Dundas gala resumes

submitted by Erin Chambers

Yes, it’s true! The Dundas Agricultural Gala is alive again. It will be held at Matilda Hall in Dixons Corners on 1 April, 2023 beginning at 6 pm. This special evening will basically be a four-part event.

In a general context, the evening will celebrate agriculture and what it means to us here in Dundas and in the broader community. All of us eat, and most of us do it three times per day, but we give little thought to other aspects of our food. From the farm community, we clearly support “Buy Local” whenever possible. Here in Dundas County and across Ontario, agriculture is a major contributor to our GDP. In February, we observed “Food Freedom Day” and “Canada Food Day”, but with little fanfare. Now the public is invited to join us at the Gala to help us celebrate as we thank the community for its ongoing support. While the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out our event two years ago, let’s get out and celebrate our 2023 Gala. Buy your tickets for this Gala dinner and evening of festivities and celebration.

Secondly . . . a component of the last two Galas (2017 & 2019) was a fundraising activity to support others in our community. This is done primarily through silent and live auctions during the celebration evening, supplemented by direct donations. As a result of the previous two Galas, the Dundas Agricultural Community Groups donated in excess of $20,000 to various organizations including 4-H, Dundas County Hospice, the Winchester District Memorial Hospital, House of Lazarus and Community Food Share. For this year, the Gala will be raising money for Community Food Share and Winchester District Memorial Hospital. It’s guaranteed to be an entertaining and historical evening, and we’re inviting all members of the community to join us. Let’s fill the Matilda Hall on April 1 and expand on this component of giving back to the community.

Thirdly . . . while Galas did occur prior to 2017, that