Business Showcase 2004: offering something for everyone.

Mark your calendars for Saskatchewan's premier business trade show--the Saskatoon and District Chamber of Commerce Business Showcase 2004--taking place October 13 and 14 at the Saskatoon Field House. This year's event will showcase business opportunities in the Saskatoon region, as well as featuring a section dedicated to northern businesses, highlighting opportunities and reaffirming Saskatoon's position as a trading hub to the North. In addition, the show will be combined with Innotex 2004, a forum designed to showcase achievements in science, innovation and technology.

"We recognized that the show needed to be rejuvenated, and we have responded to that need with a revamped event that will offer something for everyone," says Jim Zaiachkowski of the Saskatoon Chamber. "The changes will better serve our exhibitors and attendees, and better reflects the changing business climate in Saskatoon."

Attendees will notice many differences from past events. The new venue offers a central location--across from the University, and near the Canadian Light Source synchrotron and Innovation Place, great floor space, and ample parking.

This year will feature a Chamber Eats pavilion, a similar but smaller version of Taste of Saskatchewan, with local restaurants showcasing items from their menus. Also new this year is a business information and financing section hosted by business infosource, a program of the Canada-Saskatchewan Business Service Centre. This area will offer potential business owners information about startup, financing, and other key issues for success.

SaskTel is the title sponsor of Business Showcase and the presenting sponsor is Saskatchewan Industry and Resources. Features of the showcase highlight many opportunities for the next decade in Saskatchewan.

One such feature is the investor presentations by publicly listed Saskatchewan companies who are included on the Saskatchewan stock market at www.saskstockmarket.com.

Luncheon speakers will include Brian Feeney and Paul Soubry. Feeney, team leader for the da Vinci Project, has motivated a large team of volunteers to devote thousands of hours to the project, which will make its formal X-Prize attempt on October 2 in Kindersley. His presentation will focus on opportunities for our region to become a hub city for a future space tourism industry.

As president of Standard Aero, Soubry will describe his company's efforts to streamline by adopting a 'lean manufacturing' philosophy, and high-light how the move to think differently resulted in thinking better.

For more information on the show, or on the Trade Show Success Seminar on September 23, please contact Jim Zaiachkowski at 664-0713 or [e-mail], or visit www.businessshowcase.com.