News Landscaping
COVID forces Congress cancellation, but virtual conference will go on as planned

The growing number of COVID-19 cases in Ontario along with the rapid spread of the Omicron variant has forced the cancellation of the Congress 2022 trade show, which had been scheduled for next week in Toronto.

“We are saddened and disappointed that we have had to cancel Congress 2022,” Tony DiGiovanni, executive director, Landscape Ontario, stated on the Congress website. “The COVID-19 situation has made it impossible to proceed.”

Landscape Ontario was among the first organizations to announce a return to live, in-person attendance for a conference, but profound changes in recent months amid the pandemic has forced a change of plans.

The virtual conference, scheduled for Jan. 18-20, will continue as planned, along with the IPM Symposium, the Landscape Designers Conference and the Awards of Excellence Virtual Ceremony.

Planning is already underway for the 2023 Congress event, which marks its 50th anniversary.

Those who had planned to exhibit at this year’s cancelled event have been encouraged to fill out a booth deferral form. Landscape Ontario hopes exhibitors will consider deferring their payment to next year’s trade show, but understand if exhibitors would prefer a full refund.