FROM HOMELESS ON THE STREET TO SUCCESSFUL

PROVINCE OF
ALBERTA HONOURS
AG SOCIETIES
FROM HOMELESS
ON THE STREET
TO SUCCESSFUL
ENTREPRENEUR
BEHIND THE
SCENES: WITH
ROBERTSON
AMUSEMENTS
CONTRACTING
FOR SUCCESS
THE 178TH EDITION
OF L’EXPO DE
SAINT-HYACINTHE
WESTERNER DAYS
FAIR & EXPOSITION
SOCIAL MEDIA
CHANGING THE
FACE OF EVENT
PROMOTION
FALL 2015
www.canadian-fairs.ca
Fall 2015 Edition
CONTENTS
3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
4 CAFE ACTIVITIES
5 MOT DU PRÉSIDENT
6 ACTIVITÉS DE L’ACFE
7 INDUSTRY NEWS
16 FROM HOMELESS ON THE STREET TO SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR
19 CONTRACTING FOR SUCCESS
21 THE 178TH EDITION OF L’EXPO DE SAINT-HYACINTHE
27 PROVINCE OF ALBERTA HONOURS AG SOCIETIES
29 BEHIND THE SCENES: WITH ROBERTSON AMUSEMENTS
32 WESTERNER DAYS FAIR & EXPOSITION
34 SOCIAL MEDIA CHANGING THE FACE OF EVENT PROMOTION
FALL 2015 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS
1
Canadian Fair News
Fall 2015 Edition
The Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions / Association canadienne
des foires et expositions
Box 21053 (WEPO), Brandon, MB R7B 3W8
Toll-Free: (800) 663-1714
Phone: (204) 571-6377
E-mail: info@canadian-fairs.ca
www.canadian-fairs.ca
http://canadian-fairs.ca/fr/
Copyright @ 2015
Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions (CAFE) and its licensors.
All rights reserved.
Editor: Karen Oliver
Production and Administration: Karen Oliver
Graphic Designer: Tim Logan | timlogandesign.com
Additional Photography: Gregg (Scooter) Korek
CAFE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
PRESIDENT
Jim Laurendeau
Calgary Stampede,
Calgary, Alberta
T : (403) 261 0297
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
John Peco
Markham & East York Ag
Society,
Markham, Ontario
T : (905) 642 3247
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
(FINANCE)
Gregg (Scooter) Korek
North American Midway
Entertainment, Calgary, Alberta
T : (601) 862 1434
DIRECTORS –AT-LARGE (EXECUTIVE MEMBERS)
Brian Casey
Maritime Representative, Hants
County, Nova Scotia
T : (902) 757 3419
Virginia Ludy
Canadian National Exhibition
Toronto, ON
T : 416 263 3824
DIRECTORS:
Darren R. Dean
West Coast Lumberjack Shows. Ltd, Courtenay, British Columbia
T : (250) 830 4065
Glen Duck
Saskatchewan Association of Agricultural Societies
T : (306) 565 2121
Harry Emmott
Paris Agricultural Society, Paris, Ontario
T : (519) 632-5225
Hugh Fletcher
Western Fair District, London, Ontario
T : (519) 666 1572
Dale Greene
Richmond Agricultural Society, Richmond, Ontario
T : (613) 838 3420
Peter Male
Pacific National Exhibition, Vancouver, British Columbia
T : (604) 251 7729
Josh Shaw
Queen City Exhibition, Regina, Saskatchewan
T : (306) 781 9200
Karl André Végétarian
Expo de Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec
T : (450) 773 9509 ext 224
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CANADIAN FAIR NEWS FALL 2015
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
In the fair industry, we are a humble bunch. Our humility
is part of what makes our events authentic, accessible and appealing.
But it has a downside: we are quick to look up to others and think,
“that is bigger/better/more something than we are,” or “we are just a
small town event/small business/summer activity/3-day event.”
Consider this: When one adds the yearly fair-time attendance across
Canada at some of our largest events, it doesn’t take long to come up
with more than 6 million attendees. As you consider it for longer than
30 seconds, you might decide that 7 or 8 million isn’t a stretch, with
the real power coming in the volume of people that attend hundreds
of our smaller events. Then, think of the various other events held
the rest of the year at fairgrounds and you get another 7 or 8 million
attendees.
In fact, the Canadian Fair Industry and its associated venues, to make
an educated guess, play host to something like 15 million attendees
per year – likely more. Canadian fairs as a group are the single biggest
driver of community gathering and bringing people together from all
walks of life – ethnic, religious, and socio-economic – in the country.
We have a lot to be proud of.
For some perspective, the NHL had 5.3 million attendees at its
Canadian venues last year; the CFL had 2.3 million attendees last
season including pre-season and playoffs; and approximately as many
people voted in the 2011 federal election as attended an event at a
fairgrounds (14.8 million)!
From an association perspective, we are working hard to elevate this
industry to be perceived as the powerful force that we actually are,
in particular with the federal government. Whether it is Canada
150, livestock traceability, bio-security, temporary foreign workers
or copyright law, elected officials and bureaucrats are hearing about
C.A.F.E. with unprecedented frequency.
As we wind down another busy, fun (!) and successful summer, we
look ahead to the upcoming Niagara Falls “Get Inspired” convention
(November 19-21). What an amazing opportunity to share ideas
and find ways to grow this powerful industry for the benefit of all
Canadians. Looking out onto the magnificent falls, I for one will be
reminded that they are a collection of humble raindrops coming off
the hills into streams and into Lake Erie, but when they combine at
Niagara there is nothing in the country more powerful.
In the fair industry, it is up to all of us to get the streams headed to
the same place, and we are making progress!
JIM LAURENDEAU, PRESIDENT
FALL 2015 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS
3
CAFE ACTIVITIES
Summer is never really a relaxing time if you work in the
Fair Industry. While others are lazing on a sandy beach or teeing off
on a luscious green golf course, we are generally working on the next
event. This past summer, thanks to the support of a Federal Canada
Jobs grant, CAFE was able to hire a summer student and here in
the national office we were able to complete all sorts of projects that
were in the “to do” file! We hope that your summer has been likewise
productive, but with enough fun to keep your spirits and energy up.
Naturally progress on the Annual Convention has continued over
the summer – based on the strong Early Bird Registration numbers,
there should be a great turn-out! Staff worked on the CAFE website,
adding content and enhancing the French translation to ensure that
it provides maximum benefit to all our members. (Be sure to check
all the new documents and templates in the “Members” area of the
site)
And of course, our “Best Practises for E.coli Prevention” Project
continued to progress, with our Researcher being out in the field, collecting samples for testing
in the lab, and preparing for filming of the educational video. The project will culminate with
seminars in all provinces, providing education on how to prevent contamination by deadly
E.coli and other pathogens at your event. The sessions will be free of charge, and EVERY fair,
facility, or organization that deals with livestock-human interaction should plan to attend!
Possibly most importantly, CAFE took the opportunity to learn more about what you – our
members – value in terms of services and programs. We conducted a survey of members
and non-members and will be sharing the results in the coming months. We hope you have
noticed that we are reaching out to you more frequently, through our CAFE E-news and
through email, as in our survey you indicated that information sharing was one of the top
benefits of membership.
