More than 350 exhibitors will converge on Planet Ice and the Golden Ears Winter Club for the 2012 Ridge Meadows Home Show.
Everything from home renovations, construction, decor, furniture, electronics, landscaping, outdoor equipment, health and wellness, housewares, beauty, cooking and wine will be on display May 4, 5, and 6.
“There will be everything from backyard living, barbecuing and gardening through to extreme sports and river rafting,” said Cassandre Winder, project coordinator for the Ridge Meadows Home Show.
“We want to get people revved up and excited about doing cool things in the community.”
Planet Ice will be divided into two sections for the home show and the Golden Ears Winter Club will play host to a third section.
The first section will contain everything from home renovation to landscaping. The second section will be the marketplace, where you can find great household gadgets and girl’s stuff. The third section will focus on home decor.
Award-winning interior designer Ronnie Vanstone, a senior partner with Design Alley and eight-time designer of the PNE prize home, will be hosting interactive seminars and presentations.
Gordon Desormeaux, known as Chef Dez, a government certified ‘Red Seal’ chef, will be hosting barbecuing demonstrations.
Ongoing demonstrations and how-to seminars will take place throughout the weekend in addition to tasty food tidbits and free product samples.
“We are careful and put a lot of thought to who we put in the show,” said Winder. “You will be able to get information on kind of unusual things that you can’t get in the stores.”
There will be more exhibits outside Planet Ice, too.
The free Family Fun Zone will run again this year, with plenty of physical activities for children. SportFit will be back again with activity based stations, testing the fitness of your child.
There will also live performances, including Bobs and Lolo of Treehouse TV fame, children’s entertainer Pamela Sunshine, Showstoppers Academy of Performing Arts, Rock School high school band, jazz singer Lydia Querengesser, the Bergthorson Glee Club Choir, Lisa Shepherd’s Métis dancers and singer/guitarist Dom Fera.
This year’s Outdoor Lifestyle and Leisure Show will have activities for all ages in a tent village on the fairgrounds.
Children from six to 12 years old will have the opportunity to learn how to ride a mini motorcycle on a special driving course. Western Powersports’ Young Riders Academy of Langley will be setting up an enclosed course with hay bales and the 20-minute training session will include personalized, individual instruction by trained professionals on either a Yamaha TTR50E or TTR90. Protective gear will be provided.
For adults, there will be the longest drive competition, presented by Nevada Bob’s Meadowtown and Heather Hills Farm and Golf Course, with the winner receiving a one-year membership at Heather Hills, and plenty of prizes for the runners up.
The Psychic Fair will be in its 17th year at the fair.
On the Friday, there will be a special medium night.
The Family Fun Zone, the Outdoor Lifestyle and Leisure Show and the Psychic Fair are free with admission to the show. There will be a small fee for readings at the Psychic Fair.
“It is going to be another great show,” Winder said of one of western Canada’s largest home shows. “We’ve been working hard and there are lots of new faces.”
There are still a handful of home show booths left to rent in a couple of different categories.
• For more information call 604-467-3950. Admission to the Home Show is $3 per person, or $6 for a family. Parking is free.
Design showcase
If you’re planning a renovation or decorating project but don’t have a clue where to start, you’ll want to check out the Design Alley home makeover showcase at this year’s Ridge Meadows Home Show.
The display is designed to function as a fully-stocked, working design centre with everything needed to complete a decorating or renovation project.
Design Alley’s Ronnie Vanstone and her team of experts will be on hand to offer advice and options in selections of everything from flooring to cabinetry, countertops, tiles, lighting, even fireplaces and custom art glass.
“Having all the samples, from paint chips to window fashions, really allows people to see how the various colors and textures can be combined for a result that reflects personal tastes, lifestyles and, of course, budget.
“Our objective is to create a series of stunning visual room settings with all the samples right there for people to examine, pointing the way to how the rooms were put together and showing the various color and texture options.
“It’s really a lot of fun helping people fulfill their dreams,” Vanstone said of the “Ask a Designer” feature of the display. “Visitors can come with plans, sketches, photographs, fabric samples – even a pillow off the sofa– and we’ll work with them to choose the complementing colors and materials they need.
Vanstone and master kitchen designer Al Pattison of Kitchen Korner will also conduct a series of seminars designed to introduce new trends and materials in interior design and kitchen design.
