Ontario Fairs
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2021 Convention
At the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel & Suites and Conference Centre
See you Feb. 18-20, 2021
Please Contact
Kathryn Lambert,
Convention Administrator
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 519-287-3553
Book your Hotel Rooms starting MAY 1ST
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Welcome
Welcome to the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies. The OAAS is the provincial association representing over 200 Agricultural Societies from across the province. Its mission is a resource for its Members, by providing leadership through communication and education, and encouraging the promotion of a rural way of life in Ontario.
In Ontario Agricultural Societies are governed by the Agricultural and Horticultural Organizations Act. Their purpose is seen as being a community organization mandated with preserving and celebrating the rural way of life in Ontario. As the provincial association, the OAAS primary focus is to assist its Members in achieving their own respective goals.
The OAAS is governed by a Board consisting of a Provincial Director from each of the fifteen districts in the province. These 15 Board Members, with four Executive Members provide leadership to the association.
With respect to staff resources, the OAAS is managed by Vince Brennan, Manager and Kathryn Lambert, Convention Administrator.
The highlight of the year for the OAAS is the annual convention, which takes place in mid-February. The convention, which brings together upwards of 1000 delegates from all across the province, provides the OAAS Members with education, information, and networking opportunities that are meant to improve the operations of the individual Agricultural Societies.
The OAAS encourages visitors to this website to visit the many pages inside and learn about the organization, its Members and the great job that Agricultural Societies are doing in Celebrating Rural Ontario.
Zoom Roundtable Discussion on Covid-19
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Greetings Society Family,
You are invited to a Zoom Roundtable discussion on COVID-19.
When: Apr 1, 2020 07:30 PM
You must register in advance for this meeting by clicking on the following link:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/vpIkdu6upzksvgnjZybBiXK9nETDNu6ylA
You will be asked to input your name and email address. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar either by your computer or phone.
This information has been sent to your Agricultural Societies. We ask that you please share this information to any directors on your Agricultural Society that would like to attend. We can accommodate up to 500 people.
IMPORTANT: Click here for more specific information on the various methods of accessing Zoom – computer, smartphone, landline, and other information such as how to participate in the discussion or ask questions, etc. This document was included in the email that was sent to the Agricultural Societies.
NOTE: If you haven’t used Zoom before, I suggest you start the process of logging in 10 to 15 minutes before the call starts to allow time for the app to download to your computer or smartphone.
Important points:
We are hopeful that a number of participants will participate and share information on how how the COVID-19 is affecting your AGricultural Society and how you are dealing with it , but if you are more comfortable just listening and observing that is fine too.
When you log into the call you will be put on hold (in a Waiting Room) until the call starts.
All callers will be muted by the system. If you wish to participate or ask a question, click on the ‘Raise Hand” button or ‘Chat’ option -see attachment for more instructions.
We have not run a video-conference of this size before, so we ask for your patience if we run into any glitches – it is a learning experience for everyone.
I would ask that you please read the instructions thoroughly before contacting me with any questions on how to use Zoom.
Thanks
Vince
OAAS Manager
CAUTION
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CAUTION – there is a meme being shared that is ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE – it has been created by someone using a meme creator that was trying to prove how easy it was to share fake news.
The decision on whether or not a Ag Society has to cancel or delay its fair is entirely up to the Agricultural Society. The OAAS has absolutely no input into that decision and does not have the authority to ask an Agricultural Society to cancel any of its activities.
The OAAS will always share important information with you prior to making any public announcement, by email from the OAAS staff.
Membership Update COVID-19
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To: OAAS Membership,
Following our very successful Convention, we had no thoughts of the events that have unfolded. We live in extraordinary times! As we listen to the news of the COVID-19 crisis, we realize how our lives and activities are changing by the hour. We all are listening to the medical experts and are now practising social distancing but we all come from a background of creating an environment where we encourage the congregation of people to participate in shared experiences.
At this time we must take our direction from the medical professionals.
The OAAS feels it needs to keep you informed as to the changes that we have been implementing over the last few weeks. The Board would normally meet in person in early April to identify its priorities from the strategic plan and goals for its committees. All of this will be completed by videoconferencing. Directors would normally pick up all the promotional and fair materials for distribution to the Societies at that meeting. All materials will be mailed to each individual Society in April now.
Several Districts have already postponed their Spring District Meetings and Judging Schools. Some Districts might try to hold their Spring Meeting electronically just to keep the communications open. Keep listening to see what your District’s plans are.
Already you have been informed that the deadlines for keeping your judge’s certification current has been extended. The Board felt it would be a challenge to ensure all the judging schools took place when we live in such changeable times.
Agricultural Societies are already in the midst of making decisions on having their annual fairs. In the process of your deliberations, do look at alternatives –could the dates be changed, could portions of the fair be split and done at different times in the year, could the focus be on only one part of the fair? This is the time to possibly be innovative. Do check your insurance coverage for any changes and do check with cancellation policies for the contracts you have signed or will sign.
The one thing we can be assured of is that nothing will be normal. Each of us can help others in our Society or neighbouring Societies. It is a time to stick together because we will get through this. Fairs are that one thing that builds community, let’s prove they can also build a positive spirit.
Support one another and stay healthy.
Sincerely,
OAAS
“Teamwork makes a Society Strong”
COVID-19 (coronavirus) continues to evolve
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The situation around the COVID-19 (coronavirus) continues to evolve, and the World Health Organization has now declared the outbreak a pandemic. The Ontario Government has declared an emergency and the Federal Government has brought in strict guidelines to help contain the spread of COVID-19. We urge you to follow their directives regarding your activities.
First and foremost, ensure the information you are receiving is credible. Credible resources include the World Health Organization (WHO), Health Canada and your own provincial health departments (links below).
Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html
World Health Organization (WHO)
https://www.who.int/
Ontario Ministry of Health
https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus?_ga=2.266475530.529526911.1584127258-1150749849.1579808350
Government of Ontario
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/03/ontario-enacts-declaration-of-emergency-to-protect-the-public.html
For more information
https://www.canadianfairs.ca/covid-19
Contact your insurance company to understand the implications for cancelling any events you may have. As pertinent news and information updates, especially applicable to fairs, exhibitions and events, become available, we will keep you updated.
If you have any concerns or need help, do not hesitate to reach out.