The Town of Okotoks made its mark this weekend at one of the biggest trade shows of the year.

A booth was set up at the Calgary Home & Garden Show for the second straight year.

Economic Development Manager Shane Olson says it was an overwhelming success.

"We had in excess of 3,500 people visit our booth, we handed out over 3,000 Okotoks visitor and activity guides," he says. "Our mission was to promote tourism and visitation and coming to town to experience that so that was the focus of attending the show."

Olson says the Town will continue to attend events like the Home & Garden show to improve its economic potential.

"In order to be a progressive community this is the kind of thing we need to be doing to get out there and tell people at a consumer level to come visit us, come check out our downtown and all of the businesses in our new areas as well. Tourism is a conduit to investment attraction and it can lead to people starting businesses in our community and that's what we want to see."

Olson says the Town kept it simple in what they were showing off at the show.

"Come for the day trips, come out the festivals and events. That was our main message both visually and verbal while communicating with folks walking by the booth. But we also did have some people or the odd person that's thinking of building a house here so we will provide them with information on the low cost business environment if they ask."

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