appointments 
The Packaging Association of Canada has announced the rescheduling of the PACex International 2003 trade show in the face of growing concerns about mystery disease SARS. The show will now open September 30 and run through October 2, 2003. PACex International includes Foodtech Marketplace and the Canadian Materials Handling and Logistics show. Originally scheduled for May 6-8, the biennial exhibition will remain at Toronto’s International Centre, occupying more than a quarter of a million square feet and attracting 15,000 visitors from Canada, the US and abroad.

The unrelenting wave of concern and, now, official warnings from the global health community have prompted exhibitors, suppliers and visitors to re-examine their participation.

Packaging Association and PAC-Exhibition president, Alan Robinson, says, "The new time frame will give everyone an opportunity for a fresh outlook, and hopefully enable the medical community time to resolve the SARS question.

"Exhibit space contracts in PACex International 2003 will be honoured in every way and applied identically to the rescheduled show without penalty or inducement. Any costs associated with an extensive re-promotion of the show to ensure its success in the new time frame will be absorbed entirely by show management," Robinson adds.

The visitor pre-registration deadline has been extended to September 8. Badges for attendees who have already registered will be mailed to them in late August for admission to the exhibition.