We are saddened to hear of the Passing of Lionel Silverman. RIP, Lionel.
https://necrocanada.com/obituaries-2023/lionel-silverman-friday-september-15-2023/
December 20th Update
The Spry Show plans remain in place. Here’s why…
The practical reality is this; at no time is there ever more people in the building of a Spry Show than there is currently is permitted to be in your typical Costco, big-box grocery or hardware store or for that matter any indoor pro-sports arena. There are currently around 85 exhibitor personnel registered to participate in the show. The list is posted to the show web-site. On a good attendance day at Spry we see anywhere from 85 to 115 retailer personnel in the building. We know this because we are billed by the venue for every complimentary lunch we provide retailers each day of the show so we have a history of what the numbers are. I don’t expect that our retailer attendance will change dramatically - if anything it will likely be less for this season, so that means there will likely be, in total, a maximum of around 150-160 people in the building at any given time during the three days of the show.
The exhibitors have committed to participate in the show to give buyers the opportunity to return to the more effective way of buying and to providing them a means of committing their significant financial outlays with a more informed and holistic environment.
We as the show promoter, are operationally fully vested in going ahead with the show now that we are so close to the event. Our exhibitors have committed to booth expenses with third parties to present themselves at the show. We have re-worked the floor plan to ensure we provide social-distancing. We had done this prior to the current perspective being painted by the media and the politicians. The risk of attending the Spry Show remains very, very low and we will follow all of the health and safety protocols.
Wishing you a super-productive week of business and a wonderful holiday season.
We look forward to serving retailers a productive safe show environment January 4th - 6th 2022.
Bellweather trade show now permitted to operate at full capacity
News hit yesterday that the 2022 Toronto International Boat Show has been granted permission from the Ontario Government to operate at full capacity. See the full release here: https://boatingindustry.ca/current-news/9075-toronto-international-boat-show-announces-capacity-limits-to-be-lifted-to-100?oly_enc_id=3803H8475578D5W
This is great news for the Boat Show but is also a sound nod of approval for the Spry Show and its typical daily traffic to be considered a safe and responsible environment.
Spry In-Person events returning this Fall - In Good Hands...
Since news broke of the plan for In-Person Spry Shows to return this fall, the community has responded very positively. The plentiful retailer registrations already received are a strong indication that buyers welcome the opportunity to have face-to-face meetings to review samples before having to commit to booking orders. The Spry Shows will be a very rare opportunity to actually review samples in face to face meetings this booking season. We look forward to seeing everyone back at the Shows.
In Good Hands thanks to Sun Bum…
Thanks to our friends at Sun Bum and Baby Bum, all Spry events will have complimentary, personal size bottles of hand sanitizer available for all participants.
Spry In-Person Buying Shows Returning for the Fall Booking Season
We are excited to announce that In-Person Spry Shows will be held to facilitate the booking of product for the Fall ‘22/W ’23 retail season.
The Spry Show schedule is as follows:
Spry Ontario Season Preview - November 15-18, Embassy Grand
Spry Maritimes Winter Market - November 22-24 2021 Moncton
Spry Ontario Winter Market - January 4-6 2022, Embassy Grand
We encourage retailers to register right away as there may still be restrictions on the number of visitors allowed in the venues at any time.
Recent News from our friends at MKC about OWL Rafting's plans for the 2021 season.
OWL Rafting
Welcomes Paddlers!
Our sister company, OWL Rafting, will be opening their beloved Ottawa riverside resort to paddlers for the 2021 season. Their Paddler Camping is open year-round, however, the off-season will end when they officially open on May 15th!
NEW This Year
Pontoon & meal takeout services for boaters (call for details)
Rates
Off-Season: $10/night (September 25th - May 14th)
On-Season: $15/adult/night or $10/child/night
Seasonal Rate: $250/person/season (Apply Here)
Camping with Breakfast: $25/person/night
Shuttle with BBQ Cruise: $30/person ($20 under 12 yrs)
Madawaska Kanu Centre & OWL Rafting have provided free river access at McCoy's and Black Chute's put-ins since we first encountered the Ottawa rapids in 1974. When you camp with OWL, you help contribute to our philosophy that the river should be accessible to everyone!
