​Kincardine Agricultural Society says its voice not heard on future of Connaught Park Pavilion

The Kincardine Agricultural Society believes its voice has not been heard, regarding the future of the Connaught Park Pavilion.

Lindsay Dykeman and Anne-Marie Gomes of the agricultural society came to Kincardine council, Wednesday night (Feb. 11), concerned about a proposed 10-year lease with the Kincardine Klassics Gymnastics Club for use of the pavilion.

"We're asking that you press pause on this lease agreement for 60 days so we can work with council and staff to draft an agreement that supports the agricultural society as well," said Dykeman.

Gomes said the society is asking for a council member to join the discussion, along with community services director Luke Bedard and parks and facilities manager Mike Di Giovanni.

In a written statement to council, the agricultural society noted that it has worked tirelessly to organize the annual Kincardine Fall Fair for nearly 175 years. Throughout this time, dedicated members of the society helped provide an opportunity for rural residents and their urban neighbours to gather, learn from one another, and celebrate their shared agricultural heritage.

In the early years, the fall fair changed venues several times before settling at Connaught Park around 1886. Since that time, it has become firmly rooted in this location and in the life of the community.

The current pavilion, which is the third building on the site, was erected in 1982 using grant funding secured by the society. This facility has served as a vital gathering space for generations of residents and continues to be central to the society's operations.

Beyond the fall fair, the society contributes year-round to community life through volunteerism, youth programming, partnerships with local organizations, and events that bring people together. The members are deeply committed to preserving agricultural traditions while ensuring the fair remains relevant and accessible for future generations.

Gomes said the society is concerned about the significant disparity in how facility agreements have been approached.

"We understand that the Kincardine Klassics were offered a 10-year agreement, while the agricultural society was offered only a two- to three-year term on the basis that this was considered 'standard'," she said. "Given our nearly two centuries of service, our deep roots in the community, and our reliance on long-term planning for fund-raising, programming, and volunteer engagement, this short-term arrangement creates uncertainty and undermines our ability to plan sustainably. We believe this discrepancy warrants further consideration and discussion.

"It is in this context that we wish to express our disappointment regarding the recent discussions surrounding the pavilion building. Throughout this process, the society felt significant pressure to sign a new contract in order to retain limited access to the facility, rather than being offered a fair and collaborative path forward. The alternative presented — losing access altogether with no viable location to host the fall fair — placed the society in an extremely difficult position.

"We believe the Kincardine Agricultural Society deserves to be treated as a valued partner. Our organization has invested countless volunteer hours, financial resources, and community goodwill into maintaining and growing this important tradition. We had hoped for a process that reflected mutual respect, transparency, and recognition of our long-standing role in Kincardine.

"We remain committed to working constructively with the municipality to ensure the continued success of the fall fair and the preservation of our agricultural heritage. We respectfully request that future discussions regarding the pavilion and our facilities be approached in a spirit of collaboration and long-term partnership."



The entrance to Connaught Park, Kincardine; the pavilion is on the left

Meanwhile, Bedard, in his report, stated that last fall, council directed staff to enter into negotiations with the gymnastics club for use of the pavilion. The result was the proposed 10-year lease agreement, and in recognition of the agricultural society's history at the site, the municipality was trying to secure a multi-year transitional agreement with that organization.

The Connaught Park Pavilion is owned by the municipality. Since 1993, the society has leased the facility from the municipality and then leased space within the pavilion to the gymnastics club for use as a ‘semi-permanent’ gymnastics facility.

In 2024, the municipality hired a consultant, McQueen Galloway and Associates, to develop a parks and recreation strategic plan. A recommendation from that plan was to restructure the agreement for use of the pavilion, ensuring municipal leadership as first party to either organization under legal agreement; establish the primary rental of the building to the gymnastics club inclusive of revised rental rates that represent fair value for dedicated lease space by a not-for-profit organization; and ensure the agricultural society is provided with appropriate storage space (temporary) for the annual fall fair requirements until an amalgamation solution is achieved.

In August of last year, the consultant met with the society board and communicated that its lease would not be renewed, and gathered a list of "asks from the society to the municipality.

In 2025, the gymnastics club paid the agricultural society more than $10,000 in rent. The gymnastics club also invested about $50,000 in upgrades to the pavilion's heating and cooling system.

The proposed 10-year lease agreement with the gymnastics club would net the municipality $235,500 over the 10-year term. The municipality would be responsible for external repairs and upkeep, including the roof, snow removal, lighting and the parking lot. The club would be responsible for all interior capital items, including new doors, if required.

Staff is proposing a new agreement for the agricultural society, expiring Dec. 31, 2029. The municipality would provide one storage shed at the public works yard by Aug. 1, 2026, and the society would enter a storage agreement with the municipality, at a nominal fee. The society would receive a permit to host the 2026 fair, using facilities it previously had access to. The society would be permitted a two-week window to prepare for, and host, the fair, with the gymnastics club moving its equipment, except for the high bar area, and suspending operations for a two-week period, Aug. 26 to Sept. 9.

The municipality would provide a donation of $3,500 per year for fair costs. From 2027-29, subject to availability, the society would have fees waived for a one-day rental of Connaught Park or a passive park, as well as either the Davidson Centre arena floor or the Kincardine Hall at the Davidson Centre Hall, per calendar year for a non-alcohol event.

Bedard's report states that the municipality is seeking to develop new revenue streams and increase the equity across user-group agreements. Should council choose to enter into this agreement with the gymnastics club, the municipality would secure finances that can be used to offset future capital requirements associated with the pavilion.

The report also notes that the agricultural society has not indicated its willingness to enter into the proposed agreement. Staff anticipate that the society may issue public communications regarding the municipality’s decision. The society has indicated that the non-renewal of its previous lease arrangement could affect its operations. If the organization were to close in the near future, regardless of the reason, the municipality may be viewed unfavourably by some community members.

Bedard reminded council that the pavilion is a municipal asset.



The start of the Kincardine Santa Claus Parade, with the Connaught Park Pavilion in the background

"This is a tough decision," said councillor Bill Stewart. "I don't see a long-term plan for the agricultural society at Connaught Park. Would moving to the Davidson Centre be a long-term solution?

Gomes said the society is open to all suggestions, noting that fair weekend has always conflicted with one of the local baseball tournaments. "The proposed agreement with us looks like a four-year temporary stop gap, with no long-term plan for our group."

"I agree that we need to pause this and take the 60 days to find a long-term solution for the agricultural society," said Stewart.

Interim chief administrative officer Kimberly Wingrove asked if council wanted to separate the two issues and proceed with the 10-year lease with the gymnastics club.

"Both the gymnastics club and the agricultural society are important to this community," said councillor Amanda Steinhoff Gray. "Is there middle ground for both sides? How do we go about this to ensure the agricultural society has what it needs?"

Deputy mayor Andrea Clarke was chairing the meeting, as mayor Kenneth Craig had declared a conflict of interest. She said what struck her the most was the letter from the agricultural society stating it had not been heard and felt under-valued.

"We all know how important the Kincardine Fall Fair is," she said, "and the gymnastics club is a growing organization. They are both valued. I want to take a step back on this."

"It's obvious that one group is getting 100 per cent, and the other is getting zero," said Stewart. "I agree with the 60 days, and have a member of council review this thing. That period of time won't affect anybody."

Council approved the motion to defer the 10-year lease agreement with the gymnastics club, for 60 days, and have staff meet with the agricultural society and a council member to discuss the path forward.

Council also approved Stewart to be the council member at that meeting.