Expo turns grad dreams into reality

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/09/2014 (4207 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Grad 2015 may seem like it’s a long way off, but as we all know time flies way too fast — before we know it, the grass will be green, the temperatures will rise and June will be here!

To help high school graduates prepare for this special milestone, three local businesses have partnered to create the Westman Grad Expo. The Expo will be held Sunday, Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Victoria Inn.

Brit Lawson Corbett with Muse Bridal Studio, Bryan Podworny from Expressions Entertainment Services and Katrina Sigurdson, owner of Party Professionals, have teamed up in the past for the Westman Wedding Expo, and now they’ve created another event to make planning these special occasions a breeze.

“We wanted to create a one-stop shop for graduating students,” Sigurdson said. “It’s a really overwhelming day for the graduates and their parents. We’re giving them the opportunity to come and see everything in one spot and show them what is available.”

The show will host close to 35 exhibitors from a variety of sectors, some of which include fashion, photography, entertainment, flowers, hair and makeup, as well as health and wellness.

So that graduates look ahead to the future, some financial and post-secondary institutions will also be in attendance.

The fashion show, for both male and female graduates, will showcase 2015 graduation fashion trends.

“In reality, graduates are spending more money than ever before on their special day. It’s going along with some of the same trends as weddings. People are trying to do what’s new, what’s different — how can my grad dress be different, what kind of images can be captured to make me unique on my special day?” Sigurdson said. “We just want to help.”

To help promote the event to graduates throughout the Westman region, the group encouraged high school students to come on board as models and ambassadors for the event. Students were chosen from a wide range of schools and communities to not only participate in the expo, but to help promote it through their own social media connections.

Expo attendees will also have a chance to win a $500 bursary.

For more information, connect with them online at dreamsgradexpo.com, as well as their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds.

Autumn bliss

If you know me, you know I love fall. I love the colours, the falling leaves, the crisp morning air — and I love the clothes. Well, lucky for me, Gwen Bromley has a fantastic lineup of fall clothing arriving daily.

Gwen and Brian Bromley are a husband and wife team with many years of experience in the clothing industry. Brian owns Bromley’s Men’s Wear, which is right next door to Gwen’s shop, the Cinnamon Tree.

Located at 934 Rosser Ave., this downtown women’s clothing and gift shop is an absolute delight. The Cinnamon Tree carries a variety of clothing and accessories — everything from jeans to dresses, even April Cornell nightgowns.

There is also a variety of clothing lines to suit a wide range of shoppers. Some of Gwen’s favourite items coming in this fall are from French Dressing Jeans, Papillon and Miss Nikky. Other popular lines include Tribal, Conrad C and Picadilly Fashions, plus many more.

Gwen has already begun planning for their Christmas Open House, which will be held the first weekend of November. But to make room for all the fall clothing, this is the last weekend to take advantage of the summer sale. All summer wear is 75 per cent off.

This is great for those planning a winter holiday. Plan and shop early and packing will be a snap!