Whether you’re a visitor or an exhibitor, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is jam-packed and full of home-grown fun,
with the best in local food and animal entertainment.
The Honorable Greg Rickford, Minister of State for Science and Technology, and FedNor, and the Minister responsible for the Ring of Fire, cuts the ribbon to officially open the Northern Ontario Pavilion at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, running from Nov. 1-10, 2013. A record 58 Northern agri-businesses and equine entrepreneurs are on display at the popular 6500 sq. ft. exhibit supported by FedNor, with more than 330,000 visitors expected to attend. Joining Minister Rickford for the ribbon cutting are (l to r): John Dunlap, President of the Royal Board of Directors; the Minister; Rita Boutette, Lake of the Woods Sunrise Soap; Sandra Banks, Royal Chief Executive Officer; and Guy Paquette, FedNor Initiatives Officer.
Who would have known the successful businesses here in North Eastern Ontario! Even if you can't make it to Toronto, consider buying local. Knowing where something came from and supporting the local economy are just a few of the benefits.
The list below are local attendees:
Bay and Guy Boutin of B & G’s Goats and Bees is located on an 80-acre wooded lot near the Town of Iroquois Falls. The Boutins keep a small herd of Alpine, Nubian and Saanen goats, as well as several beehives to produce fresh goat’s milk, honey and beeswax which is used in the production of their cheese, skincare products and candles. In addition, they grow or pick a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to use in their preserves and pickles. All of the products are made from scratch the old-fashioned way with quality ingredients and lots of love.
Joyce Recoskie, owner of Bearylicious Vinaigrette in Cochrane. Bearylicious Vinaigrette beginnings date back to 1993, when Joyce Recoskie established a catering service specializing in sit-down dinners for groups of two to nine hundred people. For the salad course, Joyce Recoskie would serve her own homemade vinaigrette. When customers raved about the taste and started asking for bottles of the vinaigrette, Joyce decided to market her recipe. She designed her label, found a supplier for bottles, started mass producing her product from her Northern base, and hasn’t looked back.
Jo-Anne and Gary Burton from Dream Acres Alpacas in Matheson. The Burtons purchased their farm near Timmins after years of travelling and working around the globe. They participate in fall fairs and take their alpacas to markets, parades and special events, encouraging people to visit their farm. Focused solely on the production of 100 percent Canadian made quality alpaca products, they sell their knitted goods, as well as the creations of other local artisans on their farm.
Maurice Landriault of Foire Gourmande in Haileybury. Foire Gourmande is an annual, three-day summer festival featuring cooking demonstrations, food sampling, music and fun. It provides agri-food entrepreneurs from Northeastern Ontario and Abitibi-Témiscamingue with a superb venue to sample and market their products grown and produced in the fertile Temiskaming valley.
Marcel Rheault and Mireille Morin of Distillerie Rheault Distillery. Rheault Distillery, a new initiative, is a craft distillery located in Hearst, Northern Ontario. The company uses as many local products and ingredients as possible in the production of its spirits to showcase the region and promote value-added agriculture. Working closely with the LCBO, Rheault Distillery is producing and marketing a variety of spirits, including vodka, different whiskeys and fruit-based liqueurs. Samples of its products will be avaiable at the LCBO at the Royal and at the Royal Tasting Bar.
Bill Burley of Worlds Best Cream/Bill Burley Farrier Services in Porcupine. Bill Burley has been providing farrier services across Northern Ontario for more than 20 years. In addition to assisting horse owners on a regular basis, he conducts seminars and training sessions on the proper care of horses. Several years ago, he developed a therapeutic cream for the treatment of arthritis in horses and humans. As a result of a CTV documentary and his appearances at The Royal, Bill now sells his product to 500 stores across Canada. His most recent distribution agreement was signed with Upper Canada Soap in Toronto, a major wholesaler to the health industry.
