I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than to hang around the Okotoks Trade & Lifestyle Show at the Okotoks Recreation Centre and rub elbows with Foothills area entrepreneurs.
People like Brenda Redwood, who is opening a regional office for Permanent Window Solutions next month in south Calgary. Her company has been manufacturing energy–saving, durable and environmentally friendly windows and doors for homes and businesses for decades.
Shanea Pederson runs The Lady and The Tramp’s dog grooming salon in the Stockton Industrial Park. She’s been in the dog grooming business for seven years and moved to our town from Fort McMurray four years ago.
“All our shampoos are completely natural,” she said. “They don’t irritate our skin, so they won’t irritate your dog’s skin either.”
Carla Humphreys of Music Central has been teaching Okotoks musicians to sing and play for almost 30 years. I asked her what’s the easiest instrument to learn to play: “The one you want to learn to play,” she replied.
Miriam Lowery and Linda Rakos were tending the Foothills Writers Group booth. The group is looking to connect with writers throughout the region to share writing tips, help each other on their journey from newbie to published author, and to promote the books they have written.
Keith Andrews from High River was exhibiting wooden spoons, back scratchers and beverage stakes that he makes from diamond willow and cedar.
“It’s a hobby,” he said. “It keeps me out of the house and because of it, I still get supper when suppertime comes.”
Popcorn On A New Level is Jenna Pearson’s trade name.
“The flavours are all my own recipes, and they’re ones you normally wouldn’t find,” she said. “Right now, I have spiced chocolate, birthday cake, Bailey’s Irish Cream, strawberry shortcake and chocolate peanut butter.”
Gord Trenaman of Landscape 88 has been part of the Okotoks residential landscaping scene for 25 years. It started as a summer job when he was in university, and he’s been at it ever since.
“I’ve found the trade and lifestyle show is a good way to meet clients,” Trenaman said. “In fact, last year most of our business came from this show.”
Liz Andrews has been specializing in newborn, maternity and family photography since 2020.
“It’s a year most of us will want to forget,” she said, “but for me it was life changing. It was the year my passion and work came together. I’ve never been happier.”
Nathaniel Cornett-Ching of Edward Jones Investments sang with the Big Rock Singers until “dad duty” forced him to give up the pastime.
I also met a host of others, including Creed Christensen of Pure Country Split Cedar Fencing, Krista Feschuk of Student Works Painting, Jade Boland of Riman Skin Care, and Kayla Peters, Spencer Esko and Naomi Webber of RainMate Air Purifiers.
Kudos to the Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce for giving all these entrepreneurs a chance to strut their stuff for the community.
