SW Ontario Trade Show & Learning Symposium
(Formerly the Lambton Trade Show)
We are excited to announce that the Lambton Trade Show has evolved into the SW Ontario Trade Show & Learning Symposium and has officially moved to the Bradley Centre in Chatham, marking a major step forward in both scale and scope.
This expanded event offers increased exhibit space, indoor fire apparatus displays, and two full days of high-impact learning content designed specifically for firefighters, officers, and fire service leaders from across Southwestern Ontario.
Two Days of Learning
Practical, Tactical, and Forward-Focused
The learning symposium is structured to support:
- Front-line operational decision-making
- Officer and Chief-level leadership development
- Firefighter safety, risk reduction, and survivability
- Regulatory, standards, and compliance awareness
- Emerging hazards, technology, and response considerations
- Professional growth, mentorship, and succession planning
Whether you are responding on the front line, training the next generation, or leading an organization, this program delivers relevant, actionable knowledge you can immediately apply in your department.
Learning Agenda Highlights
Thursday, January 22 – Ballroom A
- 9:00 - Fire Ground Mindset – Dave Robertson
- 10:15 - Lithium-Ion Battery Update, Electric & Hybrid Vehicle response – Jason Defosse
- Lunch Provided
- 13:00 - Residential Fire Rescue: Tactically Primed & Ready – Mark VanderFeyst
- 15:15 - Drones, UAVs & RPAS Considerations – St. Clair Fire Department Drone Program - Presented by Steve Bicum
FEATURED HOT SESSION – COMMERCIAL TRUCK EXTRICATION SEPARATE REGISTRATION
Large Vehicle Rescue
Presented by Preferred Towing & Chatham Towing
Two Sessions - 9:00 – 12:00 & 13:00 – 16:00
This high-impact, hands-on session delivers real-world insights into large-vehicle and heavy-rescue operations, drawn directly from towing and recovery professionals who work side by side with fire services at complex roadway incidents.
Friday, January 23 – Ballroom A
- 9:00 - Answering the Call – Vince MacKenzie
- 10:15 - Office of the Fire Marshal Update – John McBeth
- 11:15 - Everyone Goes Home: How NFPA Keeps Firefighters Safe in 2026 – Laura King
- Lunch Provided
- 12:45 - The Price of Legacy: Lessons from the Wheatley Gas Emergency – Chris Case
- 13:45 - I Didn’t Mean for That to Happen! – Chuck Parsons
- 15:00 - Fire Chief Discussion Panel – Moderated by James Marshall (additional Chiefs TBA)
- 16:00 – TRADE SHOW OPENS – Freedom Hall - No admission fee to attend
Saturday, January 24 – Ballroom A
- TRADE SHOW OPENS – Freedom Hall
No admission fee to attend
Registration Links
- $125.00 – Includes both days of the learning symposioum
- Coffee breaks and lunch are included
HOT Training: https://events.frontdoor.plus/event/1874
Seminar Learning Symposium: https://events.frontdoor.plus/event/1823
Don’t Miss This Opportunity
The SW Ontario Trade Show and Learning Symposium is more than a trade show—it is a regional fire service learning, leadership, and networking event.
Join your peers to:
- Invest in your self-development
- Strengthen your firefighting and leadership knowledge
- Build connections with a growing network of firefighters, officers, Chiefs, and industry partners