Fall fairs get provincial bailouts

The Ontario government is providing funding to support eligible Peterborough area agricultural and horticultural societies hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most fall fairs in the Peterborough area have been cancelled or shifted to virtual versions for a second year in a row because of COVID-19 restrictions. The province will dole out up to $5,000 for each eligible agricultural society and up to $1,500 for eligible horticultural societies, equal to their 2019 grants, according to a press release issued Wednesday. It’s part of $1.1 million in provincewide spending by the government to bolster Ontario’s agri-food sector. More than $26,000 in collective funding will support eligible Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock area agricultural and horticultural societies, according to Haliburton-Kawartha-Brock MPP Laurie Scott. The latest funding follows a $5 million investment from the province in January to support agricultural and horticultural societies impacted by COVID-caused cancellations last year. The provincial dollars are meant to help agricultural and horticultural societies offset losses so they can meet their immediate financial needs while planning future events within health and safety guidelines. It’s one-time funding on top of the current grant program, which normally requires agricultural and horticultural societies to operate their fairs, events and activities to qualify for funding.