INNISFAIL – Susan Roy and Hazel Ray were at their table close to the entrance of the Blue Rink at the Innisfail Twin Arena embracing a special mission.
They were representing St. Mark’s Anglican Church at the annual Innisfail & District Chamber of Commerce Spring Trade Show on April 4 and 5.
The church is also a member of The Caring Collective, a group of five local churches raising awareness about the ongoing plight of Jasper wildfire victims.
The other churches include the Innisfail United Church, Peace Lutheran Church, Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.
“We're all working together to raise funds for Jasper. There's the Jasper Food Bank, but there's also the Jasper community team society,” said Roy, adding The Caring Collective is also supporting the Jasper community with a pancake breakfast fundraiser on April 26 from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Innisfail United Church.
Not far from their table was a smiling Blaine Staples, president of the local Chamber at his family’s table for The Jungle Farm.
“It's always the opening event for spring and for Innisfail,” said Staples, noting this year’s trade fair had about 50 tables set up from local and regional businesses, community groups, sports organizations, and many non-profits. “And you know, we come as much to see everybody we haven't seen for all winter. That's a big part of it.
“It seems most new people to Innisfail come to this trade show and they really get a sense of what the community is about,” he added. “It’s my feeling every business in town should be here. It's their opportunity to meet the community.”
But this year there is a new factor on most people’s minds, especially on the business side.
There is the ongoing tariff war initiated by America’s Donald Trump, one that will potentially have an enormous impact on Canadian businesses, including those in Innisfail.
“We started planning the trade show and working on it way back in the first of January, so a lot of the Donald Trump stuff hadn't occurred yet,” said Staples. “But people are really interested in buying local and supporting local.
“I’m seeing quite a bit of it,” he added. “People aren't blatantly out there saying that. But we’re seeing it on social media and everybody's very interested in buying Canadian and not supporting so much from the U.S.”
And while everyone is aware of the tariffs and what they can do to mitigate them, the trade fair is also about reconnecting, making new connections and announcing the creation of new initiatives.
The Innisfail and District Historical Society had its table to let trade fair attendees know it has entered into a partnership with Men’s Shed Innisfail, a group of retired citizens dedicated to creating useful projects for the community.
“Men's Shed has now found a permanent home on the grounds of the museum and the village,” said Anna Lenters, president of the Innisfail and District Historical Society. “They're going to be in the building that was formerly known as the Auto Building at the end of the grounds. “We're now taking a 40-foot by 60-foot building and giving them two thirds of it, and we're going to keep one third and then Men's Shed can do what they do best.
“We are going to create a new exhibit in the balance of the one third,” she said, adding the intended new exhibit will feature a replica of the pioneer Kremer’s Garage that was located on Main Street. “It’s important because we’re going to attempt to duplicate the garage of its time with the cars we have as if it were an operating garage.”
Terry Leicht, a member of Men’s Shed Innisfail, said the new space at the museum will now give members freedom at any time of the day to meet, have coffee, play cards and work on community projects, including those for the historical village.
“If we have something going on, instead of having the function somewhere else, we're going to have it at the museum and try and bring lots of people into the museum to assist with what's going on in the museum, so people can come and enjoy the museum,” said Leicht, whose group takes possession of two-thirds of the old Auto Building on April 19.
“There's no shortage of potential projects.”