And now it’s fall… season of harvest, back-to-school, crisp autumn days and of course – fall
fairs! We look forward to hearing reports of how the fall fair season goes. And we are also
looking forward to seeing many of you in November in Niagara Falls, for what promises to be
a top-notch convention. In the meantime, please stay in touch. We are here for YOU!
KAREN OLIVER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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CANADIAN FAIR NEWS FALL 2015
MOT DU PRÉSIDENT
Nous sommes, dans l’industrie foraine, un groupe sans
prétention. Et notre humilité, ce manque de prétention, est ce
qui confère à nos événements leur caractère authentique, accessible
et attrayant. Mais il y a un inconvénient : nous sommes prompts à
nous tourner vers d’autres et à nous dire : « En voilà un plus grand,
plus ceci, plus cela que nous », ou « nous sommes juste une foire
banale, une petite entreprise, une activité estivale sans envergure, un
événement de trois jours ».
Voyons ceci : si l’on additionne l’assistance annuelle à certains de nos
événements les plus importants dans tout le Canada, en se basant sur
le temps de présence, il ne faudra pas longtemps pour arriver à plus
de 6 millions de participants. Et si vous y réfléchissez encore, au-delà
de 30 secondes, vous pourrez estimer qu’une assistance de 7 ou 8
millions de visiteurs n’est vraiment pas exagérée dès lors que vous
savez que la grande affluence, la force du nombre, réside dans des
centaines d’événements de faible taille que nous organisons. Ensuite,
pensez aux diverses autres manifestations organisées le reste de l’année dans les champs de foire et
vous avez encore 7 ou 8 millions de participants.
En effet, l’industrie foraine canadienne et ses sites associés accueillent au jugé environ 15 millions
de visiteurs par an et probablement davantage. En tant que groupe, les foires canadiennes
constituent, à lui seul, le moteur principal du rassemblement communautaire, puisqu’elles attirent
des personnes issues de tous horizons et milieux — ethniques, religieux et socioéconomiques —
dans le pays. Nous avons beaucoup de raisons d’être fiers.
Pour mettre les choses en perspective, la LNH a accueilli l’an dernier 5,3 millions d’amateurs
dans ses arénas canadiens; la LCF en avait 2,3 millions à la saison dernière, y compris la pré-saison
et les séries éliminatoires; et il y a eu plus ou moins autant de personnes qui ont voté aux élections
fédérales de 2011 que celles qui ont fréquenté un parc des expositions (14,8 millions) !
Du point de vue de l’association, nous travaillons d’arrache-pied pour faire reconnaître notre
industrie comme elle est réellement, une force puissante, en particulier auprès du gouvernement
fédéral. Qu’il s’agisse du 150e anniversaire du Canada, de la traçabilité du bétail, de la bio-sécurité,
des travailleurs étrangers temporaires ou du droit d’auteur, élus et fonctionnaires entendent parler
de l’ACFE à une fréquence sans précédent.
À mesure que s’achève un été chargé, amusant (!) et réussi, nous nous tournons vers le prochain
Congrès à Niagara Falls (du 19 au 21 novembre), placé sous le thème « Inspiration : à vous de jouer
». Y a-t-il une occasion plus propice d’échanger des idées et de trouver des moyens de développer
cette industrie performante au profit de tous les Canadiens ? Pour ma part, contemplant les
chutes magnifiques, j’aime bien me rappeler qu’elles sont au départ des gouttes de pluie banales
qui, venant des collines convergeaient pour se jeter dans les ruisseaux et le lac Érié mais qui, une
fois dans le Niagara, déclarent au pays que rien n’est plus puissant qu’elles.
En clair, il appartient à chacun de nous, dans l’industrie foraine, d’orienter les ruisseaux vers la
même destination, et nous faisons des progrès !
JIM LAURENDEAU, PRÉSIDENT
FALL 2015 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS
5
ACTIVITÉS DE L’ACFE
L’été n’est jamais vraiment une saison de détente si
vous travaillez dans l’industrie foraine. Alors que d’autres
s’accordent des heures de farniente sur une plage de sable ou donnent
le coup de départ dans un terrain de golf verdoyant, nous sommes
généralement en train de travailler au prochain événement. L’été
dernier, grâce à une subvention canadienne pour l’emploi, l’ACFE a
pu embaucher un étudiant et, ici, au bureau national, nous avons pu
achever toutes sortes de projets qui étaient sur la liste des tâches à faire
! Nous espérons que votre été est aussi productif, mais quand même
assez ludique, de quoi garder le moral et se sentir plein d’énergie.
Naturellement, au chapitre du Congrès annuel, les préparatifs se
poursuivent dans le courant de l’été et, au vu des pré-inscriptions, cet
événement devrait attirer une assistance nombreuse ! Le personnel
travaillant sur le site Web de l’ACFE en a enrichi le contenu et a
amélioré la traduction française pour s’assurer qu’il profite au
maximum à tous les membres. (Assurez-vous de prendre connaissance
de tous les nouveaux documents et modèles dans la section du site réservée aux membres.)
Et bien entendu, notre projet intitulé « Les meilleures pratiques de prévention de l’E.coli »
continue de progresser : notre chercheur est sur le terrain en train de prélever des échantillons
en vue de les analyser au laboratoire et de préparer le tournage de la vidéo éducative. Le projet
se terminera par des séminaires dans toutes les provinces, et ce dans le souci de prévenir lors
d’une foire la contamination par la bactérie mortelle E.coli et d’autres agents pathogènes. Les
séances seront offertes gratuitement, et TOUS les intervenants — foires, forains, établissement
ou organisation — qui traitent de l’interaction bétail-humain devraient veiller à y assister !
Peut-être, plus important encore, l’ACFE a pris l’initiative d’en apprendre davantage sur ce
que vous — nos membres — valorisez en termes de services et de programmes. Nous avons
mené une enquête auprès des membres et non-membres et feront connaître les résultats au
cours des prochains mois. Vous aurez remarqué, nous l’espérons, que nous communiquons
plus souvent avec vous, par notre lettre d’information (CAFE E-news) et par courriel, comme
vous nous avez indiqué dans notre sondage que le partage d’information est l’un des meilleurs
avantages aux membres.
Et maintenant, c’est l’automne..., la saison des récoltes, la rentrée des écoles, des journées
fraîches et, bien sûr, les foires d’automne ! Nous sommes impatients d’entendre vos nouvelles,
les nouvelles de la saison foraine, de ce qu’il en est pour vous. Et nous avons également
hâte de vous voir nombreux en novembre, à Niagara Falls, à l’occasion de notre congrès qui
s’annonce prometteur par la haute qualité du programme. En attendant, je vous invite à
garder le contact. Nous sommes ici pour VOUS !
