On Wednesday, July 9, the official opening ceremony for the 200th Expo Lachute Fair was held at the Lachute Fairgrounds, drawing local politicians, agricultural producers, and organizers from past to present. This year’s fair continued until Sunday, July 13.
Argenteuil Agricultural Society (AAS) Vice-President John McCart kicked the evening off with a welcoming speech about Expo Lachute Fair’s origins, “From the beginning 200 years ago, before the Internet, before cars, even 42 years before the Confederation of Canada, a group of people decided that this area needed a reason to gather.”
“Could you imagine the amount of effort it would have taken in a society when the fastest form of communication was by horse? We thank and honour so many in the past who were willing to carry on this tradition,” McCart said.
He also thanked the volunteers and behind-the-scenes contributors who continue to make the fair possible.
AAS President Sean Nairn, alongside AAS General Manager Scott Lees, presented a commemorative plaque to Peter Bosch and his family, recognizing nearly 80 years of dedication to the fair.
Lachute Mayor Bernard Bigras-Denis spoke about the pride that comes with being the oldest fair in Québec and the deep sense of community that it fosters, “It’s not just a tradition. It’s a moment in our history when the Francophone and Anglophone communities come together to appreciate our agricultural roots.”
“It’s an event that will bring more than 10,000 people to Lachute over three days, people who will gather here and stay here. There is no conflict, no difference. We are here,” Bigras-Denis said.
Member of the Québec National Assembly Agnès Grondin emphasized the significance of agriculture in Argenteuil, saying, “It is essential to our identity. My greatest respect goes out to everyone involved in creating this massive agricultural celebration.”
The Director of the Musée Régional d’Argenteuil, Robert Simard, spoke about the history of Argenteuil, its people, and the traditions that have shaped the region.
Simard explained that the history of the Expo Lachute Fair has included trying times, like those of the Second World War and the COVID-19 Pandemic, but the perseverance of organizers and citizens alike kept the exposition alive.
