Another Home Expressions Home and Garden Show has passed and more than 20,000 people converged upon the Winnipeg Convention Centre last weekend looking for new and fresh ideas for their home, yard and cottage.
Visitors to the show left fully armed with a multitude of ideas from some truly spectacular booths and exhibitors who can deliver the goods and services to make any home upgrade a success.
The hundreds of exhibitors displayed many truly innovative products, too many to list here. However, there were a couple of highlights you might have missed that should be mentioned.
The giant bee on the ground floor was made out of various flowers. Did you know there was a full car under the flowers? Yes, the folks at St.
Mary's Nursery fashioned the flowered bee over a Honda car. The frame, body and windows are still intact.
If you missed it or need a second look, it will be on display soon at St. Mary's Nursery. Speaking of St. Mary's, the Garden Court on the third floor created by their combined mastery with Barkman Concrete was spectacular. There was a terrific flow to the area and one could easily see this being implemented in their own backyard.
Of course, no Home Expressions Show would be complete without the good people from Variety, the Children's Charity. Their volunteers provided yeomen service as show ambassadors. They worked the gates, gave advice and directions, sold raffle tickets and RONA bags and always had a cheery smile.
Best of all, our generous attendees helped them raise some much-needed funds for a great cause. Wayne, Charlotte, Nancy and everyone else ---- you're the best.
Speaking of RONA, the presenting sponsor of Home Expressions was out in full force with two large booth areas, numerous helpful staff in their bright yellow shirts and helping behind the scenes with promotion, ticket sales, providing fundraising opportunities for Variety and going way beyond to ensure they were Doing it Right. Darrin and the entire RONA family showed why they are Canada's home headquarters. Of course, the big name draw for this year's show was Mike Holmes, star of HGTV's Holmes on Homes and Holmes Inspection. Next week's column will focus on his message that was delivered to two sold-out crowds.
Mike Moore is president of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.
