This weekend marks the 175th year for the Richmond Fair. To be precise, this year’s edition will be held from September 19th to the 22nd. Beginning in 1844, the Fair has grown to epitomize the village of Richmond. It is as much a part of Richmond as the village is to the Fair. The two are synonymous with one another. Over the years, it has been a big part of my life as well.

During my years at South Carleton, I was one of those Friday night youths who took over the fairgrounds. I never got kicked out of the fair during those years, though, so I have that going for me. In the years since, the Fair has become a significant part of my professional life as well. In 2006, I hosted my first booth at the Fair for the municipal election that year. While only a few years removed from high school at the time, it was a fun opportunity to reconnect with friends and meet new people. I owe a lot of my success in 2006 to the opportunity afforded to me at the Fair. The presence of my grandmother, Hilda Moore, didn’t hurt either. As past President of the Richmond Legion and a longtime volunteer with many local Goulbourn organizations, my grandmother was a mainstay at the Fair.

I have had the pleasure of hosting a booth at the front gate of the Fair ten different years. During each of those years, I would spend between 30 and 40 hours on the fairgrounds. It is something I look forward to every year and something my family looks forward to as well. The Richmond Fair is more than just an opportunity to be present as the Councillor for Rideau-Goulbourn but a chance for my children to enjoy what so many have for decades before them. My kids have grown up at the Richmond Fair. They have produced countless memories over the years for which I am forever grateful.

175 years is an incredible achievement. Last year, Richmond celebrated its bicentennial. That celebration came together thanks to the countless volunteers in the village. The Richmond Fair is no different. Volunteers are what make communities great and the Richmond Fair runs on volunteerism. From the concerts inside the arena to the homecraft exhibits to the horse shows, everything is put together each and every year by countless volunteers and we owe them a debt of gratitude.

I am certain it will not be long until we are celebrating the bicentennial of the Richmond Fair but don’t wait 25 years to go and enjoy the Fair, whether it is the first time you go or the 60th. Every year at the Fair is special and the Richmond Agricultural Society is doing their best to make the 175th every bit as special as the previous 174.

For more information about the Richmond Fair, please visit www.richmondfair.ca and I hope to see you around the fairgrounds.

City of Ottawa Official Plan

As we celebrate our past, staff and Councillors at the City are busy planning our future and we want to know what you think about how Ottawa will change and grow around us, now and for years to come. We are in the midst of rewriting Ottawa’s Official Plan – the strategic document that describes how the city will grow over time, where we will place major infrastructure, and what policies will be in place to support economic growth and guide the development and evolution of communities. Our goal is to position Ottawa to be flexible, resilient and, above all, a city where people want to live, work and play.

Following initial consultations with the public and stakeholders on a series of wide-ranging discussion papers, we are proposing to make a number of significant policy changes, known as the Five Big Moves: Growth, Mobility, Urban Design, Resiliency, and Economy.

We want to know what you think about these changes and how they will affect your daily lives. Learn more and share your thoughts about the Five Big Moves at ottawa.ca/NewOP from now until September 16th.

Your feedback will help us develop a set of comprehensive policy directions that City Council will consider in late 2019. Should Council support these directions, the City will develop a draft Official Plan to present to Council by summer 2020.

Mud Creek Open House

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority will host an open house to discuss new hazard mapping for Mud Creek in Manotick on Tuesday, September 24th from 4:30pm to 8:00pm at their headquarters (3889 Rideau Valley Drive). Learn about the mapping study and have your say. For more details, visit: https://www.rvca.ca/media-releases/open-house-mud-creek-hazard-mapping-study.  

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If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.