THUNDER BAY -- As this weekend’s mild temperatures showed, spring is around the corner.
And that’s good news for area retailers selling boats, off-road vehicles and other outdoors supplies and equipment.
Many of those retailers, and other businesses and community organizations, gathered this weekend at the Sports Dome for the 11th annual Central Canada Outdoor and Recreation Show, which wrapped up on Sunday.
Andrew Mendes, a salesman at Gordon Trailer Sales, said the show provides valuable exposure for local businesses.
“The Outdoor Show is a great opportunity for sales. There are people coming from all over that we normally don’t see at the store,” he said. “Here they’re concentrated in one area so they can come and look at our quads, boats and snow machines.”
The show is hosted by the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce.
Event manager Nancy Milani estimated that more than 17,000 people will have attended the show over the three days.
This year had the highest number of exhibitors in the history of event, with more than 120 showcasing their offerings which included a wider range than ever before.
“We brought in a pet park and a kid’s club. We found our demographics were changing a bit to younger families so we tried to gear some of our exhibits towards that,” Milani said.
The exhibitors had a mix of sales and information exhibits on the floor.
For many the outdoor show is a late-winter tradition, regardless if they’re looking for a new boat or quad.
Bill Bouley and his family attended the show. While he didn’t have anything specific in mind, he was checking out the hunting and fishing gear
“We just came for a day out with the kids and something to do,” he said. “We try to come every year.”
