Fourteen Island craft producers recently returned home from Halifax after attending the Atlantic Craft Trade Show. The Trade Show took place from February 3-5, 2001. It provided retailers with a chance to source Island-made products, place wholesale orders and develop buyer relationships.
The Atlantic Craft Trade Show is jointly sponsored by the four Atlantic Provinces. The Island craft and giftware producers exhibited their products to over 1280 buyers from British Columbia and the United States. It is estimated that more than $121,000 of Island product orders were taken at this event, with the overall show totalling $1,466,135 in orders from buyers.
"My department has a great belief in this industry and it's potential," said Mike Currie, Minister of Development and Technology, after attending the Trade Show in Halifax. "It's great to see the craftspeople working so hard and producing such outstanding products."
The PEI Crafts Council Inc. won the Industry Leader/Supporter Award at Atlantic Canada Craft Awards for Excellence on February 3, 2001. They won for their outstanding and superior leadership, development of quality crafts and giftware, and exceptional contributions to the industry over the past 36 years. This organization was first formed in 1965, with a mandate to promote the making and acceptance of quality handcrafted items through provision of programs and services, which they have successfully accomplished. The membership of this Council has grown from 39 craftspeople to over 150.
"The membership of the PEI Crafts Council Inc., works extremely hard to promote quality handcrafted products and it was a pleasure to accept this award on behalf of its members," said Irene Renaud, Administrative Assistant of the Council. "It was an honour to be recognized as an industry leader by the other Atlantic Provinces at this event."
The 14 exhibitors that participated at the Atlantic Craft Trade Show in Halifax included: Malpeque Fine Iron Products, Island Winds, Tignish Treasures/Holiday Island Productions, MicMac Productions, Col-Mar Crafts Inc., Canoe Cove Studio, Cass Craft of PEI, Islandscapes, Carded Treasures, Queens County Blacksmith, McAskill Woodworking Ltd., St. Peters Bay. Craft and Giftware Ltd., and PEI Collection.