Organizers of the Toronto International Boat Show (TIBS) have announced that the annual event, scheduled to be held in-person, has been cancelled for 2022.
Once again, the Toronto Boat Show will be a Virtual Show offering exceptional content for all types of boaters that are looking to connect, shop and learn. The show will be held January 26-30.
Last year was an unprecedented year, when the Toronto boat Show held a Virtual Show for the first time in its 60+ year history.
The 2021 Virtual Show attracted more than 35,00 registrations. Consumers flooded to the 2021 Virtual Show to shop, experience and interact on a digital platform with thousands of product listings, video content, opportunities to connect directly with exhibitors, as well as live seminars and TIBS Live TV.
More information, programming and seminar schedules will follow at the beginning of January and posted to the TorontoBoatShow website.
Preparations had already been completed for the 2022 in-person Show, with move-in set to begin in less than 30 days. Following months of strategic preparation, North America’s Largest Indoor Boat Show was ready to unveil an all-new reimagined floorplan. The event was set to showcase more than 300 exhibitors, plus 250 seminars & workshops inside the Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place.
A new initiative for the show was the launch of a 5000 square foot Boater’s Resource Centre, featuring 15 industry and government organizations. The rapidly developing Omicron variant and newly mandated capacity limitations at large events in Ontario meant that the in-person show could not move forward as planned from January 22 – 30.
“The COVID Omicron variant is driving dramatic regulation changes across the Province of Ontario,” said Linda Waddell, President & Show Director of Canadian Boat Shows. “We are very disappointed to be making this announcement today, knowing we had an exceptional show planned to be ready on time following months of condensed and collaborative efforts with our partners and exhibitors.”
The swift announcement by the provincial government means that all meeting and event spaces that hold more than 1000 people will have their capacity numbers reduced to 50%, effective Saturday, December 18.
“We understand that this capacity reduction will be in place indefinitely, as the province did not set an end date. In addition, following several days of receiving feedback from exhibitors and review with the Show’s Advisory Committee, it became clear this is the right decision at this time for our event, and for the safety of our exhibitors, sponsors, attendees and staff.”
ABOUT THE TORONTO INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW:
The Toronto International Boat Show is owned and produced by Canadian Boat Shows. In generating more than $354
million in economic impact to the region, it is the Largest Indoor Boat Show in North America. More boats are purchased at
the Toronto International Boat Show than at any other place or event in Canada. About 43% of Canadians (12.4 million
people) participate in boating and 20% (6 million) own a boat. Direct revenues across Canada’s core recreational boating
industry total nearly $5 billion per year, and directly employ approximately 45,000 Canadians. (NMMA Canada – The
Economic Impact of Recreational Boating in Canada).
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