The Materials Handling & Management Society (MHMS) welcomes you to our web site. MHMS is an individual membership organization for the material handling practitioner and the material handling community. Members include individuals who are committed to continuing their professional career development.

We hope that you will find all the information you require within these pages. To start your journey, just click on any of the topics in the navigation bar at the top or click on any underscored blue title within the text. If you have a question, we ask that you send us an email to info@mhmsontario.com and someone will respond promptly.

The Materials Handling and Management Society is dedicated to providing career development and recognition for material handling professionals.

This commitment extends to anyone whose responsibilities embrace the planning, design, deployment or operation of equipment and systems that are fundamental to the productive and safe movement, storage, control, and protection of goods through the use of material handling products and practices.

This mission is accomplished through our stakeholders: the members, chapters and our affiliations with related organizations.

1949
100 people present at meeting held September 30th to consider organizing a Materials Handling Society.

1950
A Sister-Chapter is Chartered in Montreal.

1951
Toronto members address engineering students at Ryerson Institute of Technology

1952
Sister-Chapter organized as British Columbia, Vancouver.

1953
The original Central Ontario body becomes known as Toronto Chapter, American Materials Handling Society.

1954
A Sister-Chapter is chartered in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

1955
Toronto Chapter sets up Committee on Education and Standards. Planning begins for Materials Handling Course at Ryerson Institute.

1956
Toronto Chapter, in conjunction with Ryerson Institute and the Ontario Department of Education originates Materials Handling Course as an Extension course. A Sister-Chapter is Chartered in Windsor, Ontario.

1957
In December, Toronto Chapter begins planning for first Canadian Forktruck Rodeo to be held in 1958.

1958
A Sister-Chapter is established in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

1959
New records continue to be set by Ryerson Institute Materials Handling Course. The second annual Forktruck Rodeo is contested by 23 entrants from Central Ontario.

1960
A Sister-Chapter is chartered in Edmonton, Alberta.

1961
Registration for Materials Handling Course increased by 30% over previous year's record high.

1962
A Two-Course presentation is organized to offer Primary and Advanced Courses in Materials Handling at Ryerson.

1963
First Advance Course in Materials Handling completed in Ryerson with class of twenty-one.

1964
An increase of 33% in student registration was experienced in the Education Program conducted at Ryerson Institute and 61 students graduated.

1965
The I.A.P.A. joined with A.M.H.S. to hold the Forktruck Rodeo, also awarding a trophy for the run off of the Winners of Toronto and Guelph.

1966
On February 1, 1966 the A.M.H.S. changed its name to the International Material Management Society (IMMS).

1967
Mr. Bert Lipsham, Past Toronto Chapter President and past Regional Vice President, received a Presidential Citation for his untiring efforts on behalf of the IMMS.

1968
375 people attend the Conference held in conjunction with the Materials Handling Show. 170 students registered for the Chapter-sponsored Courses held at Ryerson.

1969
Adult Continuing Education Courses expanded to include Centennial in Scarborough.

1970
Materials Management Courses expanded to include Sheridan College in Brampton.

1971
Toronto members help form "Central Ontario" Chapter - Kitchener, Ontario.

1972
Materials Handling Show and Conference held at Exhibition Park, Toronto. An 80 hour International seminar held at Sheridan College, Oakville, with 14 members certified to teach materials handling and management subjects.

1973
Loyalist College, Belleville and Georgian College, Barrie, added to Education Committee's list for instruction courses.

1974
First annual Lift Truck Driver Certification Course is run successfully.

1975
Toronto was Host Chapter for International Materials Handling and Distribution '76.

1976
Show and Conference were successful with plans underway for the next Show in November 1978

1977
Toronto agrees to host the International Materials Handling and Distribution '78 Show.

1978
The Education Committee published a revised text for use in the Community Colleges and this was widely acclaimed as the most up-to-date publication available.

1979
Community College Course enrollment increased Development of Correspondence Course undertaken. Toronto Chapter won International recognition with Top Recruiter and as Best Chapter in Membership contest.

1980
The International Materials Handling Show, under the management of Southex Exhibitions, was the most financially successful to date.

1981
Toronto Chapter membership reached 300 and still growing.

1982
Highly successful International Materials Management Show and Conference held in September at Toronto International Centre

1983
We organized and presented a highly successful two-day seminar on "Planning and Managing Warehouse Operations" conducted by James A. Tompkins.

1984
All targets were achieved, the highlight being the fact that Toronto led the entire International in membership.

1985
Education continued to be the backbone of the Chapter.

1986
It was with pleasure that we received the announcement of the opening of the new Ottawa Chapter.

1987
The first class of the MM III course began in September and the first in-plant MM I course.

1988
The Toronto Chapter sponsors the first of five of the Southex-managed International Materials Handling & Distribution Shows - the largest yet.

1989
Evening courses/restarted at Loyalist College in Belleville.

1990
A joint seminar with the Canadian Association of Logistics Management (CALM) and our first ever golf tournament at Nobleton Lakes.

1991
International Headquarters changed operating name to "Materials Handling and Management Society" (MHMS). Toronto Chapter retained the IMMS name and stated that we are a chapter of MHMS.

1992
Hosted the very successful Logistech 1992 trade show. The Logistech '92 three day conference was extremely well attended and provided good insight of logistics distribution in the 90's with a host of renowned speakers from North America and the European distribution community.

1993
IMMS participation in The Logistics Institute including development of several materials handling modules for their training program.

1994
The Toronto Chapter was host again to the year's material handling showcase - Logistech '94.

1995
The fourth level of our education program, titled 'Materials Handling Engineering' is developed.

1996
The 1996 term began with MHMS notifying us of restructuring and possible merger plans being negotiated.

1997
Our proudest achievement in 1997 was the introduction of MM IV. Work also commenced on the rewrite of MM II. t