Duane Hicks
The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce’s annual business and community expo was a smashing success this year.
Held Friday and Saturday at the Fort Frances Curling Club, the event drew more than 1,000 people over the two days—exceeding last year’s attendance, Chamber executive director Jennifer Soderholm said Monday.
“Being that it was a new venue and everything else, we were very, very pleased with that number,” she remarked.
“We received so much feedback, not only from people that attended but from the vendors, as well—all positive,” Soderholm added.
“Everybody was very, very happy with how it went and our new location.
“It was wonderful,” Soderholm enthused.
“We kind of walked away from the whole event just elated with how much praise and the good feelings we were getting from everyone—not only those that came out but participated, as well.”
A total of 52 vendors, including some doubled-up and shared booth space, took part, including quite a few new ones.
The floor of the curling club was full, with exhibitors ranging from Sunset Country Ford and Badiuk Equipment, which brought cars, trucks, and boats, to Rainy Lake Oil, a International Falls-based fuel company that recently set up a second location on Sixth Street West here.
Loewen Greenhouses, Revco, Cheers U Brew, Causeway Insurance, Investors Group, Ink Spotz, Resolution Vapes, CJ Construction, New Gold, Re/Max, Tichborne’s Real Estate, Shoppers Drug Mart, Tour de Fort, Seven Generations Education Institute, and Window & Door Store were just some of the district exhibitors.
There also were several exhibitors from Kenora, Thunder Bay, and Duluth, including Syncor Contracting Ltd., Bay Meats Butcher Shop, and Tbaytel, who were the event’s premier sponsor.
“It was nice to see a lot of the vendors getting more involved, too,” said Soderholm.
“Everybody wasn’t just staying in their booths,” she noted. “People were outside of their booths, too.
“People got to see how some of their things worked.”
The Fort Frances High School “First Responders,” for instance, were demonstrating their first-aid skills, walking around with a volunteer on a backboard, while Shoppers Home Health Care staff were zipping around on the scooters they sell.
And it wasn’t unusual to see a youngster riding a futuristic-looking hover board sold by Golectric Thunder Bay, noted Soderholm.
Many of the exhibitors offered draws for prizes, free samples, and giveaways such as pens and shopping bags.
“It was great to see the people coming through—you never [saw] anybody who was frowning or had anything really negative to say,” Soderholm said.
“They had their hands full with stuff, whether they had purchased something or they had received stuff for free from some of the different vendors,” she added.
“People were stopping like mad to make sure they had signed up for all of the draws.”
As well, the United Native Friendship Centre had a kids’ activity corner while the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre offered storytime and games.
Walking around Saturday, Soderholm said she was delighted to see youngsters playing chess against library volunteers.
Fort High’s “chem-free” grad committee once again held its cake roulette fundraiser.
“Relay for Life” volunteers, meanwhile, were getting people registered for that fundraiser, which will take place Saturday, June 25 at the Sorting Gap Marina in conjunction with the Boundary Waters Dragon Boat Festival.
The Riverside Foundation for Health Care sold its Canada Day cash lottery tickets while the La Verendrye Hospital Auxiliary held its annual “Rockin’ for a Reason” fundraiser.
“A lot of the vendors were pleased with how they did,” Soderholm said.
“A lot of new connections were made; it wasn’t just connections between the vendors and the public—the vendors were able to network between each other, too,” she stressed.
“There was a great sense of camaraderie between everybody that was there.”
Several vendors also had booths on the second floor, where quite a few expo attendees stopped to have a bite at the Little Amik Grill.
The Voyageur Lions were among the volunteers who helped out at the event.
The club did not hold its annual “Jail or Bail” fundraiser in conjunction with the trade show like it did last year.
Instead, it will be held during the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship in July.
Soderholm said the Chamber is grateful to all of the volunteers who helped out at the event, whether they worked the door or served as ambassadors—manning booths to give vendors a break once in a while.
She added the curling club also deserves credit for helping the Chamber put on the event and accommodating its requests.
“They made sure the restaurant was open, which was great because it gave everybody the option to stick around a little bit more,” Soderholm reasoned.
“It was kind of neat with the big glass windows up there,” she added.
“You could sit up there and look across everything.”
