Admission prices are down and parking is free at the fair and that's great news for seniors on a fixed income, said Lola Dawn Fennell, general manager at the Council of Seniors Resource Centre.
The British Columbia Northern Exhibition has reduced gate fees for everyone and on Thursday, August 13 it's only $2 for seniors.
"Where can you go for a toonie and spend the whole day?" asked Fennell. "That's unheard of and really exciting in itself. That's so important because it used to be $10 to get in and then it's about $10 for lunch and for a lot of seniors, that stops them from coming to the fair," said Fennell.
"Part of our goal in establishing a Seniors Info Fair was an opportunity to bring local businesses and organizations, particularly small businesses and small non-profit organizations, together in one place," said Fennell. "So it was partly for seniors to do one stop but also a way of providing an outlet for organizations that maybe couldn't afford to do a big trade fair. We're non-profit too, so we're aware that pennies really count when putting something like this together."
The Seniors Information Fair, with the theme Celebrating Pioneers, will be open from
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday at the back of Kin 3.
There are more than 50 exhibitors on hand to provide people with information about things like hearing aids, financial planning, home care, health care, support groups and housing.
The Council of Seniors will have their own booth with information about the programs they offer, 50/50 raffle tickets and a book called Life Before the Pulp Mills for sale, and a 2016 fundraising calendar Celebrating Pioneers, with local people in pioneer garb depicted in black and white for $10. Be sure to check out MLAs Mike Morris and Shirley Bond as they grace the pages of the calendar.
The City of Prince George and the Prince George Native Friendship will have a booth at the information fair for the first time, along with groups like Nechako Rotary, BC Housing, the Prince George Public Library, the YMCA of Northern B.C. and Northern Health.
When the council of seniors started the info fair back in 2007 they only had 17 exhibitors and it's grown continually since then.
"This is our biggest and our best by a long shot," said Fennell.
Last year they had about 2,000 seniors come through the information fair and organizers are hoping for more this year.
"So when people make their way to Kin 3, we will hand them a passport with the names and numbers of all the exhibitors on it and we encourage people to visit as many booths as possible to collect stickers, initials, or stamps," said Fennell.
The passports can be entered into free draws, which will be drawn on the top of the hour from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. People can use the passports to vote for their favourite booths in categories like most colourful, most interactive, best-themed exhibit and overall favourite. Last year's competition has sparked some exhibitors to step it up a bit this year, said Fennell.
Many exhibitors have their own free giveaways and draws to enter. There will be a coffee garden where seniors can sit and have coffee, tea and cookies at no charge and seniors-in-training will be asked to make a donation to the Council of Seniors for their refreshments at the Tiki Garden.
"Think tacky, tiki Polynesian," laughed Fennell. "At noon the City of Prince George is bringing in a 100th birthday cake and Mayor Lyn Hall will be there to cut and serve cake."
The Council of Seniors is celebrating its 25 anniversary and Fennell said she'd like to think they can consider the cake as part of their celebration as well.
"We hope all seniors come to the information fair at the BCNE," said Fennell.
