For the second year, PTAO’s 2014 Tow and Trade Show was open to the public, with attendance fees required for specific events. Donations were accepted to Hamilton’s McMaster Children’s Hospital.
To learn more about PTAO and the Annual Tow and Trade Show, please visit PTAO.org.