KAREN OLIVER, DIRECTRICE EXÉCUTIVE
6
CANADIAN FAIR NEWS FALL 2015
INDUSTRY NEWS
RED RIVER EX BREAKS ONE-DAY ATTENDANCE RECORD NEWS WINNIPEG
On Saturday June 20th, over 53,266 people passed through the gates of the Red River Ex in
Winnipeg, Manitoba. The previous record was around 48,000. Red River Ex CEO Garth
Rogerson tells 680 CJOB that overall, it wasn’t a record year attendance-wise, but it was pretty
close: “Our record was in 2011 at 223, 000”. Reflecting on the 10-day run that ran from
June 12th to 21st, Rogerson said this year’s Ex experience was “tremendous,” and calculated
that, even using conservative estimates of Sunday’s numbers, 2015’s attendance would “easily
shatter” 200,000 people and likely be closer to 210,000.
INDUSTRY VETERAN IS MOURNED
We were sad to receive the news that Dave
Farberman, a well-known figure in the Fair
Industry, passed away on June 26. Dave was
familiar to many, as he spent much of his life
working in the carnival business and was a
Past President of the Showman’s League of
America. Our condolences to his son Shane
Farberman (Doo Doo the Clown).
FALL 2015 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS
7
INDUSTRY NEWS
CANADIAN LAKEHEAD EXHIBITION: THANK YOU! WWW.CLE.ON.CA
The Canadian Lakehead Exhibition’s celebrated their 125th Anniversary in 2014 and their organization
would like to thank everyone who attended their 125th Birthday Celebration at last year’s exhibition!
Some history about the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition located in Thunder Bay, Ontario: it was known as
the Westalgoma Agriculture Society in 1922 and throughout the ‘30s had grandstand attractions such as
Christy’s Performing Elephants, cattle displays, horse races and various animal shows. Weekly tickets were
$1.00, which were good for 6 admissions!
EXHIBITION PARK IN HALIFAX SET TO CLOSE THIS FALL CBC NEWS
There will be no Maritime Fall Fair this year in Halifax, Nova Scotia after Exhibition Park was significantly
damaged this past winter from snow loads and water. It is set to close this November, disappointing
organizers of the popular Maritime Fall Fair. Brian Casey says with no venue the Maritime Fall Fair will
be cancelled this year. “We’re definitely disappointed and we’d really like to see it happen, but because
of the deterioration of the building – or so we’ve been told – they’re going to close it and it’s not safe
for the public so it just can’t happen this year”. Casey says the 2016 Fall Fair will happen – he’s just not
sure where.
FIRST RESPONDERS SERVE AS K-DAYS PARADE MARSHALS EDMONTON JOURNAL
This year’s K-Days parade was dedicated to honoring & thanking the heroes that touch the lives of
the Edmonton community daily. “This is our opportunity to celebrate what’s important to us and to
recognize those who contribute to the greater good of the city in both big and small ways,” said Tim
Reid, President and CEO of Northlands in Edmonton, Alberta. Northlands is proud to have had first
responders Royal Canadian Mounted Police “K” Division, Alberta Sheriffs, Edmonton Police Service,
1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services and Edmonton Emergency
Medical Services as their 2015 K-Days Parade Marshals. K-Days Parade day, July 17, has also been
proclaimed Edmonton Heroes’ Day.
8
CANADIAN FAIR NEWS FALL 2015
GET WELL WISHES!
Joyce Trafford, General Manager of Carp Fair, is recuperating at home after having BOTH knees replaced!
We expect she will be able to run twice as fast by the time the fair takes place this fall. Heal quickly, Joyce.
GRATEFUL SCHOMBERG AG SOCIETY CELEBRATES 165 FAIRS
“On behalf of the Schomberg Agricultural Society, we would like to take this opportunity to thank
everyone who came out to our 165th Schomberg Agricultural Spring Fair, helping to make it a huge
success, even despite the rain. Celebrating 165 Fairs has been made possible due to the continuous support
of our community and surrounding area visitors. You have helped us maintain one of King Township’s
most anticipated and largest events. As we close the book on our 165th fair, preparations are well underway
for our 166th. Looking forward to seeing you all there at the fair! With our sincerest gratitude, Cathy
D’Alessandro (Manager) and Ron Hepburn (President), Schomberg Agricultural Society”
WESTERN FAIR DISTRICT’S CONFEDERATION BUILDING RECEIVES NEW ROOF
Western Fair District (WFD) is pleased to announce that it has received a $100,000 grant, for one
year, from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to replace the roof of the Confederation Building, a piece
of London, Ontario’s history that provides space for community markets. The WFD’s mission and
mandate is to develop programs that meet the needs and enrich life in the communities it serves and to
provide a facility intended to meet the needs of the agricultural community. “The new roof ensures the
Confederation Building … carries on as a safe, functional and historically significant space within the
Western Fair District,” said Hugh Mitchell CEO, WFD, “we thank the Ontario Trillium Foundation for
their support.”
WESTERN FAIR DISTRICT RECOGNIZED AS THE EVENT, ENTERTAINMENT OR
RECREATIONAL FACILITY OF THE YEAR
The Western Fair District (WFD) has received recognition at the 1st annual Ontario Restaurant Hotel &
Motel Association (ORHMA) London Region Hospitality Awards, held May 4. WFD was recognized as
the Event, Entertainment or Recreational Facility of the Year. This award is presented to an organization
or representative who has demonstrated leadership and innovation in the London region hospitality
industry. They must demonstrate superior guest service and provide an excellent product while being
from the London region and in business for a minimum of one year. WFD takes great pride in being
selected for this local hospitality and tourism honor and congratulates all fellow nominees and finalists
FALL 2015 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS
9
INDUSTRY NEWS
ANCASTER FAIR CAMP BRINGS A
NEW AND EXCITING TWIST TO THE
TRADITIONAL DAY CAMP
Summer 2015 marks the kickoff of Ancaster
Fairgrounds’ introduction of a new Summer
Camp for children. Campers will interact
daily through projects and activities that
instill these core values: leadership, friendship,
community, agriculture and creativity.
They will also learn about the environment
and agriculture awareness and exploration
through interaction with baby animals, and
go for hay wagon rides to identify flora and
fauna. There will also be an end-of-week trip
to various venues. The program came about
through the Ag Society’s Strategic Planning
Committee looking to expand their presence
in the community and bring more people to
the fairgrounds outside of their fair.
CALGARY STAMPEDE SHOW BAND ROCKS! WWW.STAMPEDESHOWBAND.CA
The Calgary Stampede Show Band has completed a highly successful summer tour, performing at
Westerner Park in Red Deer, the Saskatoon Exhibition, K-Days in Edmonton and the Indiana State Fair.
They also competed at the DCI (Drum Corps International) Competition in Indianapolis, where they
were recognized as International Champion in the DCI Drum Line Battle and received a gold award in
the DCI Soundsport Competition, with recognition as Best in Show! Congratulations to this talented
group of 120 young people between the ages of 14 and 21!
GRAND OPENING OF PONTIAC AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY’S NEW HEAVY HORSE BARN
On June 5, 2015 the Pontiac Agricultural Society held the grand opening of its brand new Heavy Horse
Stall. The new barn will hold 80 horses, with state of the art stalls supplied by Ebersol Products of
Milverton, Ontario and building suppliers ThermoEnergy Structures Inc. of Braeside, Ontario. Music
from Ambush and 300 guests helped in celebrating the ribbon cutting at the grand opening of their
new barn. They look forward to using the new structure at this year’s 159th Annual Shawville Fair, held
September 3-7, 2015 and welcome anyone to stop by and check out the new building!
