The Memorial Sports Centre will be a hub of activity this Friday and Saturday (April 27-28) when the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce’s annual home and leisure show gets underway.
“Everything’s coming together and falling into place,” said Chamber office manager Dawn Booth. “There’s lots things on the go this year. So far, everything seems to be going well.”
Booth said close to 60 exhibitors have registered for the trade show so far, including Badiuk Equipment, which will be holding its annual boat show in the ’52 Canadians Arena.
“There’s a huge variety of exhibitors this year, with everything you can imagine,” she added. “We have quite a few new exhibitors on board again, so that’s always good for people to come and check out the new things.
“Lots of products and services and fun stuff.”
Chamber president Christine Denby said the home and leisure show—the end result of much planning by the trade show committee—is one of the highlights of the year for the Chamber.
“As Chamber president, I am very pleased with the amount of hard work and creative energy that Dawn Booth and [committee chair] Cathy Emes have put into the planning of our upcoming home and leisure show,” she remarked.
“Dawn and Cathy, along with many volunteers, have come up with some wonderful ideas to keep things fresh and exciting for both our exhibitors and attendees,” added Denby.
“An event such as this one allows our membership and others a wonderful opportunity to let the public know what they are really about.
“The show also turns into a great opportunity for people to meet and greet and have a great time, so I look forward to seeing many people there,” she noted.
< *c>What to see, do
In addition to the plethora of exhibitors, this year’s home and leisure show will have several new features, including two photo contests that ended up drawing quite a few entries.
The “Cutest Puppy Contest,” where dog owners could enter photos of their pooches for a chance to win a huge gift basket of puppy treats and toys, saw 32 entries as of the deadline Friday.
“We got a great response,” said Kerri Dittaro, who organized the photo contest. “It’s fantastic.”
The photos will be on display at the home and leisure show. Those who come to the show then will vote on the photographs of the dogs.
Voters can put in whatever amount of money they want, with the dog that brings in the most money winning. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Fort Frances Friends of Animals.
“We are encouraging everybody to come down and vote for their cute puppy,” said Dittaro.
Trade show-goers also can check out the 90 entries that came in for the amateur photo contest. Pictures in three categories—home and leisure, the great outdoors, and “for kids only” (a category for district children aged 13 and under)—will be on display at the arena.
Four winners will be selected by a panel of judges. There will one winner in each category, as well as an overall one. Prizes, provided by Fort Custom Picture Framing, will be up for grabs in each category.
Another attraction at this year’s home and leisure show will be outdoors columnist Gord Ellis, who is scheduled to hold a workshop on outdoor photography at 11 a.m. on Saturday and then fishing at 3 p.m.
Something else new is a dunk tank on the trade show floor. The public is encouraged to come out and see various local celebrities take a dive for a good cause.
Proceeds will go to various groups, including the FFHS “chem-free” grad committee, Community Living Fort Frances and District, and the Fort Frances Aquanauts Swim Team.
There also will be a children’s area featuring face-painting, toys, games, colouring and performances by “Grandpa Magic,” as well as the ever-popular “chem-free” grad cake roulette, food for sale, draws, contests, a penny auction, and much more.
The Chamber also is holding a contest whereby each person who pays the $3 admission to the home and leisure show receives an entry to win $1,000 in cash.
“There’s no strings attached. Someone will walk away with $1,000,” noted Booth.
The trade show is scheduled to run Friday from noon-9 p.m. and again Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
