Yellowknife (May 09/03) - With many different booths to peruse at the 21st Annual Spring Trade Show, it can be easy to forget about the reason for having the event.

"It raises the profile of the business community in Yellowknife," said David McPherson, president of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce.

There are a number of benefits in supportingYellowknife's business community, according to McPherson.

"Local businesses employ local people; they pay taxes," he said. "They also contribute a great deal of time and finances to charities and volunteer groups."

McPherson knows this first hand. His small business, McPherson Mortgage Brokerage, gets five to six requests a month to contribute to events in town.

He said that he thinks the bigger companies, like the mines, likely get requests daily.

"People don't really realize how much local businesses do to support the community in general," McPherson said.

Buying at home, therefore, "keeps the wealth here."

From the chamber perspective though, the trade show is also a sort of fundraiser. They try to sell as many spaces as possible and have always shown out-of-town businesses.

However, some out-of-town businesses are members of the Chamber of Commerce and their booths are to let Yellowknifers know what's out there when travelling.

Forexample, Edmonton-based MacLab Hotels has property in Yellowknife and always participates in the show.

McPherson said that the chamber doesn't get a lot of big chain companies.

"I have not seen a lot of businesses directly compete with Yellowknife businesses," said McPherson about the out-of-town companies being at the show.

He said that he thinks the trade show is a natural event that chambers in every town hold.

"It's an opportunity for businesses to showcase their products," McPherson said. "(The show also) gives people an opportunity to go out in the spring time and see what's out there; it kicks off the summer season."