Edmonton Home + Garden Show marks 50th year
Edmonton’s Home + Garden Show, running this weekend at the Edmonton Expo Centre, has gone for — and achieved — gold.
Celebrating its 50th golden anniversary edition, organizers are in a festive mood and reaching out to anyone who also debuted in 1968.
“We’re calling out to all visitors born in 1968 and offering them free admission to the show to celebrate their 50th birthday with us,” said Kristy Cairns, assistant show manager for Marketplace Events’ Edmonton home shows, which includes the Home + Garden Show. “Hitting the monumental milestone of 50 years for the Edmonton Home + Garden Show is something to celebrate and we couldn’t have done it without our loyal and dedicated exhibitors, partners and show team.”
But even if you weren’t born in 1968, the show has a lineup of HGTV celebrities — Carson Arthur, Matt Muenster, Tiffany Pratt, and Cheryl Torrenueva — as well as gardening and food experts to inspire Edmontonians about every aspect of their home.
While Muenster talks DIY and brings a wealth of expertise in bathroom renovations, Pratt looks at affordable luxury, and Torrenueva dishes out on how to fix the top five design challenges. Cairns said Arthur is the show’s expert landscape designer, who will give show attendees a differ- ent take on their ‘home’ work.
“Edmonton loves Carson, and this is why we continue to bring him back year after year,” said Cairns. “He has his own following here in YEG and Edmontonians line up to listen to him speak and absorb his knowledge. He’s the staple in the show that offers expertise to our visitors on how to raise the value of their homes through outdoor renovations, while maintaining a focus on environmentally friendly choices.”
Carson, who has two different presentations at the home show — The 10 Big No No’s in Outdoor Renovations and The Best Spots to Renovate in 2018 — points out that Edmonton homeowners should be thinking about the renovations that increase in value over time. “Trees and plants are the only home renovation that is worth more the older they get,” he said.
Among the other design tips he’ll be dispensing, Arthur says never to design a backyard space for children.
“Now I know this sounds a little backward, as we want our kids to play outside as much as possible,” said Arthur. “But the key is to avoid making permanent decisions based on the needs of a six-year-old. When we put large permanent structures like jungle gyms and play structures that are cemented into the ground, we limit the use of the yard once the kids have outgrown it.
“Think about how your yard now looks to potential buyers that may not have kids, or have children that are older. They look at your backyard and realize that it doesn’t meet their needs, which makes it a negative to buying your home. Instead, create multi-functional spaces that work for children but can change as their needs do.”
Arthur, who will be one the HGTV stars taking part in season three of Home To Win, which premières April 29, is about to open his own little garden centre. “It will focus on the experience of gardening,” he said. “I want the next generation of gardeners to understand the process and not just the end results. Yes it’s great to have heirloom tomatoes, but isn’t it better to understand the beneficial symbiosis of growing these tomatoes using natural products alongside companion plants that help promote more flavour?”
Back at the home show, Cairns said the Home + Garden Show continues to grow year after year.
“Our successes can be measured based on our ability to adapt to the changes in the economy and trends happening within the home and garden industry,” she said, adding that for this special edition there will be various vignettes and features designed to capture the anniversary celebration.
“One of the amazing things about being able to work alongside so many Edmonton businesses and organizations throughout the years is that we’ve been able to see them grow, evolve and succeed,” said Cairns. “We are proud of the relationships we have made in Edmonton and of the tiny piece we may have played in helping our exhibitors and show attendees realize their dreams.”