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| 75th anniversary show in 2002 - Dates change to March 19, 20, 21 The Ottawa Valley Farm Show has announced its 2002 dates along with some changes that will "make it bigger and better than ever", according to general manager Tom Van Dusen. The dates are March 19, 20, 21, once again at Ottawa's Lansdowne Park. The show will run Tuesday through Thursday instead of the traditional Wednesday through Friday to allow the Ottawa Valley Seed Growers Association, sponsors of the show, to take over the Civic Centre arena, expanding the show by dozens of new exhibitors. "The only way we could get the arena was by committing to Lansdowne management to be out by Friday to allow for preparation of the ice surface for the usual Friday night hockey game," Van Dusen explained. "We feel the new arrangement will work at least as well for exhibitors." The GM said the show's 300 existing exhibitors have been notified of the important change and invited to confirm their space for the 2002 edition. Priority on the arena floor will be given to large equipment dealers looking for major space. "The arena is ideal for equipment and will let us get some people in who've been waiting a long time, as well as allow some of our long-time exhibitors to expand," he said, adding all buildings now occupied are booked solid. "With the addition of the arena, we'll now occupy the entire park, making it exclusively ours for the show and eliminating conflicts with other uses." The next OVFS marks the 75th anniversary edition of the event, which was launched in Renfrew County as a regional seed fair, eventually moving to Lansdowne and becoming the largest agricultural and rural goods and services exhibition in Ontario east of Toronto. "We've set up an anniversary committee to look at special projects, for example some commemorative merchandise to mark the 75th." Space at the 2002 show will be $3 per square-foot, including the arena, with limited outside space remaining $1 per square foot. There'll also be additional small booth space in the Civic Centre concourse which comes with the arena rental. Here are some other changes for 2002: • Consideration is being given to a traffic lane through the outside mall to permit speedier entry by visitors onto the grounds. At least one, probably two rows of outside equipment show space will be kept; the middle row will definitely be gone as will the lower outside area between the Aberdeen Building and the Sprung Structure. • Several exhibitors now occupying space along the south wall of the exhibit halls will be moved to allow access to the arena floor. Most will be accommodated near their existing spaces, possibly in the new alleyway between the halls and the arena. • The Sprung Structure will be reserved exclusively for livestock displays, auctions and other events, and a few related exhibitors, with other exhibitors to be relocated. • A new City of Ottawa bylaw prohibits all inside smoking at the show. Partly because of the smoking ban, the exhibitors' lounge will be discontinued with the space to be used for meetings and seminars. On a final note, Van Dusen said he's always looking for sponsors for various farm show activities. For example, he plans to offer a light lunch to exhibitors on the late night at the upcoming show - in addition to morning donuts and coffee - and is looking for an exhibitor(s) to pick up the tab. Posted: Friday, November 30, 2001 |