After working hard
for the money, gals just want to have fun. Murat Olcay says they’ll find plenty of that at the annual West
Coast Women’s Show (WCWS) in Abbotsford. “When you walk through this show it’s got a real buzz. The women are
there having a great time,” says the show’s producer. “It’s a celebration.”
And the festivities will be bigger than ever for the event’s 10th anniversary this October. More than 25,000
visitors are expected to stream through the TRADEX Trade and Exhibition Centre for the three-day
extravaganza, which will feature 400-plus exhibitors covering everything from health and wellness to fashion,
travel, food, home decor and careers.
But the WCWS, named one of TradeShow Week’s 50 fastest growing shows in North America for the past three
years in a row, is about much more than shopping. “This is also an entertainment event,” says Olcay. For cool
drinks and a hot fashion show, visitors will want to check out the Girls’ Night Out showcases on Friday and
Saturday. The mainstage area, which seats about 500, will host a martini bar alongside the ever-popular — and
sure to be sizzling — Calendar Firefighters show, with sale proceeds from the calendars going to charity.
Celebrity appearances are another highlight. Past guests include Young and the Restless star Daniel Goddard,
HGTV’s Colin and Justin, and Canada’s own design gurus and talk-show hosts Steven and Chris. The latter
dynamic duo is back this year with their style and decor expertise, not to mention quick wit and amusing
stage banter.
The fun continues Sunday with the Mothers and Daughters Day. With so much to take in, the show makes for the
perfect women’s weekend getaway. “We’ve even had groups of women plan whole trips from places like northern
B.C. — they’ll buy tickets, they’ll book a hotel room,” says Olcay. Whether going for one day or all three,
visitors often leave the show talking about what a blast they had, he says. “There’s a real camaraderie
between the women there, lots of socializing, lots of sharing.”
22 10th Annual West
Coast Women’s Show, Oct 22-24, TRADEX, Abbotsford, westcoastwomen.net
