With snow on the ground and temperatures still closer to the bottom end of the thermometer, spring may seem a long way away to most people around here.
But the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce already is thinking about rain showers and blooming flowers as it gears up for its 19th-annual Spring Home & Leisure Show on April 27-28.
Chamber office manager Dawn Booth said this morning that she’s in the process of sending out exhibitor packages to about 500 businesses in Northwestern Ontario, Manitoba, and Minnesota.
“We usually end up with about 70 exhibitors but, of course, we always have room to grow,” she noted.
Entitled “Tips, Tools & Techniques,” this year’s trade show promises to be bigger and better than ever. “We’re looking at quite a few things to add to the show,” said Booth.
One of them is outdoors columnist Gord Ellis, who is scheduled to hold two workshops the Saturday—one on fishing and the other on outdoor photography.
Organizers also are hoping exhibitors take the initiative to do more demonstrations.
“We’re actually not doing a demonstration area ourselves this year because it didn’t work out as we’d hoped the past few years,” noted Booth. “But we do encourage all exhibitors to come in and do their own demonstrations, to contact their suppliers and bring them in.
“That’s the kind of stuff people want to see—hands-on activities.
“Last year, we handed out comment cards to everyone who went through the show and we got really good responses,” continued Booth.
“So in the exhibitor package this year, we’ve included some of those comments, including what the customers themselves said they wanted to see at the show in future years.
“We’re looking for more exhibitors that offer home decorating ideas. All of that kind of stuff.”
Booth added the trade show committee is looking to change other aspects of the event.
“We’re also working on doing a live or silent auction instead of doing the big contest game we’ve done the past few years,” she noted, referring to the putting/safe cracking contest that offered up chances to win prizes like pickup trucks and motorcycles.
Another idea is a baby contest, where people would bring in their babies and possibly win a prize—an idea organizers got from the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition.
It’s not a beauty contest, stressed Booth. Rather, parents would be eligible for prizes if their baby, for example, has the longest eyelashes or curliest hair.
“We’re also looking at doing extended children’s activities, more than what we’ve done the past few years,” said Booth.
“So in addition to colouring and face-painting, we might bring in ‘Grandpa Magic’ to do a couple shows, and we’ll be talking to a couple groups to do a kids’ corner.”
Booth said the Chamber also is hoping Badiuk Equipment will be back once again with boats and other vehicles on the ’52 Canadians Arena.
The trade show is scheduled for Friday, April 27 from noon-9 p.m. and again on Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Memorial Sports Centre.
Anyone looking for more information on the show, or has any ideas as to what should be included, is urged to contact the Chamber office at 274-5773.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
