Vendor looking for reimbursement months after cancelled event

WATCH: Last year, Regina’s Entertainment Expo was cancelled. A vendor is now claiming he is still waiting on repayment. Mick Favel reports.

A vendor from the cancelled 2024 Saskatchewan Entertainment Expo in Regina is looking to be reimbursed fees he paid to be a part of the event but says hasn’t received an answer in months.

The expo was set to begin in September and was cancelled a few weeks before the date.

Brody Weber, the owner of Stars & Stone said he has been emailing the expo trying to get information on how to get his money back but has not gotten a reply.

“For a small business, that’s my money that goes into that. That’s just not fees, that accommodation and travel costs. I have to set aside all that money for that,” he said.

In early September, expo organizers released an update on social media saying the event needed to be postponed due to unforeseen health concerns.

The post said emails had been sent out to vendors, artists and groups, explaining the cancellation.

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Mike Fisher, one of the organizers of the event could not elaborate on the cancelled show but did reference the email.

“All vendor fees that are paid were rolled over to the next show, it was communicated to all vendors via social media,” he said.

Weber said the events he attends are scheduled months in advance. He hopes to hear back soon about the 2025 expo as he is already booked up to the midpoint of this year.

“Again, for small business owners like us, the amount that we paid into that. For someone who pays for every show they go into, it’s quite a bit,” he said.

Don Sparrow is an illustrator from Saskatchewan. He remains positive about the expo despite its current condition.

“The Regina expo has consistently been one of the ‘good guys’ in an industry where that isn’t always the case,” he said.

“I feel this is a moment for professionalism and perspective from my fellow vendors.”