TORONTO — Blue Ant Media and the Greater Toronto Area’s Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) announced today they have entered into a partnership that will see Blue Ant assume majority control and operation of the Toronto Home Shows.
The show lineup includes three premium annual events — the Home & Reno Show (scheduled for Feb. 3-5, 2023), the National Home Show (pictured above, scheduled for March 10-19, 2023), and the Fall Home Show (scheduled for Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2023).
Toronto Home Shows’ existing employees will join Blue Ant and report to Greg McLeod, vice-president of consumer shows at Blue Ant Media.
“The deal underpins Blue Ant Media’s mission to expand and diversify its portfolio of live events across Canada, which span a number of lifestyle categories from cottage living to parenting, holiday shopping to celebrating the maker culture,” reads a press release.
Blue Ant Media’s current portfolio of lifestyle consumer shows include the Spring and Fall Cottage Life Shows in Toronto, the Ottawa Cottage Life and Backyard Show, the Seasons Christmas Show in Toronto, the Spring and Fall Baby Shows in Toronto, and the Fall Baby Show in Vancouver.
The deal “also deepens the company’s commitment to invest in the home and lifestyle category, following the launch of free streaming channel Homeful earlier in the year and recent acquisition of the Mike Holmes library,” the release adds.
“Blue Ant Media’s acquisition of the Toronto Home Shows, in partnership with BILD, is a great opportunity to grow our expansive portfolio of consumer shows across Canada, while also building upon our leadership and expertise in the home and lifestyle category,” Jamie Schouela, Blue Ant Media’s president of global channels and media, said in the release.
“We look forward to bringing all of Blue Ant’s multi-platform resources to the Home Shows so we can enhance the experience for both exhibitors and attendees,” Schouela added.
“This deal is transformational and will provide greater value to Home Show exhibitors and attendees,” said Dave Wilkes, president and CEO of BILD. “The Home Shows have been an important part of Toronto’s landscape for over 60 years, we look forward to partnering with Blue Ant Media to continue this great tradition.”
Photo provided by Blue Ant Media.
