Fergus Lions Club Home Show kicks off with a roar

FERGUS – The Fergus Lions Club is hosting its 44th annual Home and Leisure Show May 10 to 12 at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex.

With 140 exhibitors this year, and a steady flow of visitors Wednesday evening, home show chairman Dennis Culbert is anticipating a banner year.

“In 2022 we had 3,500 [guests] come through the door over three days, and already this year we had almost 1,000 last night,” Culbert said.

“Plus, the Leafs were playing so we’re not sure if that slowed us down or not.”

Along with five other organizers, Culbert has been planning this year’s event for months.

“There’s a group of us that get together to plan it. We start in November and have monthly meetings until around April,” he said in a May 11 interview.

“After that, leading up to the event we have weekly meetings.”

Fergus Lions Club president Margaret Murray is thrilled to be able to raise funds for a long list of local organizations.

“We have sent out $28,000 so far this year in donations to various organizations across the county,” Murray said.

“We’re always looking for new members, but that’s ongoing.

“Really, we just like the public to know that we’re out there, and we are here to help them.”

Admission to the home show is free for the public, but organizers are asking for donations to the Centre Wellington Food Bank.

Proceeds from the show and other fundraising activities help support club projects, including Groves Memorial Community Hospital, Diabetes Canada, the food bank, International Lions Youth Exchange, Fergus and district minor sports groups, Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, the Wellington County Learning Centre, and more.

The show grows in popularity year and now exhibitors fill both rink floors at the sportsplex.

For more information about the show or the Lions Club, visit ferguslionsclub.org.