Edmonton, AB – A busy and exciting week is underway for members of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba staff as they have travelled to the Alberta capital to attend the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibition’s annual Conference.
The Conference will be held from November 15-17th in the River Cree Resort and Casino and will feature workshops, industry tours and a wide variety of information sessions ranging from sales and marketing to animal care, technology innovation and the latest in entertainment and attractions.
“I’m looking forward to attending this year,” says Provincial Exhibition General Manager Mark Humphries, who will be taking in his second CAFÉ Conference after joining the Ex in September 2022. “This event offers our staff the opportunity to meet and network with representatives of other fairs and exhibitions, which has proven extremely valuable in the past.
Humphries has been joined in Edmonton by Provincial Exhibition President Kathy Cleaver, Program and Volunteer Manager Kristen Laing Breemersch, Sponsorship Coordinator Drew Clayton and Manitoba Summer Fair Chair Tim Rowan.
CAFÉ exists to provide member organizations, including the Provincial Exhibition, with a united voice, programs and tools to spur the kind of open collaboration, shared learning and coordinated action that an industry needs to thrive. It currently works with over 700 fairs and exhibitions and countless service providers across the country.
The Canadian Fair and Exhibition industry sees more than 35,000,000 visitors each year through their 17,000 events and activities, with an estimated economic impact of close to three billion dollars to local communities.
“It should be a productive week,” says Humphries. “These information sessions often lead to fresh ideas…whether it’s the latest in animal health and welfare to innovations in technology, sales, marketing and promotion.”
Among the speakers on hand to make presentations to the many delegates in attendance this week will be Greg (Scooter) Korek of North American Midway Entertainment, Allison Wright, Director of Parks and Facilities at the Calgary Stampede, Animal Health and Welfare Consultant Mikki Shatosky and Amanda Frigon, an accomplished event professional in the entertainment, operations and entertainment industry. She has had the opportunity to work with various national and international events such as NASCAR and the Canadian Finals Rodeo.
With the Provincial Exhibition coming off hosting a successful MB AG EX this past October, plans and preparations have already begun for the 2024 Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, scheduled for March 25-30th at Brandon’s Keystone Centre. As well, plans are currently being finalized for the Exhibition’s President’s Dinner Gala at the Victoria Inn. The annual event will be held on Thursday, February 22nd.
If interested in tickets to the President’s Dinner, call (204) 726-3590.