“Its so important that your upgrade is as contemporary and up to date as possible to keep it fresh and provide maximum longevity, “ Vanstone said. “There’s no point in choosing colors that went out of style three or four years, particularly when you plan on putting your home on the market.”
An award-winning interior designer and renovator with homes and commercial projects showcased across B.C., Alberta and into the U.S., Vanstone has more than 23 years experience, and was interior designer of the PNE prize home for eight years. She is also past host of her own talk radio shows. Vanstone and her team will be offering free advice on colour consultations, space planning and floor plan layouts, as well as space planning.
Spirit fair
Messages from Beyond will open the three-day Body, Mind and Spirit Psychic and Wellness Fair, now in its 17th year at Ridge Meadows Home Show.
Coordinators Tina Clelland and Tara Nagy have assembled a richly diverse and talented group of intuitive readers, mediums and energy healers from throughout the Lower Mainland to provide readings and demonstrations during the three-day event set for May 4-6 at Planet Ice, Maple Ridge.
Devoting a segment of the event to demonstrating “messages from spirit” will allow observation of the mediums’ process.
Many believe message sessions have created some of the most compelling anecdotal evidence for life after death in the form of messages from deceased loved ones.
Books, television shows and movies on the topic garner large audiences as tolerance and acceptance of new ideas surges.
Tina describes mediums as “receivers of messages given by spirit, often connecting to departed love ones.”
“A medium will make the connection, then give the message for the intended, always acting in accordance for the clients’ highest and best interest,” she said.
Both Tina and Tara began ”knowing things” at an early age.
As a child, Tara remembers “knowing things before they happened or before others were aware of them.”
Tina cites similar circumstances, saying she has known things without understanding.
Top chef
Cook book author, food columnist and much-loved West Coast cooking instructor, Gordon Desormeaux or, Chef Dez as he is best known, will be sizzling his way through a mouth-watering menu – and offering you tastes – at this year’s BBQ School at the Ridge Meadows Home Show.
His primary objective? To make you the BBQ king (or queen) of your block.
Working with top quality ingredients from Meridian Gourmet Meats and Seafood and Langley Farm Market, Chef Dez will share the professionals’ secrets to turning out succulent seafood, steaks, poultry, veggies and fruit on your backyard grill.
He’ll also be sharing some of his favorite summer grilling recipes – quick and easy and sure to draw rave reviews.
Just for his audiences at Family Fest, Chef Dez will be showing how to get the kids involved in preparing items for the grill. Two fast and easy no-cook sauces will be demonstrated, as well as mouth-watering Cajun flank steak with grilled asparagus, grilled pork chops with grilled pineapple spears and, according to Dez, “the best one pot meal you’ve ever eaten” – Jambalaya made with a variety of meats grilled on the BBQ.
• Recipes for the Chef Dez presentation can be found at the home show’s website at www.ridgemeadowshomeshow.com.
Family fest
Bobs & LoLo – the dynamic dancing duo regularly featured on Treehouse TV – are dedicated to connecting kids to the natural world with music, movement and make-believe. Sharing musical stories that engage, inspire and educate, they teach children to care about themselves, their neighbours and the planet.
Growing up together on Vancouver Island, Robyn Hardy (Bobs) and Lorraine Pond (LoLo) have always shared a love of the natural world and a passion for working with children. Creating Bobs & LoLo has allowed them to combine diverse academic backgrounds with a mutual love of teaching and the creative arts.
• Robyn Hardy: Robyn is an enthusiastic and caring individual with a passion for teaching and conservation education. She has a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in linguistics) from the University of Victoria and a Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia. On stage she loves to sing, dance, clap, snap and tap.
• Lorraine Pond: Lorraine is an energetic, motivating performer with a flair for creating connections between young audiences and the natural world. After completing a Bachelor of Human Kinetics at the University of British Columbia, she spent a number of years as an environmental educator. On stage she loves to sing, dance, wiggle, slide and glide.
Since debuting as Bobs & LoLo in 2003, Robyn and Lorraine have been capturing the hearts and minds of children, parents and educators alike with their award-winning music and interactive, high-energy performances.
Join in on the action packed, musical adventures with their collection of CDs and DVDs.
Take care
Looking to take better care of yourself?
First stop on your list should be the wellness section at Ridge Meadows Home Show.
