SURREY 鈥� An annual show in Cloverdale devoted to hunting, fishing and other outdoorsy pursuits has a new name and renewed focus on firearms.
The event, formerly the BC Rod and Gun Show, is now called , which runs from Friday to Sunday at the fairgrounds鈥� Agriplex and Show Barn buildings.
鈥淎 lot of people didn鈥檛 like the word 鈥榞un鈥� in the name, put it that way,鈥� show manager Steven Bednash said when asked about the change. 鈥淪o we thought that instead of rocking the boat, we鈥檇 sort of play along. But we鈥檙e more than a gun show anyway, right? It鈥檚 just that the name is so long now,鈥� he added with a laugh.
The third edition of the show boasts 鈥渕ore firearms this year than ever before,鈥� Bednash said, 鈥渂ut still only rifles and shotguns, no ammunition. There鈥檚 a huge market here for that, because 性视界传媒鈥檚 huge into hunting and fishing.鈥�
Last April, in an eleventh-hour decision, 性视界传媒 city council granted event organizers permission to sell firearms at the show, but said no to handguns and ammunition.
鈥淟ast year, with all the controversy, everybody thought we were shut down, but we weren鈥檛, so our attendance was down from the first year, and hopefully we鈥檙e going to have it back up,鈥� said Bednash.
This time around, close to 200 vendors are part of the three-day event, which is billed as 鈥溞允咏绱解�檚 only new &used hunting and fishing show.鈥�
Event highlights include a live trout pond, a 3D archery range, a midway-style shooting gallery (鈥渨here you shoot the star out of a piece of paper,鈥� Bednash said), a large display of old military weapons and a popular charity casting pond sponsored by Willowbrook Chrysler.
鈥淭hey put up a $50,000 truck, with the same idea as a hole-in-one contest (at a golf tournament),鈥� he explained. 鈥淭he pond is 60 feet long by 12 feet wide. There鈥檚 a magnet on the end of the fishing line, you cast in, you pull out a metal disc and if there鈥檚 something written on it, you win a prize, one of tons of prizes, and if you get one that says 鈥榗astoff,鈥� you鈥檙e into the final castoff to win the truck.鈥�
Doors open at noon on Friday (April 28). Event admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and $25 for a family day pass. More details can be found at , or call 778-869-4867.
