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Honouring Tradition: The 214th Williamstown Fair Opens in Historic Glengarry
Allan J. MacDonald officially opened the 214th Williamstown Fair with a speech celebrating Glengarry’s enduring agricultural roots, historic heritage, and community spirit carried forward by generations of families and volunteers since 1784.
I am honoured to be invited to the 214 th edition of this storied fair in
one of the most picturesque villages that you will ever come across in
all of Ontario. The Williamstown Fair, along with its northern cousin
the Glengarry Highland Games, are Glengarry’s premiere events of the
year, showcasing the best of what Glengarry has to offer. They stand
unrivalled in their popularity with and appeal to young and old alike,
and, more importantly, have come to define us as a community with a
distinct identity; one that does not abandon but rather takes pride in
and builds on the customs and traditions of our ancestors.
There is no better place for Canada’s oldest fair than in this village on
the Raisin River, a few miles upstream from the St. Lawrence, where it
can be said, every street oozes history, with the likes of the Manor
House, Cattanach House and the Bethune-Thompson House. This part
of Glengarry was first settled by Loyalists, Highlanders mainly, on the
losing side in the American Revolution. It is hardly surprising then that
when celebrating Ontario’s bi-centennial in 1984, only 15 Ontario farms
were recognized as being in the same family since 1784. Of that
number, seven can be found not much more than a concession or two
from here.
Over the years the Fair has prevailed in the face of many storms: rural
depopulation since the late 1800s, the Great Depression of the 1930s,
two world wars, the Spanish flu of 1918, Covid, and the lure of modern
culture and technology. In an age when fads come and go, where
trends are but flashes in the pan, it is refreshing to behold an institution
that stays the course, evolving and adapting with the times, but always
remaining true to its original vision, the celebration and promotion of
Glengarry’s agriculture.
What is the secret of the fair’s success? I would say its longevity and
impact on Glengarry are attributable to a community pride in our
agricultural and rural way of life. In a time of external division and
discord, it is inspirational to see a vibrant collective spirit, fuelled by
hard work, hospitality and generosity, that pulls together as one for the
common good. However, any organization can have a great vision and
a winning plan but they count for nothing without the horses, and by
that I mean an army of some 500 selfless volunteers who ensure
everything runs smoothly year in and year out. Over the years the fair
has welcomed into the fold francophones, Dutch and other European
farmers, newcomers from the city and the community’s youth to help
steer the ship, and as a result its future is secure.
And so it is my great honour to officially open, in the heart of historic
Glengarry, Canada’s oldest annual fair, the Williamstown Fair.
#GrowingUpInGlengarry #GlengarryStories #GlengarryTV #LocalHeritage #CommunitySpirit #RuralLife #GlengarryPride[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
