The Medicine Hat Sport and Event Council is hosting its inaugural Activity Expo, offering people a chance to see the many opportunities available year-round within the city.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com
An event at the Medicine Hat Mall next month aims to introduce Hatters to their new favourite hobby.
The Medicine Hat Sport and Event Council’s Activity Expo will bring together more than 60 of the city’s sports, arts, volunteer and other recreational organizations in one place to help Hatters of all ages discover activities that fit their interests and lifestyle.
“The main goal is to help locals figure out what there is to do in Medicine Hat to give everybody in the city a chance to figure out what they want to be a part of,” said Nick Wepruk, sport and event specialist with the Sport and Event Council.
The expo will feature tables for each participating organization and will occupy most of the Medicine Hat Mall. Organizations will take new registration, but also promote their organizations and recruit volunteers.
Wepruk says he hopes the event will encourage Hatters who may take part in one kind of recreational activity to branch out and try something new.
“Somebody who plays baseball may not be interested in playing another sport, but they might volunteer somewhere, or they might find new things than what they would normally be involved in,” said Wepruk.
He says the event is for all ages, but might be particularly helpful for adults searching for new hobbies and communities. The expo will be a one-stop shop for finding out about recreational opportunities that may otherwise fly under the radar of a busy, working adult.
Participating organizations include all range of arts and sports groups, in addition to classic activities like Girl Guides, new businesses like the Cosmic Clay Studio and unexpected finds like dragon boat and arm wrestling clubs.
This is the first year the expo will take place in this format and under this name. Wepruk says the Sport and Event Council has ambitions of scaling it up in the future to become a multi-day event.
“Long term, we’d like to have the event start on the weekend, and then Monday through the following Sunday there’s free try-it opportunities, just to really break down all the barriers so people can try something new.”
He says over a third of the participating organizations are offering some kind of free trial to expo attendees, and the event is free to attend.
“If you feel like Medicine Hat doesn’t have a lot to do, then I would come check out the event and see how much it actually does have to offer, because it has lots to offer.”
The Activity Expo will take place Sunday, Mar. 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Medicine Hat Mall.
Exhibitors can register until Feb. 15.
