The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce’s 20th-annual Home and Leisure Show on Friday and Saturday at the Memorial Sports Centre proved to be another success this year, with more vendors and people attending.
“It was really successful,” enthused Chamber director Dawn Booth. “The exhibitors were all really pleased with the show, as were all the people that came through the doors.
“We heard nothing but positive comments so we were very pleased,” she added.
Since the show was celebrating its 20th year, Booth believed the success was due to the different exhibits that were introduced this year.
“We had a kids’ corner going on, and all the different games and draws and stuff, which really adds to the show,” she noted.
“I don’t have specific numbers yet, we’re still trying to work that out, but I do know that it did increase over the last year just because of the dollars we brought in,” Booth continued.
All of the money raised by the show goes back to the Chamber to help with operating expenses and different projects for the town.
“Projects like our beautification and all of those type of things . . . it [the money] just goes back into general operating funds,” said Booth.
“I like all the people that come through,” said Jim Badiuk, owner of Badiuk Equipment, which once again held its annual boat show in conjunction with the Chamber’s home and leisure show.
“We get a lot of people that won’t drive out to see the snowmobiles, for instance, because they’re not snowmobiling.
“But when they walk by them, they get to see them and see what’s new in the boating, the four-wheelers, and also what the prices are like,” Badiuk added.
Badiuk Equipment also commemorated its 30th year in business, with Jim Badiuk attributing some of his success to the surrounding community’s involvement in extreme sports.
“It’s a recreational area . . . and they like four-wheeling and they like boating and we have lots of lakes. It keeps them coming out,” he remarked.
“I’m glad that people are out,” Badiuk continued. “We were worried that the ice might be out and everyone would be out at the lake, but because it chilled so late this year and the ice isn’t gone, people are still in town and it’s great.”
The event seemed well-received by the community and drew large crowds both Friday and Saturday.
“Again we want to thank our major sponsor, TBayTel, and then all of our other prize sponsors and everybody else that donated to the show and all of our volunteers,” said Booth.
“Of course, without those people, we wouldn't be able to do such a successful show,” she stressed.