10 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS FALL 2015
POPULOUS IS THE OFFICIAL EXHIBITION
DESIGNER FOR WAF LONDON
ARMY COMMANDER, LT.-GEN MARQUIS
HAINSE AS GHG’S GUEST OF HONOUR
POPULOUS.COM
STANDARD FREEHOLDER
Populous has created the inaugural World
Architectural Festival (WAF) London exhibition.
Through their designs, Populous has created a
physical identity and brand experience for WAF
that can be packed up, shipped and reassembled
in locations across the globe. The dramatic 7m
high installation forms the centrepiece of the
exhibition, taking inspiration from the Eames’
famous ‘house of cards’. The WAF (hosted by
the University of Westminster with the London
Festival of Architecture) is being held to showcase
international game-changing design and best in
world architecture. Populous is comprised of a
dedicated team of designers, architects, technical
experts and industry veterans who specialize in
creating innovative spaces and experiences in places
where people come together.
Lieutenant General Marquis Hainse, Commander of
the Canadian Army, was the 2015 Guest of Honour
for the Glengarry Highland Games (GHG), which
were held July 31 - August 1, 2015 in Maxville,
Ontario. Hainse’s desire to join the army took its
roots during his Air Cadet years in hometown,
Thetford Mines, Quebec. He joined the forces in
1977 and in August of 1980, was commissioned as
an officer and later joined the Royal 22nd Regiment.
At the 2015 GHG, Haines took salute to start the
Tattoo on Friday evening and at its end, closed the
evening’s ceremonies. Hainse also opened the 2015
GHG and presented the Tug-o-War Challenge cup
to the Reserve unit, “which best combines physical
fitness, readiness, and esprits de corps - three
essential qualities of our soldiers,” said Haines in a
pre-games release.
CHRISTIAN HUDSON, CS TALENT SEARCH
CHAMP PLEDGES TO DONATE CASH
PRIZE CS BLOG
2015 MEDICINE HAT STAMPEDE SEES
BIGGEST CROWDS IN YEARS
The Calgary Stampede named Christian Hudson of
Airdrie, Alberta as their 35th Talent Search Champion
on the night of Saturday, July 11. Hudson, 19,
received the President’s Trophy, a custom one-ofa-kind silver belt buckle, a performer development
package, musical instrument, recording prizes, and
$10,000 cash. Upon being presented with his cash
prize, Hudson promptly announced that he would
be donating it all to the Calgary Drop-In and Rehab
Centre. During the week-long competition, to save
money, Hudson spent a few nights on the banks of
the Bow River instead of driving back to Airdrie. He
was inspired to donate his winnings after connecting
with one person whose story touched him.
Jim MacArthur, General Manager of the Medicine
Hat Stampede and Exhibition, says just judging
from how the grandstands looked at this years’
Stampede, attendance was up this year. And indeed
it was; Gate admissions over the 4-day event broke
a 19-year-old record and overall, attendance was
up from 2014. The Stampede reported 43,698
people paid to attend the event, up from 39,617 last
year. The night show concerts, which saw Martina
McBride, Dallas Smith and a triple bill of Trooper,
Kim Mitchell and Prism, nearly doubled the total
from 2014 and broke the 1996 record. “The night
shows really shone this year,” said MacArthur. “The
night show committee did a great job putting the
MEDICINE HAT NEWS
FALL 2015 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS 11
INDUSTRY NEWS
package together and, obviously, it was a favourite for fans.”
COLONIAL DAYS’ UNSUNG HEROES MERIDEAN BOOSTER
With another successful Colonial Days in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan passed, one company is the true
unsung heroes of the fair. West Coast Amusements (WCA), originating from Chilliwack, B.C., has
brought food, rides, and midway games to Lloydminster, among many other cities, for nearly 30 years.
“It’s very rewarding when you can watch all the people who have worked for you and then their kids come
up and work beside your kids, and now the grandkids are there, I mean it’s pretty amazing. I’ve got three
families out here that are on third generations right now,” said Bob Hauser, owner of WCA. “I think
[Colonial Days] just keeps getting better. That fair is put on for the people of the community… I want to
thank every one of them for attending this year’s fair.”
110TH MELFORT EXHIBITION A SUCCESS DESPITE RAINY WEATHER
MELFORT JOURNAL
The 110th Melfort Exhibition was a success despite having some events cancelled on Sunday, July 19th:
“We ended up cancelling the chuckwagons, chariots and barrel racing, along with the tractor pulls,”
Nicole Gagne, of the Melfort Ag Society, said. The exhibition ran from July 17-19, and according to
the Ag Society, Saturday was one of the best days in recent memory, with ideal weather helping benefit
the event. According to Gagne, the weather on Saturday, July 18 was probably close to perfect and the
amount of people who came through the gates proved it. “We had a number of new things that came in,
the lumberjacks, the motocross. It was great and no doubt they were very supportive of the Ag Society as
well so it was great to support them,” she said.
THE MORRIS STAMPEDE, ‘A LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN’ WINNIPEG SUN
Manitoba’s only professional rodeo, located in Morris, completed its 52nd year July 16th to 19th. “A lot
of the cowboys and cowgirls come straight from the Calgary Stampede to take part in the Manitoba
Stampede,” said Dawn Morin, general manager of the Valley Agricultural Society. “It’s like Morris is
a little piece of heaven that these riders want to be a part of.” There was something for everyone at the
Manitoba Stampede, whether you came out for the day to watch the rodeo and enjoy the rides and the
new Ag-tivity Ranch, or for the night at the Cabaret and Electric Tavern.
12 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS FALL 2015
VOLUNTEERS A CRUCIAL PART OF
VERMILION FAIR’S SUCCESS THE
LAMONT AND DISTRICT AG SOCIETY
SEVERS TIES WITH TOWN THE FORT
VERMILION STANDARD
SASKATCHEWAN RECORD
The Vermilion Agricultural Grounds in Alberta were
littered with volunteers, who worked tirelessly to
make sure the area was ready for that week’s Vermilion
Fair, held July 23rd to 25th. “One thing that’s unique
about Vermilion [Fair] is it’s pretty much 100
percent volunteers,” said Tyler Moses, President of
the Vermilion Agricultural Society. “We just do this
because we enjoy it.” The Ag Society’s executive
consists of just 5 members, but are committees that
deal with each aspect of the Fair, like entertainment,
beer gardens, exhibit displays, livestock shows, and
more. “How the Ag Society works is it’s made up
of a bunch of different committees [who are] pretty
passionate about their own event and what they do,
so without them, the executive, we couldn’t do it,”
Moses explained. “Everybody comes back year to year
and they make their own little show – it all works
together into one big show.”
The Lamont and District Agricultural Society moved
all their equipment and towed their barns away
from the location they called home for 97 years. In
2014, the society received a notice of an agreement
termination with the Town of Lamont in regards to
using the grounds for future society events. “It’s like a
bad divorce. We’ve severed all of our ties,” said Frank
Cholak, Ag Society treasurer. President Aaron Wick,
said the two parties could not reach an agreement.
