Jennifer Obleman
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, September 26, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - When the Prospects North business conference returns to the NWT three years from now, it likely won't be held at the same at time.

Michael Handley, director of safety for Buffalo Airways, passes some information to Amanda Drozda at the Prospects North 2007 trade show last week. Attendance was low at the trade show, and conference organizers are considering a spring date next time to help boost attendance. - Jennifer Obleman/NNSL photo

Attendance was down by about 100 delegates from three years ago. The event was held at the Multiplex last week, and organizers are considering a spring conference date and a revised schedule to bring numbers back up in 2010.

Conference chair Leon Johnson attributed the low attendance to conflicting conferences in Edmonton and Fort McMurray.

"I think we had a real tough draw this time because so many shows were going on at the same time," he said.

"September and October are very busy with conferences. I think in the spring we have a better shot at getting into people's budgets."

Trade show attendance was also thinner than usual. Johnson said organizers will look at changing the timing and involving the public for future shows.

"We have to look at a weekday evening or a Saturday," he said, noting the turnout at the conference's evening events was strong.

Organizers will also seek greater involvement from NWT Chamber of Commerce members next time.

"The Yukon was here, Grande Prairie was here, but yet our chambers weren't. I know everybody's busy, but we need more support from our chamber members," he said. Overall, Johnson said Prospects North 2007 was a success.

"We had a good show. We had some really excellent speakers. The people that were here were the right people," he said.

Michael Handley, director of safety for Buffalo Airways, said he would be happy to see some schedule changes in the next Prospects North.

If the next Prospects North doesn't feature the trade show on an evening or weekend so the public can attend, Buffalo Airways will not exhibit again, he said.

"It's a good set-up, a good group of people, but there's just not enough people to show your product to. They don't have this set up properly for the public," he said.

"If you go to a trade show, or geoscience convention, you talk to 2,000 or 3,000 people there. I'm lucky if I talked to 20."

Jim Eirikson, business owner and Yk chamber president, also observed the trade show was quieter than usual, but he said it was still very good.

"I'm really pleased. I think I made three excellent connections I wouldn't have made if I hadn't been here," he said.

"These people came looking to make business connections. Networking is what it's about."