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May 19, 2011 - OTTAWA THIS WEEK - EAST
Submitted photos
(Above) Visitors to last year’s Gloucester Fair got a chance to see some of the tools that helped build this nation. (Left) The Gloucester Fair is adding an authentic pioneer camp to its roster of events at this year’s fair, complete with characters from the War of 1812 and Ojibwa tomahawk and knife throwers.
Gloucester Fair adds historical flair to the fun EMMA JACKSON emma.jackson@metroland.com
Several new and exciting attractions promise to make the Gloucester Fair an even bigger draw this year as it adds an authentic pioneer camp and a birds of prey show to its May 26 to 29 lineup at the Rideau Carleton Raceway. “Kids can see eagles, owls and hawks flying around for real,” said fair organizer Harley Bloom, noting the impressive presentations from the Canadian Raptor Conservancy, taking place at select times on Saturday and Sunday, will also include an abundance of information about habitat loss, environmentalism and some of the biggest issues facing birds of prey in Canada. Along with getting back to nature, visitors can also go back in time at the Pioneer Gathering featuring an Ojibwa tomahawk and knife thrower and other characters such as a War of 1812 veteran and a goat maid, who will each teach visitors their own version of what it was like to live in early Canada. “It’s a combination of historical reenactors and buckskinners,” said Kate Michaud, who sets up camp as Camp Matron Kate and brings her milk goats along to show visitors what an early Canadian settler’s life might have looked like. “We portray the pioneer lifestyle, which is not more commonly looked at, and we portray an earlier version than, for example, the Upper Canada Village.” Three re-enactors will set up camp for the duration of the fair, camping and living “without any 21st century creature comforts” on the fair grounds. Michaud’s daughter, Brid, is sure to wow the crowds with her Ojibwa knife and tomahawk throwing demonstrations, and guide Chuck Chapman will show off his ultra-compact tools for surviving and guiding in the Canadian wilder-
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ness. Michaud said the Gloucester Fair will be an interesting show because it waffles between a rural and urban audience. “In the country, there’s still a lot of memories tied up with family stories, how they used to go out hunting or trapping, or how grandma made soap. Those memories are not very far from the roots. Whereas in the city, they find that fact that we’re using my goat’s milk for our own consumption very alien, very strange. It’s like from the carton in the store to where it actually came from, it gets lost in there,” she said. “For the people from the city it’s almost like a whole new discovery, a whole new world.” Bloom said even the usual attractions have been spruced up this year. The fair has expanded to include “constant entertainment” in the Gas Bar beer tent, complete with arm wrestling and a mechanical bull. The Smoke to the Bone barbeque competition will also be even bigger this year, with a $10,000 grand prize package for the professional competition and a $500 barbecue prize for the winning amateur team. In anticipation for Father’s Day, the fair will also offer barbecue demonstrations on how to cook the perfect ribs, sausages and brisket, and everyone over the age 18 can enter to win a door prize of a barbeque worth $1,000 compliments of Romantic Fireplaces and BBQs Ltd. in Orleans. “It’s a huge barbecue, it’s a beautiful piece of equipment,” Bloom said. Of course, Bloom said the “number one biggie” is the return of the monster truck ride, which takes visitors for a bumpy ride through an open space behind the Rideau Carleton Raceway. The midway will also be open with a number of carnival rides, games and vendors. For more information, visit www. gloucesterfair.ca.
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