The fourth annual CWA CanWeld Conference kicked off today at the Marriott Gateway at the Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Economist Jonathan Bendiner of the TD Bank started the event with an analysis of global growth for 2014, followed by a presentation about the future of Canadas steel industry by Peter Warrian of the Munk School of Global Affairs,  University of Toronto.

The technology-rich seminar schedule runs until 4:00 PM and is followed by a networking reception, awards dinner, and comedy by Just for Laughs regular Derek Edwards.

CWA director Dan Tadic also announced that, courtesy of Lincoln Electric, for every 10 Viking auto darkening helmets purchased, Lincoln will donate one to the CWA who will give it to a deserving future welder. The conference runs October 28 and 29.