Stubborn optimism for 2022

Well, 2022 didn’t start out quite how I expected it would. By early November my wife and I had gotten comfortable dining indoors and had even attended the first concert at Toronto’s Danforth Music Hall where capacity limits were no longer in place. Things were looking up and there was a feeling that we had cleared another COVID hurdle.

I think everyone’s confidence was shaken as omicron became the most common variant. Speaking to a number of shop owners in the past month, I have learned that the labour crunch has become a different animal, as more and more people have fallen ill from the virus and completing orders on time has become a challenge.

All we can do now in terms of managing the situation, is, of course, to get our booster shots and maintain all the protocols that have been in place at all businesses since this began:

• Stay 2 metres apart while working whenever possible.
• Wear a mask when physical distancing is not possible.
• Keep work surfaces and regularly touched equipment clean.
• Clean your tools before and after use
• Wash and sanitize your hands often.

And, obviously, stay home if you have symptoms that indicate you might be unwell. The new mantra among health officials internationally is that it’s all about managing risk rather than eliminating it.

We here at Canadian Fabricating & Welding are cautiously – well, maybe stubbornly – optimistic that as rampant as this wave has been, we will see an abatement of cases and more in-person events in early spring.

In fact, our tabletop Metalworking & Manufacturing Expos should be ideal opportunities to engage with fellow manufacturers and suppliers in an intimate setting to get reacclimatized to industry events. The expos are set to take place March 29 in Abbotsford, B.C.; April 20 in Winnipeg; and May 31 in Moncton, N.B. Protocols will determine how the shows will be set up, but rest assured that all public health and safety guidelines will be followed to prioritize attendee comfort.

Having attended FABTECH Chicago in 2021, I’ve seen first-hand how well shows have come to be managed with protocols in place. We’re looking forward to demonstrating this again at FABTECH Canada June 14-16. Make time in your busy schedule to come see some of the latest technology that can help you with all your needs, from cutting and forming to welding and finishing.

As we near the second anniversary of our first lockdown, we understand better what we’re dealing with and how to manage the situation. I think it’s brought out reserves of strength, determination, and ingenuity in many individuals and businesses in this industry. I look forward to telling more of your stories in the coming months.