This is the official members' website for the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies.  The OAAS is the provincial association representing over 210 Agricultural Societies from across the province.  Its mission is "The OAAS provides leadership, guidance, education, and resources for its member Agricultural Societies".

Monday, February 28, 2022, by Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies

CONTINUING THE CELEBRATION OF THE 175TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ONTARIO ASSOCIATION OF AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES AT THEIR 2022 CONVENTION

For Immediate Release

February 28, 2022– For over 175 years, the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS) has been adapting to change, and this past week was no exception.  Despite the many challenges of organizing an in-person event, approximately 500 delegates attended the OAAS Annual Convention and Annual Meeting in Richmond Hill.

The OAAS was pleased to have been joined by Minister Lisa Thompson, at our Official Opening, bringing greetings and congratulations on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). She spoke of her continuing support for the OAAS and their Agricultural Societies.

Photo Credit – Jim McCuaig Opening OAAS Convention

The highlight of the Convention was the launch of the “OAAS 175th - Central Canada Exhibition Association Scholarship“ at the Official Opening.  The OAAS, in partnership with the Central Canada Exhibition Association (CCEA), has created a scholarship program recognizing youth who have been actively involved in their home agricultural societies and fairs.

Scholarships will be $2,000 each and the first scholarships will be granted in the fall of 2022. Additional information regarding the application process will be released this spring.

Mark Lamoureaux (Past President) and Lynda McCuaig (1st Vice President), on behalf of the Central Canada Exhibition Association, presented a $200,000 donation to the newly created scholarship fund.  

For 125 years the Central Canada Exhibition, located in Ottawa, provided a venue for many generations of exhibitors to showcase their livestock, produce and handicrafts.  When it became evident that the CCEA could not carry on due to many circumstances, the sad decision was made to dissolve the Association.  It was decided by the trustees of the CCEA that a legacy should be provided to the rural youth by providing bursaries/grants to further their careers. It seemed only fitting that the descendants of those exhibitors should benefit.  Money from the sale of CCEA property has been given to all the fairs in OAAS District # 1; the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies; and various rural organizations throughout Ontario for that purpose.

The Central Canada Exhibition will live forever in the memories of those that experienced it and now with bursaries to further education help build a better Ontario.

photo 1 CCEA Cheque Presentation jim McCuaig

Central Canada Exhibition Association presentation of $200,000 donation to the newly created “OAAS 175th Central Canada Exhibition Association Scholarship”.   Photo Credit – Jim McCuaig – taken February 18th at the Official Opening

L to R Vince Brennan, OAAS Manager; Beth Howell-Vervaecke, President; Lynda McCuaig, Central Canada Exhibition Association 1st Vice President; Mark Lamoureaux, Central Canada Exhibition Association Past President; Heather Owens, OAAS.

The OAAS continues to recognize the importance of youth involvement in our agricultural societies to ensure future volunteers, members, and directors.  In addition to the scholarship, the OAAS has developed a new program to assist agricultural societies to enhance the participation of youth in their organizations, events, and activities.

The OAAS Convention once again offered delegates the choice of over 40 educational seminars and round-tables as well as entertainment, family showcases, and the Tradeshow.

The Convention concluded with the first hybrid OAAS Annual General Meeting with a large number of delegates representing agricultural societies from across the province in attendance either in person or via Zoom. The morning opened with a presentation from the University of Guelph and RBC about the new “Foundations in Agricultural Management” program. The OAAS was pleased to have been joined by Senator Rob Black, bringing greetings, congratulations, and pledging his continued support to the OAAS and their Agricultural Societies.