Here you’ll find a wide variety of fitness experts, health practitioners and others devoted to keeping your body functioning at optimum levels.
“If you’re looking to incorporate a fitness program into your life, home show is a great place to start,” wellness coordinator Sandi Wight said.
“A number of local fitness organizations are represented, offering a variety of programs that cater to beginners through to experts.
Fitness demonstrations will take place at the Outdoor Lifestyles and Leisure Show, where outdoor Zumba classes and demonstrations are scheduled to take place, hosted by Liliana Knorr of Latin Flavors Fitness.
Zumba enthusiasts are invited to join Knorr in a special outdoor class set for the main stage area.
“If you’re curious about Zumba, here is your chance to see it in action and talk to people who take part in the class. That’s what makes home show a great place to shop and compare, with everyone in one place,” Wight said. “Its also the ideal spot to check out what’s new in vision and hearing care, see the latest in orthotics, learn what’s new in nutritionals and skin care and take the time to chat with medical professionals such as chiropractors, massage therapists and naturopaths.
Learn to ride
Kids aged six to 12 will have an opportunity to get all revved up at this year’s Outdoor Lifestyle and Leisure Show at Ridge Meadows Home Show, May 4, 5, and 6.
Western Powersports of Langley is offering free rider training for kids on a special course right at the show, and the mini motorcycles are provided.
The event is part of Western Powersports’ Western Yamaha Riders Academy and will feature an enclosed course lined with hay bales. The free 20-minute training includes personalized, individual instruction by trained professionals on either a Yamaha TTR50E or TTR90.
The young students are first fitted with protective gear, provided by Western Powersports, then go through orientation on the bike’s controls and functions. There are balance checks, a walk through on brake and throttle instruction and then the student’s take their instructor-aided first ride.
Pass this part and the next step is an unaided ride, with instructor monitoring.
“The kids have a blast,” says Desi Evans of Western Powersports. “But this is about safety first. It’s imperative that kids learn from a trained professional.”
Evans said at least one parent or legal guardian will be required to sign a waiver and must be present during the training. Students should wear a long-sleeved shirt, full length pants and socks with running shoes. Western Powersports provides helmets, gloves and glasses.
Evans said parents can judge their child’s readiness to take the training by looking at their ability to ride a two-wheel bicycle without training wheels.
“If your child can ride a two-wheeler under their own guidance, if they can pedal and come to a sudden stop, they have mastered the two-wheeler and are ready to progress to the next level,” says Evans.
Do it yourself
If you’re itching to tackle that home renovation or design project but not sure where to start, Ridge Meadows Home Show should be your first stop.
“Consumers have two choices when they start a project. They either pick up the phone and find someone to handle everything from design through to completion, or, they opt to do it themselves.
“That’s where the home show comes in,” project coordinator Cass Winder said. “A lot of our exhibitors supply everything from concept plans through to completion, others specialize in working with the do-it-yourself market, providing materials, individual components and, of course, advise.
Shoppers today are educated,” Winder said. “They want selection, they want information and they want the best possible price. Home show shopping addresses all their requirements.”
There are also a lot of great deals.
Kitchen makeover
Looking to define your new kitchen’s personality? Ridge Meadows Home Show has assembled a broad cross section of design specialists offering a huge selection of alternatives, from natural stone to man-made alternatives.
For help designing your kitchen, check out Design Alley’s Home Makeover Showcase with seminars with master kitchen designer Al Pattison.
Longest drive
It’s no secret this area is a golf paradise. With hundreds of verdant holes to hack at here in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, there’s no shortage of amateur golfers.
This year you can earn bragging rights over your golf buddies – as well as some pretty cool prizes, like a one-year golf membership –at the 2012 Ridge Meadows Home Show’s long drive contest.
The contest is on location at the Home Show’s Outdoor Lifestyle and Leisure Show, and sponsored by Nevada Bob’s Meadowtown, and the Heather Hills Farm and Golf Course.
Come up with the weekend’s longest drive and take home a one-year membership to Heather Hills Farm and Golf Course
Runners-up take home Heather Hills golf prize packages and great golf prizes from TaylorMade, Callaway and Nike.
The longest drive competition will use Flightscope, a 3-D club and ball tracking radar launch monitor that accurately measures ball flight, courtesy of Nevada Bob’s Meadowtown.
Bring your golf buddies and see who can pound the ball the furthest.