See you soon,
Claudia, Dirk, Stefi, Katrina, and your MKC and OWL river crews
Can you help Greg Snoddy?
Are you able to support this GoFundMe campaign initiated by Kevin Roher and Tanya Carvalho to help our friend Greg Snoddy?
The link to the campaign:
Even a small donation could help Greg reach his fundraising goal. And if you can't make a donation, it would be great if you could share the fundraiser information to help spread the word.
Please help support this friend in need.
January 13th update:
Due to the incredible response to help this friend-in-need, as of January 13th, the campaign has reached 75% of its goal. Please do whatever you can to help Greg and his family in his time of need. It would be great to exceed the goal. Click the link above to donate.
RIP - Cheri Doman
CHERYL “CHERI” LYNN DOMAN
December 13, 1957 - December 7, 2020
Funeral Details: A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date
Doman, Cheryl Lynn “Cheri”
Friday, December 13, 1957 – Monday, December 7, 2020
Cheri has now been reunited in heaven with her beloved husband Mike Moran and her father Ken, who gracefully guided her on her journey home on December 7, 2020 at Hospice Simcoe in her 63rd year. She will be forever in the hearts of her mother Betty Krisza (Bob) and other mother Ann Doman. Lovingly remembered by her siblings Cindy Rosseel (Rick), Wendy Doman, Joni Doman (Lawrence Swift), Scott Doman (Chantal Foster), Linda Doman (Brad Hillman), Karen Pinsonneault (Alan), Charlene Zruna (Jim) and Robert Krisza (Kristy Reis). Cheri will forever be the favorite aunt to many nieces and nephews and greatly missed by Mary, Bill and Brendan Moran, as well as many cherished friends. She was truly loved by her Sojourn family past and present and will be missed by all who knew her.
Cheri was an outdoor adventurist through and through and she encouraged young people to get outside and explore the wonders of the world and to never be afraid to chase a sunset. Her strength, determination and generosity will never be forgotten. A celebration of Cheri’s life will take place at a later date. Please share a memory or an adventure that you had with Cheri.
Donations in her memory can be made to;
Seasons Centre for Grieving Children - www.grievingchildren.com
Friends of Minesing Wetlands - www.minesingwetlands.ca
Copeland Forest Friends - www.copelandfriends.ca
Friends of The Massasauga Park - www.friendsofthemassasauga.wildapricot.org
Couchiching Conservancy - www.couchichingconserv.ca
“Love you more”
Peaceful Transition Simcoe
RIP Cheri.
RIP - Grant Fraser
We were saddened to hear the news this morning of the passing of Grant Fraser on October 23rd 2020.
Grant was a good friend of the Spry community and we will miss him. Our sincere condolences to the extended Fraser family.
Please see more details here: https://www.mackeys.ca/memorials/thomas-fraser/4368083/
Upcoming Spry Winter Market COVID format changes at a glance...
Planning is well underway for the next Spry Winter Market. While it is still early, there is already a healthy list of brands that will be participating and posted to the web-site. This event will be a great opportunity to go through sample collections of Fall/Winter footwear, particularly winter boots in a safe, comfortable and relaxed environment early after the Holidays.
In order to provide a COVID compliant environment, we will be making some changes to the typical Spry building layout to ensure a safe, distanced in-person event for your convenience.
5 simple but meaningful changes will make for a COVID-safe, more comfortable event.
1) Lobby halls will see a minimum 50% reduction in exhibitors to open up the through-ways and provide ample space for social distancing. Overall limitation of the number of exhibitor staff.
2) 50% reduction in the number of tables in the Buyer’s Lounge. Spaced out seating to provide convenient, comfortable, safe places to work.
3) Reluctantly; we will forgo the late-afternoon Happy-Hour social.
4) Personal, Boxed lunches instead of over-the-counter handling of food.
5) Appointment-based attendance coordination to better manage traffic and ensure no crowding.
Spry will look quite a bit different than usual but, in order to deliver the in-person event many have asked for, the format changes are necessary to ensure the health and safety of everyone participating.