Membership

 ABOUT US


 ABOUT US


WELCOME TO BC FAIRS


At the highest level, BC Fairs has been a vocal advocate to ensure that funding, agricultural support and marketing remains a priority through its active government relations committee and guidance on matters such as gaming grant applications, funding opportunities and an exclusive insurance program. BC Fairs represents the province on the Provincial Executive Committee with CAFE (Canadian Association of Fairs & Exhibitions) and at the international level as a provincial associate of the IAFE (International Association of Fairs & Expositions).
People silhoutte

Janine Saw | Executive Director

Tom Harter | President

Karen Streeter | Past President

Ann Siddall | Vice-President

Pamela Brenner | Treasurer


Victoria Brookes | Director

Allison Markin | Director

Shari Paterson | Director

Oliver Sommer | Director, Commercial Members


Janine Saw | Executive Director

Tom Harter |  President

Karen Streeter  | Past President

Ann Siddall | Vice President

Pamela Brenner | Treasurer


Victoria Brookes | Director

Allison Markin | Director

Shari Paterson | Director

Oliver Sommer | Director, Commercial Members


 MEET OUR MEMBERS


Fairs, Exhibitions & Festivals

Associate & Commercial Members

 WE OPERATE WITH PURPOSE


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    To encourage and support the activities of the membership.

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    To provide leadership, resources and services to all members while keeping them informed of innovations in the industry.

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    To liaise with government and advise members of impending changes of legislation that will affect their operations.

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    To hold an annual meeting for the exchange of mutually beneficial information.

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    To advance the education and encourage the participation of youth in agriculture through 4-H and other youth programs.

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    To educate the public about agriculture in their communities and throughout the province through agricultural fairs and events.

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Vision

A sustainable provincial association that represents membership and increases awareness of BC agriculture through alliances with other organizations.

Mission

To provide leadership, resources and services to all association members so they can effectively celebrate the diversity and importance of local agriculture in communities throughout BC.

Vision

A sustainable provincial association that represents membership and increases awareness of BC agriculture through alliances with other organizations.

Mission

To provide leadership, resources and services to all association members so they can effectively celebrate the diversity and importance of local agriculture in communities throughout BC.

OUR SCHOLARSHIPS

We proudly offer scholarship

opportunities for youth. 

  A PROUD HISTORY 


Our journey began in 1910. At the time, it was the goal of the BC Department of Agriculture to see the province’s many, then-disconnected fairs organized into “circuits, according to districts.” Their main concern at the time? The assemblage of “uniform prize-lists.”


However, even amidst such modest concerns, there was already a sense that fairs were a barometer for the “agricultural welfare of the country,” and that it would be prudent to find a way to unite them along “educational lines” for the benefit of the public. With this object in view, they gathered representatives from all existing fairs at a central convention, held on January 31st, 1910. It was here that the many, disparate fairs in BC, became BC Fairs.


In the year that followed, the Department of Agriculture evaluated the efforts of the organization to share information, improve the fair experience, and further fairs as educational venues. And to their estimation, BC Fairs was “one of the best things inaugurated by the Department of Agriculture” since its inception. It’s from these auspicious beginnings that we’ve endured as an organization, growing to represent 48 fairs across the province through the consolidation and delivery of resources, information, and feedback.

  ANNUAL LEARNING EXCHANGE


Each year, BC Fairs organizes a learning exchange for its members. This invaluable event provides opportunities for communities to network and learn from one another. In addition to workshops, seminars and roundtable discussions, attendees are able to discuss specific concerns or issues they may be facing and learn how other communities are responding. Members learn strategies and tactics that are actionable and, in many cases, tested. Attendees are able to return to their home communities armed with knowledge and new skills which will benefit not only their own fair or exhibition, but also be applicable to businesses regardless of whether they are agricultural, artisanal or commercial.

Promoting Our Unique Experiences

BECOME A MEMBER


Knowledge

Access to valuable event resources and expertise supporting your important role.

Networking

Benefit from the combined experience of members,  suppliers and others.

Marketing

Extensive group marketing campaigns to grow your audience and revenue.

Solidarity

Join the group that represents your interests with key influencers.

Knowledge

Access to valuable event resources and expertise supporting your important role.

Networking

Benefit from the combined experience of members,  suppliers and others.

Marketing

Extensive group marketing campaigns to grow your audience and revenue.

Solidarity

Join the group that represents your interests with key influencers.

OUR VALUE


At BC Fairs, the stronger our membership is, the stronger our voice.

With the changing faces of our towns and cities, fairs and exhibitions have remained relevant and form an integral part of our yearly traditions. A recent study commissioned by BC Fairs revealed that agricultural fairs in BC draw in more than 1.6 million spectators— representing approximately 26% of our entire population. In some cases, the number of attendees to the fairs surpasses the population of that town. The economic benefit to our communities can easily be seen by looking at not only what these spectators spend, but also at the expenditures of the Fair Associations themselves.

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES


Fairs & Exhibitions
Fairs & Exhibitions Membership close

For membership as a fully recognized agricultural fair or exhibition of the BC Association of Agricultural Fairs and Exhibitions the organization must meet the mandate of the association’s bylaws and have 10 recognized agricultural categories.

APPLY NOW
Festivals
Festival Membership close

A non-profit organization whose purposes include furthering agriculture, industry and community life and holds annually scheduled events such as community celebrations, horticultural or agricultural festivals, etc. shall be eligible to apply for festival membership.

APPLY NOW
Associate
Associate Membership close

Associate Membership pertains to government agencies, agriculture related non-profit organizations and others who are interested in the growth and development of agricultural fairs and exhibitions in British Columbia.

APPLY NOW
Commercial
Commercial Membership close

Commercial Membership pertains to an individual, firm or organization who earns income from doing business directly with a fair/exhibition. Examples would be concessionaires, midway operations, performers, entertainment agencies etc.

APPLY NOW
Fairs & Exhibitions
Fairs & Exhibitions Membership close

For membership as a fully recognized agricultural fair or exhibition of the BC Association of Agricultural Fairs and Exhibitions the organization must meet the mandate of the association’s bylaws and have 10 recognized agricultural categories.

Contact Us To Join
Festivals
Festival Membership close

A non-profit organization whose purposes include furthering agriculture, industry and community life and holds annually scheduled events such as community celebrations, horticultural or agricultural festivals, etc. shall be eligible to apply for festival membership.

Contact Us To Join
Associate
Associate Membership close

Associate Membership pertains to government agencies, agriculture related non-profit organizations and others who are interested in the growth and development of agricultural fairs and exhibitions in British Columbia.

Contact Us To Join
Commercial
Commercial Membership close

Commercial Membership pertains to an individual, firm or organization who earns income from doing business directly with a fair/exhibition. Examples would be concessionaires, midway operations, performers, entertainment agencies etc.

Contact Us To Join
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