“We figure it’s time to move. We bought new land
and we’re moving on,” Wick said. This year’s events
were still held as planned. Lamont mayor Bill Skinner
said the town council and the fair committee decided
last year that it would be better to separate due to
conflicts. “It wasn’t a very satisfying experience for all
of the groups that were involved,” Skinner said.
INDUSTRY NEWS
ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS CALL FOR AGRIFAIR TO DROP ‘CRUEL’ RODEO EVENTS
CKNW
Animal rights activists are calling for a boycott of the Abbotsford Agrifair, unless the event drops several
so-called ‘cruel’ rodeo events. Peter Fricker says the Vancouver Humane Society is pushing for the
elimination of calf roping, steer-wrestling, and team roping. “Well all of these events involve subjecting
animals to fear, pain, and stress to make them perform. And we think that’s unacceptable in a modern and
civilized society. We think that because of the animal cruelty that takes place, people need to send a strong
message to the Agrifair by boycotting the rodeo and letting them know that this is no longer acceptable.”
Fricker says the Cloverdale Rodeo dropped the events in 2007 – and hasn’t seen attendance drop. The
Abbotsford Agrifair did not return a request for comment.
STRATHMORE STAMPEDE WRAPS UP ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL WEEKEND THE
STRATHMORE STANDARD
The 2015 Strathmore Stampede, which ran from July 31st to August 3rd, was a big success. The weather
was great all weekend long, and there were few injuries throughout the Running with the Bulls, the
chuck wagon races and the rodeo. Strathmore and District Ag Society GM Herb McLane says he was
pleased with the overall attendance. McLane said. “I think this year has been very successful. I think the
community was very supportive… All of the businesses that we work with support us so much… Those
kinds of things are very important to the success of the event.” The General Manager was also grateful for
all the volunteers, first responders, the PWM security team, the town of Strathmore, bylaw officers, the
event coordinators, the RCMP and others.
CLIMB UP ON HORSEPOWER LIVE!
HorsePower Live! Kicked off their first summer tour, capturing family, fun and
entertainment! HPL was featured at the Ram Rodeo in Orangeville, Ontario
where over 4000 fans enjoyed the show! Then, Sydney, Nova Scotia featured
HorsePower Live! at their inaugural Horse Expo, where again the performance
was a great success.
“For the Sydney Horse Expo we were looking for something that would bring
people out to our event. We decided on Horse Power Live and they certainly
didn’t disappoint,” said Paul McDonald, Manager Sydney, Centre 200.
The third stop was Toronto’s Canadian National Exhibition grounds where they
performed in front of 10,000 kids throughout the 18-day feature!Currently
the HorsePower Live! production team is planning their fall shows which are
being held during the Binbrook and Markham Fall Fairs.
14 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS FALL 2015
KNIGHTS OF VALOUR TROUP BRING IN JOUSTING FANS AT THE FREMONT COUNTY
FAIR COUNTRY10.COM
The Knights of Valour put on an entertaining show in the Grand Arena at the Fremont County Fair on
July 30th with a half-dozen Knights showing off their skills, while dressed in armour. The Knights included
Shane Adams, current Captain and owner of Knights of Valour, as well as the current reigning World
Jousting Champion and host and executive producer of the hit TV show Full Metal Jousting. The Knights
hailed from two countries, Canada (Ontario) and the United States. The Knights of Valour Jousting
Troupe continues to grow and be the premier full-contact jousting troupe in all of North America.
POPULOUS BEGINS MASTER PLAN FOR THE NEW YORK STATE FAIR
Populous, fairgrounds master planners and architects of Knoxville, Tennessee, were selected to develop a
master plan for the 360-acre historic New York State Fair located in Syracuse. Shown left to right are: Todd Gralla, SDA, Principal/Director of Equestrian Services, and David Forkner, ASLA, Principal/Senior
Planner of Populous, Joel Bianchi, P.E., Director of Municipal Engineering for M.J. Engineering & Land Surveying, P.C., Charlie Smith,
AIA, NCARB, Senior Principal/Senior Architect of Populous, Troy Waffner, Acting Director of the New York State Fair, Jenny Lippman,
P.E., Project Engineer with M.J. Engineering & Land Surveying, P.C., Rod Markin, President of Markin Consulting and Bill Bourne,
Senior Architectural Technician of Populous.
FALL 2015 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS 15
SEE FRANK O’DEA LIVE AT THE 2015 CAFE
CONVENTION IN NIAGARA FALLS
FROM HOMELESS ON THE
STREET TO SUCCESSFUL
ENTREPRENEUR
THE STORY OF FRANK O’DEA IS SURE TO INSPIRE
Just a few years ago, Frank O’Dea was a down-and-out homeless guy, sitting
on a street corner in downtown Toronto. Now he is a successful business man and founder of
the Second Cup Coffee Chain. How did that transformation take place? O’Dea’s presentation
on “The Power of Hope, Vision, Action” is only one of the inspiring sessions you will hear
when you attend the 2015 CAFE Convention in Niagara Falls, ON, from November 19th
to 21st.
16 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS FALL 2015
The convention organizers took care to address suggestions and concerns gleaned from the evaluations of the
2014 CAFE convention, and the result will be a 2015 convention with sessions geared to every sector of the
membership – small fairs, large fairs, provincial associations, concessionaires, midways and performers. They also
created a schedule that is less “jam-packed” but still overflowing with great speakers and activities.
Given the v theme of “GET INSPIRED” and the warm hospitality of the CNE as they welcome and entertaining
the delegates, this year’s convention should be a memorable one. The awe-inspiring backdrop of Niagara Falls
certainly sets the tone. The Convention Hotel, the Sheraton on the Falls, is located directly across from the Falls
in the heart of Niagara’s tourist district, so in addition to a great convention, you can count on a long list of
entertainment options to keep you busy in your spare time. Plan to arrive at least one day early, as the CNE will
be offering a tour of the Niagara area on Thursday, November 19th, prior to our convention opening.
Convention speakers have been selected with special attention to the needs and interests of the CAFE
membership. For example – we all know that food has become an important attraction at our events, both in
terms of education about food production, and in terms of public desire to sample new and unique foods. To
help the delegates explore those topics, Rebecca LeHeup, Executive Director of the Ontario Culinary Tourism
Alliance will speak on “Culinary Tourism” and Jennifer Cockrall-King, author of “Food and the City” will show
how cities around the world are growing and eating locally through urban agriculture.
Volunteer Recruitment is often discussed as a challenge to our local fairs. CAFE is pleased to offer two sessions
on Volunteer Recruitment and Retention, presented by Paula Speevak, Executive Director of Volunteer Canada.
Paula will impart wisdom on the challenges of finding and keeping volunteers in today’s society.
And midway operators, concessionaires and fair managers will definitely want to attend the session by Colin
James, Director of Program and Policy Design with the Temporary
Foreign Worker Program at ESDC Canada. James will review the
Temporary Foreign Worker Program, including the recent changes
it has undergone, LMIA requirements and compliance framework.