Introducing the 2022 OAAS Executive:

Liz O’Gorman-Smit, incoming 2022 – 2023 OAAS President.    Photo Credit – Jim McCuaig – taken February 19th  at AGM

  •     Liz O'Gorman-Smit, President, Russell
  •     Glen Syme, 1st Vice President (District 2)
  •     Heather Owens, 2nd Vice President (District 3)
  •     Beth Howell-Vervaecke, Past-President

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For more information on the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS) and our Ontario Agricultural Societies and their fairs, visit www.ontarioagsocieties.com 

Contact:
Vince Brennan, OAAS Manager
P: 613-395-2465
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 

 

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NEWS RELEASE

Ontario Investing in the Future of Agricultural and Horticultural Societies

Province investing an additional $1 million to support agricultural and horticultural societies through the pandemic

February 04, 2022
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

  
     
 

TEESWATER — The Ontario government is providing $1 million to support the province’s agricultural and horticultural societies who continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This will help them continue to operate and support their important efforts to educate people about the value and significance of agriculture in the province.

“Ontario’s agricultural and horticultural societies have long-enriched communities throughout the province and we look forward to them continuing to make significant contributions, from main street beautification projects to hosting the long-standing tradition of agricultural fairs, throughout the province in 2022,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “These investments reflect the value of the societies’ contributions and our government’s recognition of the pandemic-caused pressures these organizations have been weathering.”

The funding with flow through the Agricultural and Horticultural Support and Recovery Funding Initiative and builds on previous investments of more than $7 million to assist these organizations during the pandemic.

This initiative features two funding streams:

  • Base Support Funding will be issued to all eligible Agricultural and Horticultural Societies through funding payments of $1,000 as a means of supporting their continued incorporation and activities.
  • Hardship Funding for eligible Agricultural Societies will provide additional support which will be based on reported gate revenues from 2019. This will help off-set operating losses, liabilities, and fixed overhead costs related to land and buildings.

Eligible agricultural and horticultural societies can expect to receive funding before March 31, 2022.

“The Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS) appreciates OMAFRA’s continued financial support for our over 200 agricultural societies. This new funding shows Minister Thompson’s and OMAFRA’s confidence in our agricultural societies and the impact the societies and their members have on their local communities. During the pandemic, our agricultural societies have continued to creatively promote agriculture and food awareness and engage their communities through in-person and virtual fairs, events and activities” said Vince Brennan, Manager of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies.

“The members of the Ontario Horticultural Association express their gratitude to Minister Thompson and the Ontario government for their continued support during these challenging times,” said Charles Freeman, President of the Ontario Horticultural Association. “This funding will assist the societies and clubs in their ongoing endeavours to serve and beautify their communities.”

Agricultural and Horticultural Societies play a critical role in educating Ontarians on the importance of agriculture and celebrating a rural way of life. Supporting this important sector, at this time, will ensure the long traditions and economic contributions of the societies will continue and strengthen as the province manages the impacts of COVID-19 and moves forward into the future.

  
     
 

Quick Facts

  • Agricultural and horticultural societies across Ontario are represented by two independent associations: The Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies represents 213 rural Agricultural Societies, and the Ontario Horticultural Association represents over 270 Horticultural Societies.
  
     
 

Additional Resources

Ontario Supporting Agricultural and Horticultural Societies During COVID-19

Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies

Ontario Horticultural Association

COVID-19 in Ontario

  
     
 

Media Contacts

Jack Sullivan
Minister's Office
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Belinda Sutton
Communications Branch
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(519) 400-6394

  
     
 

 

  

 OAAS Logo 175th F


Dear Ontario Fair Friends,

The Government of Ontario shared their plan to reopen the province safely and gradually with the “Steps to Cautiously and Gradually Ease Public Health Measures”, earlier last week, and the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS) was relieved to see the capacity restrictions in the event centres were set at 50%, which makes the hosting an in-person event a little more realistic.  

Since that announcement, the OAAS Executive and Board of Directors have met, and through consultation with the Sheraton Parkway Hotel, Toronto North, the OAAS is thrilled to announce the 2022 OAAS Convention will be taking place, in person, on February 17-19, however, we must limit our registration to 600 attendees to be able to accommodate the capacity limits.

Read More click here