Celebrating its 60th year as Canada’s premier promotional organization, PPPC opened its annual national tradeshow yesterday, welcoming thousands of distributors from across Canada.‎

“This convention provides a platform not just for networking, but for finding collaboration opportunities as well,” said Kathy Cheng, owner of Redwood Classics Apparel (asi/81627) and Counselor’s number-one Fastest-Growing Supplier in Canada in 2014. “For us, there’s a difference between the two. As a boutique manufacturer, the relationship between us and our distributors is unique in the sense that we don’t just fill orders. We collaborate and build long-term friendships. The organizations that attend PPPC’s National Convention are often of the same mindset.”‎

With a continued emphasis from companies like Boardroom Custom Clothing (asi/40705) on eco- and repurposed materials, product highlights included a journal book from Bravo Awards’ (asi/41638) new line as the provider of Castelli Canada, made from discarded apple skins ‎and apple pulp.‎

At last night‎’s Image Awards dinner hosted by Spector & Co.’s (asi/88660) Marc Giroux –addressing the crowd in English and French for the evening – PPPC inducted BIC Graphic’s (asi/40480) Mark Wingrove into its Hall of Fame and named Debco (asi/48885) as its Gold Award supplier of the Year, with Spector & Co. taking the Silver Award and Leed’s (asi/66887) taking the Bronze. Counselor Top 40 distributor BrandAlliance (asi/145177) was named National Distributor of the Year.‎

“The PPPC National Convention is my favorite industry event,” says Danny Braunstein, vice president of sales for Talbot Marketing (asi/341500). “It gives me the opportunity to visit with old friends and meet new ones. The quality of the offering at the tradeshow is always strong, and the accompanying events are always top-notch.”‎

Next year’s national convention will be held from February 10-14, at a new location, the International Centre in Mississauga, Toronto.