Thanks to ongoing concerns about the temporary flooring used at Affinity Place, the organizers of the Estevan Showcase Business Expo have decided the event should return to the Power Dodge Ice Centre (formerly the Lignite Miners Centre).
Jackie Wall, the executive director of the Estevan Chamber of Commerce, said the Showcase committee, which includes representatives of the chamber, the Lions Club of Estevan and the Rotary Club of Estevan, have been contemplating a return to the ice centre for a couple of years.
鈥淭here have been several incidents throughout the last couple of years,鈥� said Wall. 鈥淭here have been people who have had booths that have had water in them.聽
鈥淲e鈥檝e had some vendors who had damage to their products or some of their stuff because of the condensation on the floor. And then there has also been the complaint that it has been so cold for the exhibitors.鈥�
Wall said this has been an issue since she started with the chamber in 2015, and they have heard concerns since Showcase moved to Affinity Place shortly after the events centre opened in 2011.
But the problems really surfaced two years ago, when Estevan experienced temperatures that were well above normal.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to have issues any time it鈥檚 that warm outside, and you鈥檙e trying to keep something cool like an ice surface,鈥� said Wall. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 nearly as bad last year as it was the year previous.鈥�
When people opened the rear door at the east end of the building, warm air would enter and causes problems with the ice surface. Fans have been brought in at the ice level to partially remedy the problem.聽
There is also the potential risk of somebody slipping or tripping on the floor, but that hasn鈥檛 happened as of yet.
Wall stressed they haven鈥檛 had any exhibitors drop out due to the wet flooring issues at Affinity Place, but they were at risk of losing somebody.聽
The committee received a letter from a vendor who has been at Showcase for several years. The vendor stated she was torn whether she would attend the business expo this year due to damage sustained to her product.
鈥淭here have been a few people who have expressed their concern and have been a little bit apprehensive about booking booths because of the situation,鈥� said Wall.
Some exhibitors asked to be in the lobby or the concourse of Affinity Place, as opposed to the floor.
鈥淲e could only do that if we have enough booths to fill the ice surface,鈥� said Wall.
The company that sets up the booths would not put down carpet any longer, unless the Showcase committee paid them in advance for the carpet, because the carpet became so wet that they had to throw it out.聽
There will be less space for booths on the ice centre鈥檚 arena floor than at Affinity Place, but Wall stressed they can have extra booths in the main hallway of the Estevan Leisure Centre.
鈥淧eople will be coming in the main doors at Affinity, so they will have to walk down that hallway, so those booths that would be in the hallway, it鈥檚 not like they would be missed,鈥� said Wall.
The outdoor booths will be located in the ice centre鈥檚 parking lot.
Last year all of the Showcase booths were on the Affinity Place arena floor, or outdoors in front of the Leisure Centre.
Wall isn鈥檛 concerned they will lose any exhibitors because of the move to the ice centre, and she is also confident they won鈥檛 suffer a drop in attendance.聽
Affinity Place is a fantastic venue, Wall said, and the City of Estevan has been great to work with. The city staff worked hard to address the concerns with the flooring. But the showcase committee felt they couldn鈥檛 remain at Affinity due to the ongoing concerns.聽
Registration for Showcase is expected to open in early March. This year鈥檚 edition of Showcase will be Sept. 22 to 24.聽
