Our consumer events include home shows, recreation and outdoor shows – from fishing and hunting, to boating, RVs, and motorcycles. Our trade events span a diverse spectrum of industries, including agriculture, fisheries/marine, sawmilling, forestry, trucking, heavy equipment, and construction, as well as mechanical, electrical, and electronic technology.
Based out of our main office in Saint John, New Brunswick, our team is over 20 members strong… including senior management, show managers, exhibit sales staff, marketing, advertising, and graphic design personnel, accounting, information technology, and administrative and support staff. We also have an office in Halifax, Nova Scotia; and satellite offices in Abbotsford, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; and Toronto, Ontario.
Our History & Our Future
From humble beginnings as a one-man operation working on a single RV show out of a basement office in 1973, Master Promotions Ltd. has become one of Canada’s most recognized names in the trade show industry.
As founder and president, Wendell Howes has extensive trade show experience spanning more than 40 years. Much of the company’s success can be attributed to his hands on approach to running the business, his unique ability to foresee opportunities, and his enthusiasm for success.
Dedicated to producing high quality, professional events, our company prides itself on delivering the highest standards in the industry, including ease of exhibitor move-in and move-out; show contracting services; an advanced registration system; and first-rate marketing and advertising programs.
With an enviable reputation throughout the industry, our company is sought after to both produce and manage events. For much of the past decade, Master Promotions Ltd. has been thriving and growing, adding new and successful events to our portfolio.
Looking forward, we’ll continue to develop our ever expanding collection of trade and consumer shows.
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1973
In The Beginning... The company's very first RV Show is held in Saint John, NB
1985
The first home shows are launched in the Kennebecasis Valley, Fredericton, and Prince Edward Island.
1987
The company takes over management of the Atlantic National Home Show in Saint John, NB
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1989
The first edition of the Eastern Canadian Fisheries Exposition takes place in Yarmouth, NS.
1992
The first edition of the International Potato Technology Expo takes place in Charlottetown, PEI.
1993
The company takes over management of the Halifax International Boat Show in Halifax, NS and the Atlantic Aquaculture Fair in St. Andrews, NB.
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1993
The inaugural edition of the World Potato Congress takes place in Charlottetown, PEI.
1994
The company takes over management of the Atlantic Heavy Equipment Show in Moncton, NB.
1995
The Atlantic National Home Show and the Saint John International Boat Show relocate to the newly opened Harbour Station in Saint John, NB.
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1996
Master Promotions Ltd. relocates to a new office space at 48 Broad Street in Saint John, NB. This remains the company’s headquarters today.
1998
The first edition of the Aquaculture Pacific Exchange takes place. It is the company’s first west coast show.
2000
The company takes over management of the MEET (Mechanical Electrical Electronic Technology) Show in Moncton, NB.
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2000
The company takes over management of DEMO® International – a mammoth forestry show that is held every four years in a different location each time.
2001
The first edition of the Halifax RV Show is held in Halifax, NS.
2001
The company grows with the acquisition of the Denex Group, adding new employees and a brand new office building in Halifax, NS. With this acquisition, Fish Canada (Moncton, NB) and the Ideal Home Show (Halifax, NS) are added to the company’s portfolio of shows.
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2002
The first edition of the Moncton RV Show is held in Moncton, NB.
2003
The company takes over management of the Atlantic Truck Show in Moncton, NB.
2004
The Fish Canada Show expands its focus to include marine vessels and becomes Fish Canada Workboat Canada.
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2005
The company takes over management of the Pacific Construction Equipment Show, now known as the Pacific Heavy Equipment Show in Abbotsford, BC.
2006
The first edition of Expo Grands Travaux takes place in Montreal, QC.
2009
The company expands again with the acquisition of Square Feet North West Events Management of Burnaby, BC and the addition of an office on the west coast.
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2010
The first edition of the North Atlantic Fish & Workboat Show takes place in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
2010
Wendell Howes is inducted into the Industry Builder Hall of Fame by the Canadian Association of Exposition Management.
2012
The company takes over management of TRUXPO in Abbotsford, BC.
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2012
In partnership with The Navigator, Master Promotions Ltd. creates the Atlantic Canada Marine Industries Hall of Fame.
2012
Wendell Howes receives an Outstanding Business Achievement Award in the category of Entrepreneurial Achievement from the Saint John Board of Trade.
2012
Catherine MacNutt, a Master Promotions employee, is recognized for her work with a ‘Member of the Year’ award from the Canadian Association of Exposition Management.
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2013
The first editions of the Canada North Resources Expo (Prince George, BC), Canada Woodworking West (Abbotsford, BC) and the New Brunswick Sportsmen’s Show (Moncton, NB) take place.
2016 & Beyond
More growth and continued success!
Our Partnerships
Many of our events are in partnership and association with a variety of groups, including media and publications, national and international associations, non-profit and government agencies, chambers of commerce and local businesses. These industry leaders give us insight into the latest happenings and priorities in their respective industries and enable us to produce relevant, first-class events.
• Association des propriétaires de machinerie lourde du Québec
• Association des travaux publics d’amérique
• Atlantic Canada Mechanical Exhibitors
• Atlantic Forestry Review
• Atlantic Land Improvement Contractors Association
• Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association
• Atlantic RV Dealers Association
• BC Wildlife Federation
• Boating Atlantic
• British Columbia Trucking Association
• Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating
• Canadian Woodlands Forum
• Conseil de l’industrie forestière du Québec
• Dieppe Fly Fishing Forum
• Discover Boating
• Electro-Federation Canada
• Habitat for Humanity
• Illuminating Engineering Society
• International Forest Industries
• J.D. Irving, Limited
• Landscape Nova Scotia
• Navigator Magazine
• New Brunswick Homebuilders Association
• PEI Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
• PEI Potato Board
• PEI Crimestoppers
• Québec Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association
• Snow & Ice Management Association
• SPCA
• Special Olympics
• Truro Chamber of Commerce
New Show Development
In 2017, Master Promotions acquired the Ottawa Boat Show from Canadian National Sportsmen’s Show (CNSS). Master Promotions continued to run the largest boat show in the Ottawa region with hundreds of exhibitors showcasing top brands in the business. Thousands of visitors enjoyed a massive selection of boats, docks, marine accessories, insurance, water toys, kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards. The show featured a full schedule of events on the fishing stage with educational seminars, industry celebrities, and interactive activities. Plus, the newly added 40-foot megatank was an exciting new feature for recreational fishing enthusiasts.
In 2020, Master Promotions Ltd. acquired five recreational consumer events across Canada from CNSS, after CNSS was forced to look for external investment or acquisition opportunities of its events. CNSS looked to Master Promotions as a fellow industry leader with a precedent working with CNSS, having acquired the Ottawa Boat Show in 2017. The five shows that were acquired include:
- Toronto Sportsmen’s Show
- Calgary Boat & Outdoors Show
- Edmonton Boat & Sportsmen’s Show
- Montreal Outdoor, Hunting & Fishing Show
- Quebec Outdoor, Hunting, Fishing & Camping Show
With over 45 years of experience of running successful consumer and trade shows, Master Promotions has proven experience of successfully integrating newly acquired shows into their already portfolio that spans 30+ events across the country in industries from fishing and heavy construction to outdoors and home improvement.