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AT A GLANCE Top Glass 2023

Date: April 19, 2023
Location: International Centre, 6900 Airport Road, Mississauga, Ont.
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Parking: Free on site
Registration: topglasscanada.com
Sessions:
10:00 Full Circle: The promise of wood glazed facades for tomorrow’s energy-efficient buildings
Presenter: Luc Paquet, Unicel Architectural Corporation
11:15 But How Does It Look?: Principles of colour, reflectivity and transmittance in architectural glass
Presenter: Heather Sakai, Guardian Glass
12:15 Lunch break
1:00 OGMA Awards of Excellence
1:30 Skylight Geek Out: A deep dive into refurbishing the Eaton Centre’s Galleria roof
Presenters: David Collins, Zeidler Architecture, and Andrew Crosby, RJC
2:45 Priority Blender: The impact of embodied carbon on how we think about climate-friendly glazing. Presenter: Claudio Sacilotto

It’s hard to believe, but Top Glass will host its ninth edition this April. From humble beginnings as a conference quickly thrown together in 2014 by a team that had never done this before, the show has grown to welcome around 300 glazing contractors, glass fabricators, architects, specifiers and building engineers to the International Centre each year. Attendees sit in four education sessions and browse a show floor with over 50 of Canada’s top suppliers to the glass and glazing industry. How did that happen? At a time when many marketers and organizations are scrambling to find ways to grab your attention, we can reflect on a few things that the Top Glass team got right from the start, and continues to get right today.

The first is the laser focus on the architectural glass industry. Like this magazine, there is nothing in Top Glass that is not about the business and technology of putting custom glazed facades on buildings. You won’t find education sessions here about HVAC systems or roofing. There are no suppliers of property management software or patio stones exhibiting on the show floor. Those involved with vinyl windows for low-rise residential should go to WinDoor. Maybe this could be a bigger show and make more money by welcoming all those sectors, but the focus is on you, the commercial glass person, and maximizing the return on your time invested with the highest degree of interest and relevance. People seem to appreciate it. Even architects, who have to deal with all those other building elements, seem to appreciate that they are spending a day looking at glass…just glass.

Speaking of time, another thing the show has gotten right is the quick and easy format. Both exhibitors and attendees tell us they like having everything happen in one day of intense activity, then done. No need for hotels. Because registration is free and the International Centre is relatively easy to drive to an park at, attendees can make their decision to come at the last minute if things aren’t going crazy at the shop. Could the show recover some costs with a registration fee and charge exhibitors more for a two-day event? Sure. But the focus is on you and making sure this thing is as convenient and valuable for you as possible.

Finally, and probably most importantly, there’s the quality and generosity of the speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and association partners who have seen the need for an annual event bringing this country’s industry together. There are other much bigger North American shows for architectural glass and we support and work with them. But this is Canada’s show and everything here is relevant to Canadian commercial glaziers. Everyone you see at Top Glass is there because they are commited to serving your business where it is and in its market. That’s something no one else can say. 

I don’t mind saying Top Glass is one of our proudest achievements here at Glass Canada, and I look forward to welcoming you all on April 19 and for many years to come. See you at Top Glass! •