The Internationally renowned Dr. Mark DeVolder, known as “The
Change Specialist”, will be presenting a session on how to “Adapt
to Extreme Change and Achieve New Heights”. As the winner of
the Prestigious Top 5 Speaker Award USA in Business Management
for four consecutive years, he is known for presentations that are
dynamic, humourous, high energy and content rich.
Now - Add in some entertaining showcases, inspiring award
presentations, opportunities for discussion and networking, a
tradeshow full of top notch products and entertainers, and a fun
filled host evening – and you can see that this is an event you can’t
afford to miss!
You can still register, and in fact, you can still receive a discounted
registration fee until October 9th… so don’t delay. Go to the CAFE
website at www.canadian-fairs.ca to get your form, and either register
online or email your registration to the CAFE office at convention@
canadian-fairs.ca
Above: Mark Devolder
FALL 2015 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS 17
CONTRACTING FOR
SUCCESS
It’s one of the major challenges facing a fair - how can you be sure you are
contracting the best attractions for your event?
Most of us have failed at least once or twice in this regard. Maybe you hired the magician who
arrived late and missed some performances. Or the attraction that forgot to mention they
needed 24 hour security on their site! Maybe it was the Petting Zoo that had sickly animals
and insufficient bedding. Or the band that spent too long in the bar before they performed.
Chalk it up to experience, and don’t make that mistake again… and tighten up your hiring
practices.
Here are some suggestions that will ensure success when booking future attractions:
•
If at all possible, go and see the attraction when it’s at another location. There’s
nothing like first hand experience to determine if the entertainment will work for
your audience, and to identify potential issues for your event.
•
Contact other events (preferably of similar size) that have hosted the attraction
FALL 2015 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS 19
and be prepared with a list of questions to ask. Did the attraction arrive on time with all the
components they promised? Were they easy to work with? Were they relatively self-sufficient once
they got onsite? Were they reliable? What sort of audience response did they get?
•
Keep in mind that an attraction which can easily be presented at a large event might need amenities
that cannot be easily provided at a smaller one. Can you present the attraction given your own
resources? Think about those details BEFORE booking so there are no disappointments.
•
Ask yourself if you are comfortable with this attraction representing your organization to the
public. Is the language appropriate? Are you comfortable with the performance and production
values? Remember that your reputation, as well as theirs, is at stake.
•
If it’s a Petting Zoo or Animal Attraction – are the animals healthy? Are they presented in a
humane manner? Do they have plenty of clean bedding, appropriate footing and is there a system
to prevent over-handling by the public? Have the animals been vaccinated appropriately (if
relevant) and / or vet examined? Have you or the handler ensured appropriate signage and hand
wash stations? Is there an established protocal that kicks in if an animal becomes sick or dies?
Keep in mind that there is great public sensitivity to wild animals being in capitivity or displayed
to the public, so you should be prepared to address this concern before it is even raised. For
example, are the animals rescues? Get ahead of the question with media releases!
•
Ensure that your contract spells out everything that you expect. How long will the performances
be? How often? How many animals will be in the petting zoo? What kinds of animals will be
presented? Are they permitted to sell souvenirs or promotioinal items? And if so, what happens
with the revenue?
•
Check to see where else the attraction is playing, and feel free to add a clause to your contract,
stipulating that they cannot perform within a certain time/distance from your event. There is
nothing worse than hiring a big act and finding
out they played ten miles down the road just the
week before!
• If it’s an American Act – have they submitted a
waiver for withholding tax, or will you need to deduct
it from their cheque? Do they require a letter of
introduction to cross the border? Have you stipulated
whether you are paying them in Canadian or (gulp!)
US Funds?
• And finally – check in a week or so before they
arrive to be sure that everything is “go” and get their
estimated time of arrival so you can ensure that load
in and set up can be achieved. Are they expecting help
to unload and/or set up?
Yes – problems will still arise – that’s the business we
are in! But if you do your due diligence when hiring
you can minimize the drama and reduce the last
minute issues that give fair employees the grey hair!
If all fails – they sell Miss Clairol at the pharmacy.
THE 178 EDITION OF L’EXPO
DE SAINT-HYACINTHE
TH
WAS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS WITH 180 000 PERSONS IN ATTENDANCE
Record Day at the Expo with 25 888
visitors for Télé-Québec Day featuring,
among others, the stars of the youth show
« Toc toc toc » (Groupe CNW/Exposition
agricole et alimentaire St-Hyacinthe).
Bilan positif avec 180 000
personnes pour
la 178e Expo de SaintHyacinthe
SAINT-HYACINTHE, QC,
SAINT-HYACINTHE, QC, le 4 août 2015 /CNW
Telbec/ - L’Expo de Saint-Hyacinthe, présentée par
Desjardins, le plus grand festival familial à thématique
agricole au Québec, s’est déroulée du 23 juillet au 2 août
et a reçu 180 000 visiteurs et ce, malgré des journées
d’orages et de forte canicule.
L’Expo de Saint-Hyacinthe, presented by
Desjardins, the largest family agricultural
festival in Quebec, took place from July 23rd
FALL 2015 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS 21
to August 2nd, with 180 000 visitors and this
in spite of stormy days and intense heat.
The opening banquet welcomed its guest
of honor, Mrs. Nicole Ménard, deputy of
Laporte, president of Couillard government
Caucus and sponsor of the county of
St-Hyacinthe.
Among
other
guests
were many provincial and national
association presidents.
July 25th was the busiest day with 25 888
visitors thanks to the success of Télé-Québec’s
themed afternoon as well as an evening show
featuring Kevin Parent.
Le banquet d’ouverture a accueilli comme
invitée
d’honneur
Madame
Nicole
Ménard, député de Laporte, présidente
du Caucus du gouvernement Couillard
et marraine du comté de St-Hyacinthe.
Se sont côtoyés également de nombreux
présidents d’associations agricoles et autres
organisations provinciales et nationales.
La journée du 25 juillet fut la plus achalandée
avec 25 888 visiteurs grâce au vif succès
de l’après-midi Télé-Québec ainsi qu’au
spectacle de Kevin Parent en soirée.
L’Expo de St-Hyacinthe has become the
leader in shows for children and activities for
the little ones including their families.
L’Expo de St-Hyacinthe est devenue un chef
de file en matière de spectacles pour enfants
et d’activités pour les petits et les familles.
For the past 6 years, Télé-Québec Day has
become a must at l’Expo and this year was
no exception with the performance featuring
the stars of “Toc toc toc” (and especially, an
appearance by M. Craquepoutte who won
the hearts of both young and young at heart),
“Les Argonautes” and “Les p’tites tounes”.
Depuis 6 ans, la journée Télé-Québec est
un incontournable de l’Expo et cette année
ne fit pas exception avec les vedettes des
émissions « Toc toc toc » (avec en exclusivité
la présence de M. Craquepoutte qui a charmé
petits et grands), « Les Argonautes » et « Les
p’tites tounes ».
