Promoting Saugeen Shores and Canada’s 150 celebrations were Healther Lorenz (left), representing Canada’s 150th Ad Hoc Committee and Cheryl Beamish of the Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce.

Hub Staff

Over 70 vendors filled the Southampton Coliseum Arena and Curling Club during the Port Elgin Rotary Club’s Home Show featuring the Food and Drink Expo April 8 and 9.

Chair of the Home Show Committee, Rotarian Dan Murawsky, said that the first day saw a record number of visitors, an estimated 1,500. “Unfortunately being able to count this year was very difficult because the crowds were coming in the door so fast that our clickers weren’t keeping up.”

Murawsky said for the second day of the Home Show, April 9, he targeted for 750 visitors based on years past, but counted over 800. He worried that the sunny weather would keep people from coming but said the Food and Drink Expo in the Curling Club “brought a lot of people out.”

Murawksy said that he would like to see the Curling Club filled to capacity and would like to bring more market style vendors, honey and maple syrup producers as well as more local businesses.

During the second day of the show the Port Elgin Rotary Club donated $5,000 from weekend and raffle proceeds to Saugeen Shores Minor Baseball, to go towards two new dugouts that will be built this spring at the Biener Ball Diamonds. “We get a lot of requests throughout the course of the year and we felt that this was a worthy cause this year,” said Murawksy.

Promoting the upcoming Canada 150 celebrations in Saugeen Shores was Heather Lorenz who enjoyed her new location inside the Food and Drink Expo. Lorenz said that crowds stopped at her information booth, which she shared with Saugeen Shores Tourism, to look at brochures, ask questions about Saugeen Shores and the upcoming 10 day long birthday celebration.

Saugeen Shores Minor Baseball Vice President Dave Hall, flanked by his sons Ben (left) and Sam, happily accepted $5,000 from the Port Elgin Rotary Club at the Rotary Home Show April 9. The funds will be used to cover a portion of the cost for two new dugouts at the Biener Ball Diamond.

The Food and Drink Expo in the Southampton Curling Club featured 15 vendors from brewers to local restaurants.

The two-day Port Elgin Rotary Home Show featured 56 vendors in all.