This year, Sydney Dodson of the Township of Stirling-Rawdon has organized an exceptional event that will once again showcase local home and lifestyle options. The 4th annual Home and Lifestyle Expo will be held April 27, 5:30 – 8 p.m., and April 28 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Stirling Rawdon & District Recreation Centre, located at 435 West Front Street. And, as in previous years, this Expo is sure to have something to offer everyone. For those new to visiting the arena, please be assured that the arena offers ample free parking, a fully accessible entrance and washrooms, with a canteen for purchase of burgers and hot dogs for the kids.

Dodson said that up to 800 people came to last year’s event, and she is enthusiastic for the attendance for this year’s expo. After such a harsh winter, those looking to update their properties from storm damage or just plain esthetics can find Stirling-Rawdon Building Inspectors ready to answer questions concerning home or business renovation and repair, to full construction projects well before obtaining quotes or signing contractor agreements.

This spring, if you are looking to buy or sell, Royal Lepage is hosting a booth. Thinking of a mortgage or insurance? Exhibitors such as Newman Oliver Insurance, L&A Mutual and the Bank of Montreal will be there to assist. Thinking about travel? Wells Ford might have the right kind of family car you’ll need for those summer weekend day trips, while Maritime Travel will be happy to assist you with more extensive holidays.

Children are always welcome and are invited to ask questions of their local Firefighters, Central Hastings OPP Officers or representatives of the Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment and the 4H Club. Or, if farming and agriculture is of interest, representatives from the Stirling Agricultural Society will be on hand to offer their experience and knowledge about planting crops and gardens while representatives from Skinkle’s Feed Depot can help you find the right nutritional food to nurture healthy animals.

In addition, families can find out more about Stirling-Rawdon’s agricultural heritage by visiting Farmtown Park’s booth. For visitors new to the area, Farmtown is the home of the Hastings County Museum of Agricultural Heritage that celebrates rural life, the importance of agriculture to the area, and the extensive work of farmers who provide us with our food. Then, for the young at heart there is Back 40 Powersports.

After visiting with the Building Inspectors, how about getting to know local contractors, landscapers, home hardware and building suppliers? Did a storm topple your fence? Then you might consider stopping by Hastings Pet Services, which is an invisible fence provider. Representatives from Lyman’s Landscaping, Pierce Construction Ltd., R&S Home Hardware, RB’s Excavating, Rollins Building Supplies (Rona), Kovach Renovations, Martino HVAC Ltd., and Lavish Gardens will like to meet you.

Other local merchants include Tyendinaga Propane, Belleville Vacuum, Barrett’s Satellite Solutions, Air Barrier Insulation Systems, Alarm Systems, and Olden Wood Revivals.

Of course no lifestyle expo would be complete without vendors offering information on how bring out a person’s beauty, which always begins from the inside out. Creekside Yoga will provide information about the benefits of yoga, and natural health supports will be showcased by vendors such as Usana Health Sciences, Dr. Dan from Natural Health Rhythms, as well as Bodystream Medical Marijuana Services, Belleville. Be sure to check out the Mary Kay and Scentsy booths, which are sure to offer skin care treats. And there’s a Tupperware booth to purchase high quality containers to store those lotions in.

Stirling-Rawdon also has a cultural scene. Librarians from the Stirling-Rawdon Public Library will update visitors of the Expo with all that their library has to offer. And remember to stop by the Stirling Festival Theatre’s booth to see their lineup of wonderful 2018 theatrical productions.

Dodson thought it is important that the Expo include booths where caregivers or those being afflicted with health concerns can easily find important information. She is pleased that the Expo’s lineup this year includes the Alzheimer’s Society, The Heart & Stroke Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society and the Heart of Hastings Hospice -- all very important community focused agencies that provide information and insightful guidance to the ways and means of gaining access to local support services. If hearing is becoming an issue Hitchon’s Hearing Centre may have just what you need to rejoin the conversation.

When asked what she enjoys most about organizing the Expo Dodson said, “This is our 4th show – with the show getting bigger and better every year. The best thing about the show for me is seeing everyone – vendors and event attendees – interacting and engaging in conversation. It makes all the hard work worth it.” Dodson also wanted to offer a special thank you to this year’s Gold Sponsors: Market High Advertising (www.mhad.ca) and Talbot Marketing (www.talbot-promo.com), firms she acknowledges as contributing professional guidance for the show.

Admission: $3.00

For more information please contact Sydney Dodson, Township of Stirling-Rawdon at 613 395 3380, or visit Stirling-Rawdon on Facebook, events section.

How to get there:

Stirling-Rawdon & District Recreation Centre is located at 435 West Front Street, in Stirling. 613 395 5000. The arena is only a 20 minute drive north of the 401 from either Trenton or Belleville: From the west – exit the 401 at Trenton and take the Trenton-Frankford Rd north to Frankford. Turn right at the lights and go over the bridge. Turn left on the Frankford-Stirling Road and travel north to Stirling. From the east – exit the 401 at Belleville and take Hwy 62 north to Foxboro. From Hwy 62 turn left on the Foxboro-Stirling Road to travel west and north to Stirling.

More from the Country Roads Blog