Wagon Wheels and Ferris Wheels!Our Favourite Place to Bee Page 4 Brooklin Spring Fair 2018 How To "Bee" Busy Running A Spring Fair By Richard Bercuson There will still be some available at the gate but they're cheaper online ahead of time. Tickets are available online until May 30th at $30 each or limited tickets at $40 at the gate on the day of the concert. Note that admission to the Fair is not included in the ticket price. The Back Forty will only be open to concert ticket holders on the evening of May 31. To purchase online: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/3339242 George Canyon Tickets Hydro One's Electricity Discovery Centre will be visiting the Brooklin Spring Fair as part of the Ag Tent! The Discovery Centre is a 1,000 square foot, climate controlled, fully accessible double-expandable event trailer containing thought-provoking and interactive exhibits to engage and educate visitors of all ages about Hydro One, help customers manage their electricity costs, and learn about electrical safety. Check out www.hydroone.com/about/cor- porate-social-responsibility/electricity-dis- covery-centre to learn more and be sure to drop by the Discovery Centre in the Ag Tent at the Brooklin Spring Fair!" New to the Ag Tent! The next time you mutter you're too busy to do something, consider contacting the president of the Brooklin Spring Fair for a proper definition of busy. Her name is Kristin Williamson and, till the last bit of cleanup is done after this year's fair, she will be right there, on site, directing, advising or helping. Next Wednesday, the day before the much-anticipated George Canyon concert, she'll be examining the site with colleagues to ensure all is ready for the approximately 4,000 fans. A Durham water treatment operator, Williamson is also a Brownie leader for the 4th Brooklin Brownies, and plays softball when not keeping the mammoth Spring Fair production on task. Lots of meetings The fair just doesn't happen, as she knows all too well. Since it's been held at the current location for 107 years, there's a certain sameness to some aspects of planning. Nevertheless, the number of hours of meetings and details is practically incalculable. And, every year, there are some new twists. When she began her two-year stint in September, high on her list was to have an opening concert. She got together with various board members and narrowed down the possibilities till they landed Nova Scotia country music star George Canyon. "He's a real good person to have for our first attempt at this," she says. "His music, though based in country, crosses over a lot of demographics." Canyon will appear on Thursday evening, May 31. Williamson began her involvement in 2004 when she was named Fair Ambassador. The next year, she offered to serve on the board and has been there since in various capacities. "From the start, I considered it a privilege to be a part of it," she says. "At first I helped in the arena as a coordinator of events." Directors stay Every fall, the Fair board - officially under the auspices of the Brooklin Agricultural Society - is disassembled and new directors voted in. Except this has become such a well- oiled machine that few members step away, thus creating a consistency in approach and execution. As Williamson proudly points out, the board is a wonderful mix of over and under age 40-ers to give it a broader perspective. A key planning component involves scouting other fairs, examining what they do and how they do it to find ways to improve the Brooklin one. "Our four-day fair is actually quite large by comparison," Williamson mentions. "Markham is probably the Disney World of Ontario fairs. The Western Fair in London is 10 days long, but aside from it, Brooklin is one of the biggest." Once winter hits, the Fair board is in budget talks as they try to nail down sponsors and keep the approximately $300 k budget in line. (The Fair comes under Ontario's Agricultural and Horticultural Act which makes funds public knowledge.) From then on, a lot of the tasks include either putting out little fires or finalizing projects. Her personal favourite is dealing with the student volunteers, about 30 of whom assist with various on-site tasks. They're all high school students who obtain community service hours as per Ontario Ministry of Education rules that require 40 hours of volunteer work over the four years of secondary. Most of the students return from year to year. Improvements This year, Williamson and the Fair directors will oversee a number of changes and improvements including improved security in light of last year's incident when a teen was assaulted at the midway one night. "We're going to wanding (wand scanners) and bag checks," says Williamson, "which will happen prior to entering the grounds. Everyone will be checked by the security company we hire." Albion, which runs the midway, will also hire police officers to patrol and lighting will be checked for dark spots. She adds that, as always, they review every potential aspect of an emergency plan to cover injury, lost children, secure gates and fences, and so on. It is one component of the fair's organization she does not take lightly. During the four days, she'll be on the grounds helping "where needed" and making the volunteers aware she's available any time. On Friday, when grade three classes descend on the Vipond Arena for their tour, she'll be front and centre with them, too. Given this year's Fair is being called "The favourite place to bee!", how appropriate its president will "bee" as busy as one.