District to be well represented at lifestyle Expo

With 46 of the 50 booths booked for the Lifestyle Expo, organizers are confident that’s a good indication of its success.
Slated for Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at the Fort Frances Curling Club, the Expo will focus on the physical, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of health living.
“It’s going very well. I’m looking forward to it [and] I think it’s going to be an exciting day,” co-organizer Erma Armit enthused Monday.
She was pleased at the representation, with booths coming in from Rainy River to Thunder Bay and Minnesota.
“We tried to reach out to the district and it’s nice to see [booths] from different areas,” she added.
Something a bit different this year is “Helmi’s Helpers” from Thunder Bay. Armit noted that business centers around giving people a place to stay when they go to the city for medical attention.
“Helmi’s Helpers” also provides care-giving services for seniors who choose to remain self-sufficient in their homes or apartments instead of moving to a seniors’ residence.
“Our whole premise is to help people be independent,” said Mary Walker, one of three partners in the business.
Walker said visitors to Expo can expect to find lots of information at the booth and is hoping people will fill out a questionnaire when they stop by.
“I’d like to get a feel for the needs of the people here,” she said.
Peggy Loyie of the United Native Friendship Centre also is helping to organize an Expo booth, which will center around personal safety.
Loyie said information relating to family violence and sexual assault will be available.
“We’re combining forces–the Rainy River Family Violence Network, the Atikokan Crisis Centre, and the Koochiching Centre for Sexual Assault in International Falls,” Loyie explained.
A survey will be available at the booth to gather information on how safe people feel, namely young teens.
“Our target group is grade seven and eight [students]. We hope the survey will give us some perspective,” Loyie added, noting parents and other adults will be encouraged to fill one out as well.
“It will be interesting to see how parents answer the questions as compared to the kids,” she remarked.
Entertainment at the Expo will include the Fort Frances Highlanders, the Fort Frances High School Cheerleaders and the Kateryna Dancers.
Also slated are rhythmic gymnasts, line dancers, and a youth drumming group.
Expo visitors also will have the chance to register for community programs and sports activities.
There is no admission to get into the Expo, with a number of door prizes to be up for grabs, including a weekend for two at Taylor’s Cove in Bear’s Pass.