2023-2025 Strategic Plan

In the second half of 2022, on the eve of the Canadian Association of Exposition Management's 40th anniversary, CAEM's Board of Directors embarked on a fulsome strategic planning process to map out an exciting future for the Association.

As one of the hardest-hit sectors in Canada during COVID-19, CAEM’s dedicated Board members, volunteers and leadership dug deep during the worst of the pandemic to provide as much support as possible to CAEM members and the industry. While CAEM’s historical focus on in-person
networking and educational events for members was paused, the organization quickly spun up an advocacy strategy to ensure that trade and consumer shows would not be forgotten in the midst of Government support funding decisions, and to advocate for safe reopening protocols. Much was discovered during this period of rapid innovation, including the value that members placed on having a voice for the industry and seat at the table for important discussions.

The strategic plan theme: Engage, Evolve, Elevate represents a bold vision to reshape CAEM to better serve the unique needs of the trade and consumer show industry across Canada. This plan is a commitment to ensure CAEM is sustainably resourced to meet the needs of members and to help them flourish. It represents a commitment to unite and serve all people and organizations working in the sector across Canada, a continued focus on advocacy to champion the needs of the industry, and a commitment to assist with one of the biggest challenges currently facing the industry – a lack of available personnel to fill key positions.

Below you will find the 4 Strategic Priorities the Board identified as their key areas of focus for the next 3 years as well as the desired outcomes of these priorities. It is important to note that throughout the strategic planning process the Board was guided in their decision making by the results of the member and non-member survey that was circulated in October 2022. The feedback received from the surveys served as a template for the 2023-2025 CAEM Strategic Plan.