Yellowknife (May 09/03) - Every spring, the Yellowknife business community welcomes the new season with the annual trade show.

This year, the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce is opening its arms to more than 100 local and out-of-town businesses.

"We have the largest showing of Alberta businesses ever," said Dale Thomson, the executive director of the chamber.

There will be 11 businesses setting up booths at the show.

This increase is due to the thriving economy of the city, said Thomson.

"They want to bring their business to Yellowknife."

Still, the show is mostly for Yellowknife businesses and residents.

"It's one of the largest regional trade shows around," said Thomson. "Hopefully there will be good weather and people will come out and enjoy being introduced to old and new businesses."

Yellowknifers usually do. Last year between 8,000 and 10,000 people attended the trade show.

Thomson hopes the number of attendees will increase this year.

There will be a lot to see and do with around 100 businesses setting up in 115 booths in the Yellowknife Community Arena.

What makes the show so interesting, according to Thomson, is that "it's never the same businesses and it's always changing."

The attraction for Yellowknife businesses is the chance they have to "market their product to quite a large selection of the population," said Thomson.

The chamber had hoped to hold the event at the new Multiplex but currently there's not enough parking for the numbers expected.

The trade show runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is $2 for adults at the door and $5 per family. Children under 12 years old can get in free.

If you want more information about the chamber, members of its board of directors will staff a booth at the show.