OUTSIDE of one brief windy Friday, the weather has been outstanding so far for the Spring Parade of Homes. This has been reflected in the tremendous crowds attending to date.
Expanding the Spring Parade from the traditional two weeks to three became necessary in order to enable the interested crowds ample opportunity to see the wide array of selections available.
With the weather hovering right around the freezing mark, visiting the various homes and walking throughout the new subdivisions has been a very comfortable experience.
Reaction has been very positive regarding the Parade magazine and new home innovations. For those of you who have already worn out your copy received in the Winnipeg Free Press, you can still pick one up at any Steinbach Credit Union location. Digital copies are available online through www.homebuilders.mb.ca or www.winnipegfreepress.com/publications.
An exciting new feature this year is the Facebook page which enables you to become a friend of the Parade of Homes, reading the reviews of various bloggers and sharing your thoughts on the Spring Parade entries. In addition, those of you with a smartphone will want to take advantage of the QR barcodes in the magazine which enable you to see additional photos and videos of the Parade homes.
Speaking of everything related to homes, the annual Home Expressions Home and Garden Show is taking place at the Winnipeg Convention Centre Thursday, March 31 through Sunday, April 3. Absolutely everything you need for your home, yard, deck or cottage will be available as Winnipeg's largest consumer trade show provides the perfect spring break opportunity.
Special guest this year is Mike Holmes, star of HGTV's Holmes on Homes.
Mike will be appearing Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Get more information regarding the show through the MHBA website or go to www.homeexpressions.ca. Tickets are available at any RONA location or through TicketMaster.
Finally, kudos go out to Ralph Oswald of Oswald Construction Ltd. and Wayne Sage of Harwood Design Builders Ltd. who recently returned from the SAM awards of the Canadian Home Builders' Association with a pair of gold medals for their renovation projects.
Oswald Construction won for the Best Addition and Harwood Design Builders won for Best Kitchen. This recognition is for being voted the best in Canada for these two categories. Congratulations.
Mike Moore is president of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.
