SAWS 2025 Exhibition
The Exhibition dozen: Key things about the SAWS 2025 big show
If you’re a Southern Alberta Woodworkers Society (SAWS) member, you’ve just been promoted. You are now part of the official SAWS “Fine Works in Wood Exhibition 2025” promotion team.
Your raise is in the mail, but in the meantime, here are a dozen thoughts and details you should keep in mind as you help make this event a powerful experience for all involved.
Mark your calendars. Dates for the Exhibition are Sept. 5 to 14, 2025, in Southcentre Mall, Calgary, Alta.
Two key details. The show is on full-time during regular mall hours. And as usual admission is free. That’s a big deal that allows a lot of flexibility for anyone to attend on their schedule and as many times as they would like. That’s one reason this Exhibition attracts people from across all types of communities, the province and in fact, Western Canada.
The best of the best. This is no ordinary exhibition. To qualify, entries must pass a highly qualified Standards Committee who check every aspect of each entry. Work not done to those standards is not allowed in the competition. The result is only the very best are in the final show. Then, the best of those entries that do make it are judged by a Jury team of experts. The Jury selection of winners in several categories is something very important to exhibitors and attendees.
Exhibition entries were reviewed in June to qualify for the event.
Fresh energy. Ask anyone who has been around a few of these and they are always amazed at how the SAWS Exhibition brings a fresh burst of energy in the Alberta woodworking community. That’s a great vibe to promote.
Take one home. Exhibitors may choose to sell their entries and a number do. That purchase is available onsite with a simple, straightforward online process on the SAWS website.
Stewards are there to help. As usual, SAWS stewards, identifiable by their blue SAWS vests, will be circulating onsite throughout the duration of the event to answer questions about the Exhibition, the individual exhibits, or SAWS the organization.
Use the SAWS promotion. SAWS has developed a communication plan with articles and photos to bring members and interested in attending along on developments for the event. Simplest place to direct any of those people to follow along is the SAWS website www.saws.ca.
We’ve been around for 42 years. In an age where many organizations have closed shops, SAWS marks 42 years since it was started. There is real pride in the SAWS slogan, “Where woodworkers learn.” The Exhibition is the culmination of the values of quality craftsmanship, continual learning and companionship envisioned by the organization originators.
The Exhibition is a great sponsorship opportunity. The reputation of the SAWS Exhibition for bringing together the very best craftspeople and shining a spotlight on woodworking is well earned. SAWS has set up high quality opportunities for sponsors to participate. The SAWS website has all the details.
Media and industry interest is encouraged. There are stories everywhere as the SAWS Exhibition heads toward and into the actual show. Stories of passion, creativity, tremendous effort, sometimes hardship, even a bit of humor thrown in. If you have a media or industry connection that may be interested in these stories, let them know. As a SAWS member, just send those links along.
Students are welcome. The Exhibition welcomes everyone but SAWS has always had a soft spot for students interested in the woodworking craft. Please join us and introduce yourselves to a SAWS steward. We’d love to say hello.
Join SAWS. The Exhibition is just one example of the reasons being a SAWS member is an enjoyable and useful experience for so many. Ask us. We like to tell people about our organization.
Join at www.saws.ca.
