Lots to dot at home, leisure show

Whether it’s taking a peek at new products, getting information from non-profit groups, trying free samples, or hoping to get a hole-in-one, there should be plenty to do at the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce’s home and leisure show this Friday and Saturday at the Memorial Sports Centre.
“It should be an enjoyable time for everybody,” said Chamber president Gary Rogozinski. “Last year was fantastic, and this year should be no different.”
“It’s definitely going to be exciting,” said Chamber manager Dawn Booth.
“We’ll have close to 60 exhibitors by Friday, which is about the same as last year,” she noted. “But lots of them are new, so people shouldn’t expect to see the same things as last year.
“We’ve also got quite a variety,” added Booth, mentioning wares range from candles to clothing to fudge to solar-powered systems.
The exhibitors are a 50/50 mix of district merchants and those from elsewhere in the region.
Non-profit groups/special interest exhibitors also will be on hand, like the Canadian Diabetes Association, Fort Frances Museum, Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship, Atikokan Crisis Centre, and Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Ken Boshcoff, among others.
As well, the Fort High “chem-free” grad committee once again will be holding a cake roulette to raise money for the party in June.
This will run only from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday.
Booth said organizers also were sure to bring back an antiques appraiser this year. Those interested can make appointments now to see Dr. John Cooper of Winnipeg on either the Friday or Saturday of the trade show.
For a fee of $17, people can bring in up to three items for Dr. Cooper to appraise. Each appointment is for 15 minutes.
To make an appointment, call 274-7891 (there’s still some spots left for Saturday).
The two-day show also will include children’s activities, food booths, benches for seniors to rest on, and demonstrations on everything from chocolate-making and natural health products to installing flooring and physical fitness.
See the ad elsewhere in this edition of the Times for the schedule of demos and other special activities.
While most of the home and leisure show will take place in the Ice for Kids Arena, Badiuk Equipment, which had a tent outside the Memorial Sports Centre last year, will be using the entire ’52 Canadians Arena to hold its annual boat show.
This year also will see the return of the “Hole-in-One Putt” contest, in which people can pay $5 to try to sink a putt and get their name entered into a draw.
The first 100 people drawn then will get a crack at entering a five-digit code to open a “prize vault.”
And the prizes will be big, including a Dodge Ram 4×4 from West End Motors, a Kia Sportage from Borderland Esso and K-Sport Kia in Kenora, and a sports package from Badiuk Equipment, which includes a boat, motor, trailer, ATV, motorcycle, and riding lawnmower.
Unlike last year, however, there will be two consolation prizes. If no one cracks the code, the 100 people who had their names drawn will have their names put back together and two will be drawn.
Those two will get one of two consolation prizes, which include a barbecue from Canadian Tire and a patio set donated by IQON Financial.
Booth said she’s confident the putting contest will be even more popular than last year, which saw just over 100 people get a hole-in-one to qualify.
No one cracked the code.
The trade show will run Friday from noon-9 p.m. and again Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $2, which includes a “passport” that patrons can get stamped at participating booths and then enter a daily draw to win prizes.
Children under 12 will be admitted free if accompanied by an adult.
Booth noted something new this year is a free swim for children at the Sportsplex from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Saturday. This is to keep kids busy while their parents visit the trade show.
Booth also said the Chamber needs volunteers to work the door, relieve exhibitors when they need to take a break, and so on. Those interested can call her at 274-5773.