Lethbridge and District Exhibition's new Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre hosts first major event
After more than 20 years of planning, Lethbridge and District Exhibition's Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre is open for the 2023 Whoop-Up Days.
Tuesday was the first time most visitors got to see the massive, 268,000-square-foot venue in person.
"Yesterday was a very special day," said Mike Warkentin, Exhibition CEO.
"To see this building activated with thousands of people throughout the day is exactly what this facility is meant to be for the community."
The grand opening was held on Aug. 10, but Whoop-Up Days is the first big opportunity to show the Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre off to the larger public.
The grand opening was held on Aug. 10, but Whoop-Up Days is the first big opportunity to show the facility off to the larger public.
"This entire building is programmed," Warkentin said.
"We have the Living Dragons exhibit, the Whoop-Up Days Marketplace, the Siksikaitsitapi Powwow happening today and tomorrow, and then we have Pure Power Wrestling happening on Friday night, so there is programming happening throughout this space."
The centre features three banquet salons, four large meeting rooms and four massive trade halls.
Two of the halls are being used for the Whoop-Up Days Marketplace and will be home to the Saturday Farmers’ Market.
The grand opening was held on Aug. 10, but Whoop-Up Days is the first big opportunity to show the Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre off to the larger public.
Exhibitors say the space is a big upgrade.
"It's massive and I like the room," said Lorna Ruud, who sells homemade jewelry and more.
"Lots of space in between the booths and the personnel is really nice so far and the customers are good, too."
"I believe we have about 80 exhibitors here right now and we haven't even filled the hall," added Jamie Bootsma, owner of Bootsma Bakery.
"It's not even halfway full, so it's fantastic and we can hold big events here."
The grand opening was held on Aug. 10, but Whoop-Up Days is the first big opportunity to show the Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre off to the larger public.
Some visitors say they've been waiting years to see the finished product and are blown away by the outcome.
"I've been wondering what they've been doing here for like two or three years now, so I'm really impressed, first time in it," Katie-Jo Hatfield told CTV News.
"It's nice, it's big, it's a very modern facility, so I think it's a good thing," added Larry Andrews.
"I like it so far. I've seen very little, but I like it."
The grand opening was held on Aug. 10, but Whoop-Up Days is the first big opportunity to show the Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre off to the larger public.
The new Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre will host events year-round.
"Lethbridge and southern Alberta deserve a space like this to come together and to welcome the world to celebrate what we all know is so great about southern Alberta, but this place brings that all together and gets to bring the community together," Warkentin said.
The project cost $75.3 million and took just over two years to complete following the groundbreaking in 2021.
The 2023 Whoop-Up Days is free to attend and runs until Aug. 26.
The grand opening was held on Aug. 10, but Whoop-Up Days is the first big opportunity to show the Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre off to the larger public.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
Passenger killed, 30 injured as Singapore Airlines flight hits severe turbulence
One passenger was killed and 30 injured after a Singapore Airlines SIAL.SI flight from London hit severe turbulence en route on Tuesday, forcing it to make an emergency landing in Bangkok, officials and the airline said.
Conservatives kick off return to House with new call for Speaker Greg Fergus to resign
Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives returned to the House of Commons on Tuesday with a renewed call for Speaker Greg Fergus to resign, this time over 'very partisan' and 'inflammatory' language used to promote an upcoming event.
Trump campaign calls 'The Apprentice' 'blatantly false,' director offers to screen it for him
Donald Trump's reelection campaign called 'The Apprentice,' a film about the former U.S. president in the 1980s, 'pure fiction' and vowed legal action following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. But director Ali Abbasi is offering to privately screen the film for Trump.
Feels like mid-30s in parts of Canada, while other areas expecting snow
Anything is possible this week, as far as Canada's weather is concerned, with forecasts ranging from scorching heat in some parts of the country to rain and snow in others.
Nestle to sell $5 pizza, sandwiches in the U.S. for Wegovy, Ozempic users
Nestle NESN.S will market a new, US$5 line of frozen pizzas and protein-enriched pastas in the United States which it says it designed specifically for people taking drugs such as Wegovy or Ozempic for weight loss.
How much more Canadian consumers are paying, compared to this time last year
Canada's annual inflation rate slowed to a three-year low of 2.7 per cent in April, matching expectations, and core measures continued to ease, data showed on Tuesday, likely boosting chances of a June interest rate cut.
Amal Clooney is one of the legal experts who recommended war crimes charges in Israel-Hamas war
Amal Clooney is one of the legal experts who recommended that the chief prosecutor of the world's top war crimes court seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and leaders of the militant Hamas group.
Flight PS752 victims' families say they're not sorry to hear of Iran president death
Members of a Canadian group representing families of those killed when Iranian officials shot down Flight PS752 in January 2020 say they are not sorry to hear of the death of Iran's president.