CAEM Update – September 23

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, CAEM’s priorities have been to defend our members’ interests and to raise our industry’s struggles with government.  Everything we have accomplished to date – and everything we are determined to achieve – is due to our industry rallying together, under CAEM’s leadership, to harness the power of our membership. Your support and investment fuel our efforts and we can’t do this work without you. If you aren’t already a member of CAEM, considering joining our Association today!

On Wednesday, September 16th, CAEM held it’s first digital AGM, sponsored by our Exclusive Premier Sponsor Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Participants had the opportunity to hear what CAEM has done this past year, as well as what it plans are for the year to come, from committee chairs and past-president Catherine Macnutt from Master Promotions, as well as newly elected President Bianca Kennedy from Power Sport Services. We would like to welcome and congratulate the 2020/21 CAEM Board of Directors that were ratified at the AGM. 

For those who were unable to attend, Bianca Kennedy’s incoming President’s address can be viewed by clicking on the image below.

As reported in Bianca Kennedy’s incoming President’s address, here is a summary of the most important actions CAEM has taken, on your behalf, since the formation of the taskforce in mid-May:

• Writing and submitting safe reopening guidelines to each of the provinces.
• Writing and submitting position letters and follow-up letters, educating policymakers on the purpose of exhibitions, our economic impact and our ability to play a key role in safely restarting the economy.
• Activating a grassroots letter-writing campaign, across the country, to amplify our message with hundreds of MLAs and MPPs.
• Collaborating with strategic partners like TIAC, TIAO, MMBC and Convention Centres Canada to strengthen our voice.
• In Ontario, we have started working with government relations consultant Amir Remtulla to expand our lobbying efforts in the Province. Thank you to CAEM member BILD for affording us access to Mr. Remtulla’s valuable services and expertise. Click HERE for a copy of the ON Advocacy Recap and Reopening Framework document supplied to Mr. Remtulla to support his efforts. In parallel with these efforts, CAEM continues to engage in dialogue with the Ministry of Tourism, raising our concerns about the misclassification of exhibitions as social gatherings and advocating for a reclassification, similar to malls, big box stores and public markets.    
• In British Columbia, we revised our Safe Reopening Guidelines, based on input received from WorkSafeBC. Their endorsement was noted in a letter sent to Dr. Bonnie Henry asking that exhibitions be exempt from indoor gathering limits, similar to malls and public markets. We are waiting on a response, and in the meantime, the BC taskforce will be regrouping next week, to discuss next steps, especially following this week’s update to the Public Health Order for Gatherings and Events.    
• In Quebec, in collaboration with APEQ, we continue to communicate directly with both the Ministry of Tourism and Public Health, to advocate for capacity limits based on total gross square footage rather than a set maximum number of people.
• In Alberta earlier this summer, after several meetings with the Ministry of Economic Development and Alberta Public Health, our regional taskforce succeeded, through our joint efforts, to reopen exhibitions in the Province.  CAEM is now working on additional tools and resources to help members navigate reopening safely. 
• In Manitoba, we are supporting a newly formed regional working group to plan strategy on a new approach to Public Health.
• In Saskatchewan, our campaign sparked interest with venues and they reported that exhibitions were allowed to open, as of July 16th, with cohorts of 150 people.
• In New Brunswick, the taskforce has worked actively with WorkSafeNB, as well as the Provincial and Municipal governments, and we have been given the green light to reopen trade shows with an individual approval process.
• In Nova Scotia, we have met with Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Strang, as well as the ministries of Business and Labour, to request exhibitions be classified under the same bylaw governing retail and big box stores. While we continue to advocate for this bylaw change, we are currently collaborating with the Department of Labour on a reopening plan that includes multiple cohorts and one way traffic flow, among other safety protocols culled from the Taskforce’s current guidelines.   
• In PEI and Newfoundland, taskforce members have been working through strategies to approach government with individual event reopening plans.

While we certainly have no plans to take our foot off the pedal when it comes to advocating for reopening – faced with a prolonged shutdown in certain parts of the country – we will be putting additional resources toward lobbying for relief and support measures for our members.

CEM Update

To all CEM candidates and applicants that are CAEM Members, the CAEM Certification Council has reached out to IAEE to confirm an extension on deadlines for recertification and certification completion from six months to one year.

CAEM understands the value and benefit of the in-person CEM courses, and is once again happy to confirm that CAEM members who have a recertification date of January 1, 2021 will be eligible for the extension by contacting IAEE. Similarly, if there are CEM candidates who find they cannot complete the credits necessary to earn their certification by their end date, they can also receive an extension by contacting IAEE.

For those of you who are interested in completing online CEM courses offered by IAEE to maintain or complete your certification, please email the CAEM Office to access a discount code.

In Case You Missed it!

Missed a CAEM update? No problem! We understand that there's no shortage of news, which is why all CAEM Weekly Updates are available on the CAEM website. Visit the News Section to stay up to date.

As the Provinces continue working through their reopening and recovery plans, you can find each Province’s timeline and actions here: 

• Alberta 
• British Columbia
• New Brunswick
• Manitoba
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan

Additional Resources:

• Government of Ontario Health and Safety Training
• Resources for Canadian Businesses (Gov. of Canada)
• Ontario Together
• Ontario COVID-19 Emergency Assistance