For the fourth year in a row, The Lucie
and André Chagnon Foundation made it
possible to have a “to be born and grow”
day for children by offering 5 quality shows
which brought joy to thousands of children
and parents. With one great artist after the
other, from the giant puppets of théâtre de
Pour une quatrième année, la fondation
Lucie et André Chagnon a rendu possible la
tenue de la journée des enfants « Naître et
grandir » qui a offert 5 spectacles de qualité
qui ont su ravir des milliers d’enfants et leurs
parents. Se sont succédés les marionnettes
géantes du théâtre de la Dame de Cœur,
22 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS FALL 2015
la Dame de Cœur to Mélou, Anne-Lune, les
Space Cats to the ever popular Caillou, the
show venue was full to capacity.
The Oasis family zone was particularly busy
thanks to the many family shows including
Le Fabuleux Cirque Jean Coutu as well
as activities for the wee ones such as pony
rides, a water zone with pedal boats, make
up, inflatable games etc. Children had the
chance to meet Mollie, the mascot of l’Expo
and Ari Cui Cui, spokesperson of the event.
This year, the Breeds Salon welcomed 2
breeds of buffalo from the premier breeder
in Canada , located in Montérégie. Buffalo
milk is one of the most consumed varieties
of milk, after cow milk.
Most notably, more than 2100 animals were
present on site, with educational activities,
provincial horse carriage races, demolition
derbys, rodeos, the Grand National tractor
pull and as a finale, the Parade of Champions
closed the festival. In the agrifood sector,
Mélou, Anne-Lune, les Space Cats et
en grande vedette Caillou, grâce à qui
l’espace réservé aux spectacles fut rempli à
pleine capacité.
La Zone Famille Oasis fut particulièrement
achalandées grâce aux nombreux spectacles
familiaux dont le Fabuleux Cirque Jean
Coutu ainsi que les activités pour les petits que
sont les tours de poney, le bassin d’eau avec
pédalos, le maquillage, les jeux gonflables,
etc. Les enfants ont pu y rencontré Mollie,
la mascotte de l’Expo et Ari Cui Cui, porteparole de l’événement.
Le Salon des Races accueillait cette année 2
spécimens de bufflonnes du plus important
élevage du Canada situé en Montérégie. Le
lait de bufflonne est un des laits les plus
consommés au monde après le lait de vache.
Notons aussi la présence sur le site de plus
de 2100 animaux, les activités éducatives, le
concours provincial d’attelages, les derbys de
démolition, les rodéos, le Grand National de
FALL 2015 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS 23
77 cooking workshops and the Kitchen for
children proved to be very successful.
The shows featuring Guylaine Tanguay, who
has the number one best-selling record of
the summer and Leboeuf Deschamps were
the most popular. The Strong Men Circuit,
featuring champion Jean-François Caron
was a big hit.
Photo caption: Record Day at the Expo with 25 888 visitors for
Télé-Québec Day featuring, among others, the stars of the youth
show « Toc toc toc » Groupe CNW/Exposition agricole et alimentaire
St-Hyacinthe)”.
24 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS FALL 2015
tire de tracteurs et la Parade des Champions
qui a clôturé le festival. Au secteur
agroalimentaire, les 77 ateliers culinaires ont
été un franc succès, tout comme la Cuisine
des Petits.
Les spectacles de Guylaine Tanguay, numéro
un des ventes de disques cet été et Leboeuf
Deschamps fut des plus populaires. Le
circuit des hommes forts, avec la présence
du champion Jean-François Caron, fut des
plus appréciés.
Bas de vignette : “Journée record à l’Expo avec 25 888 visiteurs pour
la journée Télé-Québec avec, entre autres, les vedettes de l’émission
jeunesse « Toc toc toc » (Groupe CNW/Exposition agricole et
alimentaire St-Hyacinthe)”.
A special thank you to the many partners
and sponsors (particularly Desjardins,
Lassonde, Fromages d’ici, Pepsi, Coors Light,
Rythme fm, Rouge fm, Boom, le Journal de
Montréal, Télé-Québec, La Terre de chez
Nous and le Courrier de St-Hyacinthe)
who have directly contributed to the success
of the festival year after year! We recognize
the generous contribution of MAPAQ
and the Quebec government through a
program of Tourism Quebec. L’Expo de StHyacinthe also acknowledges the generosity
of the Canadian government thanks to the
Building Communities through Arts and
Heritage Program.
Un merci particulier aux nombreux
commanditaires et partenaires (en particulier
Desjardins, Lassonde, Fromages d’ici, Pepsi,
Coors Light, Rythme fm, Rouge fm, Boom,
le Journal de Montréal, Télé-Québec, La
Terre de chez Nous ainsi que le Courrier de
St-Hyacinthe) qui contribuent directement
au succès du festival tous les ans ! Nous
reconnaissons la généreuse contribution du
MAPAQ et du gouvernement du Québec
par l’entremise du programme de Tourisme
Québec. L’Expo de St-Hyacinthe reconnait
également la générosité du gouvernement
du Canada grâce au programme du
développement des communautés par le
biais des arts et du patrimoine.
The event will be back from July 28th to
August 7th 2016
L’événement sera de retour du 28 juillet du
7 août 2016
Follow all the updates on the web:
expo-agricole.com
Suivez les mises à jour sur le web :
expo-agricole.com
SOURCE Exposition agricole et alimentaire
St-Hyacinthe
SOURCE Exposition agricole et alimentaire
St-Hyacinthe
INFORMATION: KARL-ANDRÉ VÉGÉTARIAN,
HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS
Mobile: 450-209-3558
Email: karlandre@expo-agricole.com
RENSEIGNEMENTS : KARL-ANDRÉ
VÉGÉTARIAN, RESPONSABLE DES
COMMUNICATIONS,
Cell : 450-209-3558,
karlandre@expo-agricole.com
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FALL 2015 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS 25
PROVINCE OF ALBERTA
HONOURS AG
SOCIETIES
On February 6, 2015, at the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies Annual Convention
in Edmonton, 22 Alberta Agricultural Societies were recognized for over 100 years of service to rural Alberta
communities under the new Alberta Agriculutural Societies Century Awards Program.
In the photos that follow, Honourable Verlyn Olson, Minister of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development,
presents the award to representatives of these distinguished organizations.
The next page contains a variety of photos featuring some of the distinguished organizations that were awarded,
additional photos can be found at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/abagriculture/albums/72157650662572806
FALL 2015 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS 27
28 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS FALL 2015
BEHIND THE
SCENES:
WITH ROBERTSON AMUSEMENTS: CANADA’S
TRAVELLING THEME PARK
Tell us about your business
Robertson Amusements is a travelling amusement company. Our family is totally involved –
Fred and Nancy are the owners. Fred is President and looks after the rides, Nancy is in charge
of the office, and our kids Jackson (23), Grace (17) and Paige (14) are “in training”. Currently
Grace and Paige work in candy floss, tickets and concessions and Jackson is involved in rides
and concessions.
FALL 2015 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS 29
Is it hard working every day with your own family?
I guess It’s like any other family business – it has its pro’s and con’s but we really enjoy being able to work
with our family.
When did you start working in this industry?
Fred was born into the industry. Although his mom is no longer in the business, his dad continues to be in
his own carnival business. Nancy got involved when she was seventeen, through a friend. In fact, Jackson,
Grace and Paige (our children) will be the third Robertson generation in the business.
Where do you work – what areas of the country?
