Thousands flock to All Canada Show

Rob Winner - rwinner@kcchronicle.com At the All-Canada Show on Saturday afternoon, Warren Chandler (from left), representing Canadian Fly-In Fishing Ltd., speaks to Paul Bergeson and his son, Dave, both of St. Charles, about a potential trip to Canada. 01/10/2009

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ST. CHARLES – Steve Galloway still remembers his one and only trip to Canada.

"It was the best fishing in my life, just incredible," said Galloway, of Aurora. "But that was 1984, and I'd love to go back."

And that is why Galloway decided that this year would be when he would bring his son to Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles to walk the rows of exhibitors at the All Canada Show.

"With the economy the way it is, I figured this would be the time I'd find some deals to take that next trip," Galloway said. "And today, I wasn't disappointed."

Saturday, Galloway was among hundreds of visitors to Pheasant Run.

In its 26th year, the All Canada Show brings together more than 200 exhibitors from throughout Canada, offering Midwesterners the opportunity to browse offerings and products from Canada's community of lodge operators, fishing and hunting outfitters, tour operators and others whose business it is to offer Americans a portal to Canada's outdoors.

Joel Prunty, spokesman for the All Canada Show, said the show continues to grow larger with more exhibits each year. In all, he expected about 7,000 visitors this year.

And as the economy has sagged, Prunty said the show has become more important to many in the Canadian tourism community than ever before.

He noted that the show has added booths from the official tourism promotion agencies from the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba.

"They recognize that Chicago is the core of their market," Prunty said.

Kevin Palmer of Travel Manitoba said Chicago area anglers have long fueled Manitoba's tourism industry, as they seek their chance to land a major catch amid the beauty of the province's wide open wilderness spaces.

"This is not like going to Wisconsin for vacation," Palmer said.

But he said Manitoba's tourism industry has sagged along with economic conditions in the U.S.

"It is tougher than normal for a lot of our lodges right now," Palmer said.

Those conditions have led many to offer hefty discounts.

At the same time, Canadian tourism is also backing a major push to persuade Americans to obtain passports. By June 2009, federal law will require all Americans driving or sailing into Canada to hold a passport, matching requirements for air travel.

To help local residents obtain their passports, the U.S. Post Office in St. Charles sent staffers to the All Canada Show to again offer those attending the show the chance to apply for a passport. The Post Office had also done so at the 2007 and 2008 All Canada Shows in St. Charles.

St. Charles Post Office employee Lisa Polk said the booth would likely process from 100 to 150 passport applications during the show.