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7 | The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,M ay 21,2020 theifp.ca Dental Implants It feels great to smile with Available here... New Patients Welcome Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Marketplace Dental Centre Georgetown Marketplace Mall HOURS: Monday & Wednesday 8:00am - 8:00pm • Tuesday & Thursday 8:00am - 6:00pm • Saturday 8:00am - 3:00pm 905-877-CARE (2273) • www.georgetowndental.com • Proudly Serving Georgetown Since 1994. Pick uP Delivery indian cuisine or 210 Guelph Street, Georgetown, Ontario L7G 4A9 905-877-9161 WWW.GeorGeToWNTANDoori.coM Delivery ndian cuisine GEORGETOWN TANDOORi 7 DAYS A WEEK11:00Am to 9:00Pm GEORGETOWN T WE ARE OPEN GEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TGEORGETOWN TANDOORiGEORGETOWN TANDOORiGEORGETOWN TANDOORiGEORGETOWN TANDOORiGEORGETOWN TANDOORiGEORGETOWN TANDOORiGEORGETOWN TANDOORiGEORGETOWN TANDOORiGEORGETOWN TANDOORiGEORGETOWN TANDOORiGEORGETOWN TANDOORiGEORGETOWN TANDOORiGEORGETOWN TANDOORiGEORGETOWN TANDOORi The Georgetown Fall Fair continued through two World Wars, through the Spanish flu pandemic. It was a well-established fixture in town long before the first car drove down Main Street. Founded in 1846, it is the oldest fair in Halton and Peel Region and had run every year for more than a century and a half. Which is what made the decision to cancel the 174th edition of the fair, sched- uled for Sept. 11-13, so heart-wrenching. In making the an- nouncement on Facebook late Tuesday night, Georgetown Agricultural Society president Wayne Cunningham said the deci- sion was made "with a heavy heart" but said there were too many concerns about holding the fair safe- ly. "With COVID-19 and six- foot social distancing, how do you fill the bleachers for a demolition derby?" he said. "How do you sit with three other people on a ride? You just have too many strikes against you." Cunningham said they could have gone ahead with the fair and he's sure that some people would have at- tended. But he said there's no way to know how many people would not feel com- fortable in a large gather- ing, or even if they would be allowed by September. Georgetown is not alone in its concerns. The coun- try's largest fair, the Cana- dian National Exhibition in Toronto, was also can- celled on Tuesday. Of the 216 fairs listed on the Onta- rio Association of Agricul- tural Societies website, 75 have been cancelled and many more will likely fol- low suit in the coming weeks. Cunningham said many agricultural societies own their local fairgrounds, providing a source of reve- nue, but that's not the case in Georgetown, where the grounds are town property. That means the fair relies on donations and sponsor- ships, but ticket sales are also a large source of reve- nue. "If we have a bad year, it affects us moving for- ward," Cunningham said. Cunningham said the companies they work with have been very under- standing. The fair had put down deposits with the companies that run the de- molition derby and the midway as well as some of the entertainers. All agreed to return the depos- its. Similarly, the agricul- tural society is contacting those who provided money for this year's fair to see if they want it returned or put toward next year's fair. It takes close to 300 vol- unteers to operate the fair each year. The Knights of Columbus provides the majority, with 160 to oper- ate the gates and another 60 to run the beer tent. The rest, about 65 members of the agricultural society, look after everything from set up and tear down, oper- ating the education tent, arranging entertainment, running baking contests, livestock competitions, and everything needed to make sure the event runs smoothly. "We have a phenomenal group of people, but we're always looking for new people to come in and vol- unteer," Cunningham said. "There are lots of jobs to be done." He said the commitment involves one two-hour meeting a month and the fair weekend in September. That group will now shift its focus to the fair's return in 2021. The theme will be history as the fair marks its 175th anniversa- ry. Cunningham said the agricultural society will look for ways to improve the fair looking to ensure its long history continues. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: A much-anticipat- ed kickoff to autumn for thousands of local resi- dents, the Georgetown Fall Fair will not be held for the first time in more than 170 years. The Georgetown Agricultural Society presi- dent discussed what the cancellation means to its many organizers, supports and volunteers, as well as the community. COMMUNITY GEORGETOWN FAIR CANCELLED FOR FIRST TIME IN 174 YEARS HERB GARBUTT hgarbutt@metroland.com The Georgetown Fall Fair, scheduled for Sept. 11-13, has been cancelled for the first time in its 174-year history. The fair, which has run every year since 1846, has been cancelled due to concerns about COVID-19. Pictured are children enjoying attractions at past events. Ray Lavender photos