We work in Ontario only – Ottawa, Hamilton, and the Orangeville areas. Our season basically goes from
the end of May to October, although the office and shop are open year round. In addition to providing
amusements to fairs, we do other events like ribfests and festivals of all kinds.
What is it about this industry that you enjoy
most? And what is the toughest thing about it?
We enjoy that we are able to have our family together,
meeting people, making friends, and of course, the
smiles on people’s faces. The toughest thing is the
changing of rules and regulations
What do you do when the fair season is over?
Of course in the shop we continue to do maintenance,
and our office is open all year. But when we get off the
road, we RELAX! When we are not working, we spend
time with the kids, playing ping pong, at the hockey
arena and of course, running “mom and dad’s taxi”.
And we participate in trade shows.
What advice would you give to someone who
was starting out hoping to make a living in the
fair industry?
Just keep it simple, and be sure to keep up to date with all the changes.
We often hear from fairs that are unable to get a midway for their event.
Do you have any advice for them?
Look around, but be cautious. Ask for referrals, attend tradeshows and CAFE and OAAS. Be sure to
communicate with others about it.
If you had it to do all over again – would you?
Yes! We have such wonderful family memories, have met great people and have made
friends for life over the years.
Thank you Fred & Nancy Robertson for sharing your thoughts with us. Check out Robertson Amusements’
website at www.robertsonamusements.biz
30 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS FALL 2015
WESTERNER
DAYS FAIR &
EXPOSITION
WESTERNER PARK – RED DEER, ALBERTA
Giving the Community One More Reason to Celebrate Together
Each year Westerner Days Fair and Exposition draws nearly 100,000 people
from across Alberta with 46% of those visitors from outside the Red Deer area. Westerner
Days is Central Alberta’s largest summer celebration and is committed to putting on a world
class, family-friendly event each year.
For 124 years Westerner Days has been a tradition that brings the community together in
celebration. Inspired to broaden their events, they aimed to give the community one more
reason to come together.
32 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS FALL 2015
On Sunday, the fifth and final day of
the fair, it started off differently than
ever before. Westerner Days offered
the inaugural non-denominational
service, Morning of Faith. Worship
commenced with Embraced, a
non-denominational group from
Red Deer and surrounding area
complimented by a 100 person
choir. The sermon was given by
Mike Love – founder of YC youth
conference and Extreme Dream
Ministries. President and founder of
Heart Innovations, Nick Kooman
was the emcee for the service.
The grounds were opened at 9:00am for anyone wishing to attend the 10:30 am service.
The grounds regularly open at Noon. There was no charge for admission, however parking
fees were still in effect and guests were encouraged to bring a donation for the Red Deer and
District Food Bank. Westerner Days then welcomed attendees to stay onsite to take in the
sights and sounds of the Fair as well as stick around for the afternoon concert.
In addition to the morning service, Westerner Days
and presenting sponsor 90.5 Shine FM hosted the
Christian Contemporary artist KUTLESS for an
afternoon concert on the ATB Financial Main Stage.
Westerner Park was pleased to announce that
approximately 2,500 people attended the Morning
of Faith service. Sunday was a record day with
22,478 guests attending the fair. Organizers believe
offering the enriched event contributed to the boost
of additional attendees. A handful of churches
cancelled their morning service and encouraged their
congregation to attend Morning of Faith.
The service was able to help raise $600.00 and over
600lbs of food for the Red Deer Food Bank Society. With a lot of positive feedback from the community,
Westerner Park is thrilled to have been able to help
facilitate the non-denominational worship and
opportunity for celebration.
Looking forward to 2016, Westerner Park plans to
continue offering Morning of Faith as a regular part of
their Westerner Days line up.
FALL 2015 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS 33
SOCIAL MEDIA
CHANGING THE FACE OF EVENT PROMOTION
Are you posting and tweeting? Are you an Iger and a Pinner? If these terms aren’t
familiar to you, it’s time they should be. From Facebook to Twitter to Instagram and
Pinterest, Social Media has revolutionized the way we communicate and changed the way we
market events.
As an industry, we spend thousands of dollars every year to market our events. We labour over
ad content and print copy, spend hours perfecting the right hand out and hope that our ads
are seen and absorbed by our target market. Social media is a game changer in that it gives
your events a voice and more importantly, an identity. This year at the Provincial Exhibition
of Manitoba, we have made it a priority to focus on our social media tools and develop
conversations with our audience.
Social media is defined as a form of electronic communication that allows people to share
information, ideas and content. As a business, social media puts you in direct contact with
your target market enabling you to continue the conversation with your consumers and build
trust. Trust is key to creating repeat customers and building confidence in your organization
and your events.
34 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS FALL 2015
Creating open two-way dialogue with your
consumers offers you the opportunity for
exceptional customer service and gives
your events personality. One of the biggest
mistakes businesses make on social media is
forgetting to be social. Each time you log
on, you are entering your customer’s private
lives. Your competition is their friends and
families, you have to engage your audience
on their level with posts that interest them.
You can’t inundate them with ads and sale
pitches. Nobody fast forwards through
their favourite television show to get to the
commercial, you have to be entertaining to
your audience to hold their attention.
Social media gives you the tools to gather
real time feedback. Consumers love to be
asked their opinion and be given the sense
that their options are valued. A simple
question or poll can tell you what makes
your audience tick, how you can improve
on your next event and increase attendance.
Social media is also a great way to drive
traffic to your website. With an average
attention span of only 6 seconds, you have
to get your message out as brief as possible.
Posting an interesting headline with a link to
your website will enable you to direct your
audience to your website for more detail and
create a following for your website.
It sounds easy doesn’t it? But before you
jump on Facebook and start posting, do
your research and learn about the tools
available, Identify your target and determine
what channels are best for your organization
based on who you want to reach and how
much staff time you have to commit to
your profiles. Your profiles are your online
reputation and you need to be devoted to
managing this part of your marketing plan.
determines what information is posted to
your news feed based on your online habits
while Twitter is all about real-time events.
Another critical mistake we make, is trying to
engage our audience only during the period
right before and during our events. Think of
this like that annoying friend that only calls
you when they need something from you.
The ideal content equation is 80/20. 80%
of the time you are entertaining, educating
and involving your audience while 20% is
direct selling.
Social media channels don’t have office
hours, they never close and they don’t take
vacations. Your audience doesn’t expect real
time conversation all the time but they also
don’t want to be ignored. Treat your online
customers just like anybody that would
walk into your office, with a smile and a
positive attitude. Don’t ignore customer
complaints and don’t delete comments
unless it becomes offensive or inappropriate.
You will be amazed at how quickly your fans
come to your defence and often, just by
validity concerns, you can turn negatively
into understanding.
Take your time and get to know your
audience. Use your insights to find out who
is interested in your events and why. With
76% of all internet users being on social
media, it’s no longer a question whether
or not you should be using social media to
promote your events. The question is how
well you will do it.
KAREN BURTON
Marketing and Communications
Coordinator
Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba
Once you have identified the channels you
will be using, develop a strategy that will
match your audience’s interests. Facebook
FALL 2015 CANADIAN FAIR NEWS 35
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