Capital
Fair.

About the Fair

A Proud Ottawa Tradition Celebrating Agriculture, Community & Regional Heritage

The Capital Fair, operated by the Gloucester Agricultural Society, is a longstanding celebration of agricultural heritage, rural traditions, and community spirit within the Ottawa region. Though the fair serves a large urban population, its roots remain firmly grounded in the farming communities that helped establish the former Township of Gloucester.

A Fair Born from Ottawa’s Agricultural Foundation

The Capital Fair began in 1975 as the Gloucester Festival of Friends. The organizer describes an event that grew from its early Earl Armstrong Arena fairgrounds setting, moved to the Rideau Carleton site in 1998, and adopted the Capital Fair name in 2014.

Gloucester’s early farms, many of them multi-generation operations, played a vital role in feeding Ottawa and supporting agricultural markets throughout Eastern Ontario. The Capital Fair was created to honour those contributions and ensure the area’s rural heritage continued to be recognized even as the region modernized.

Agriculture at the Core

Even as the fair has evolved, agriculture has remained central to its mandate. Historically, local producers have exhibited:

• Dairy and beef cattle
• Sheep, goats, and poultry
• Field crops and garden produce
• Homecraft and domestic arts

These displays reflect the skill, knowledge, and hard work that defined farming life in the former township.

The Capital Fair also upholds rural craftsmanship through divisions in quilting, sewing, baking, woodworking, photography, floriculture, and youth creative work. demonstrating the artistic and practical skills valued in rural communities.

A Strong Commitment to Youth

Youth involvement has always been a cornerstone of the fair. Schools, youth organizations, and farm families encourage young people to participate in:

• Agriculture-related classes
• Creative competitions
• Domestic arts
• Livestock handling and learning
• Junior divisions and school exhibits

These experiences help preserve agricultural literacy and foster pride in rural heritage, ensuring that future generations remain connected to the traditions that shaped their community.

Sustained by Dedicated Volunteers

The Gloucester Agricultural Society and its dedicated volunteers are the driving force behind the Capital Fair’s longevity. Their year-round commitment to planning, organizing, preserving traditions, and encouraging community involvement keeps the fair meaningful and deeply rooted in its original purpose.

Many volunteers come from long-established local families who have been contributing to the fair and to Gloucester’s agricultural life for decades.

A Reflection of Gloucester’s Rural Past

Although the surrounding area has grown into a thriving part of the City of Ottawa, the fair continues to reflect the values that defined Gloucester for generations:

• Agricultural pride
• Community cooperation
• Craftsmanship and creativity
• Youth mentorship
• Volunteer-driven leadership

The Capital Fair remains an important link between the area’s past and present.

A Tradition That Continues to Matter

The Capital Fair endures as one of the Ottawa region’s most significant celebrations of rural heritage. It honours the families and traditions that built Gloucester, reflects the rural character that shaped Eastern Ontario, and keeps agricultural history alive in a modern, expanding community.

About the Community

Gloucester, Ontario: A Community Where Rural Roots Meet Urban Growth

Once a vibrant rural township and now an integral part of the City of Ottawa, Gloucester, Ontario is a community shaped by farmland, early settlement, cultural diversity, and the steady growth of Canada’s capital region. Though modern Gloucester features suburbs, businesses, and civic amenities, its identity remains grounded in the agricultural history that defined the area for more than a century.

A Township Built on Early Settlement & Farmland

Gloucester’s origins reach back to the early 1800s, when settlers were drawn to the fertile lands east and south of the Ottawa River. Early farms, sawmills, schools, and churches formed the backbone of the township. Much of the land was cleared, cultivated, and developed by families whose names still appear on local roads, barns, and heritage sites.

Farmers supplied food, livestock, lumber, and grain to Ottawa as it grew from a rough lumber town into the nation’s capital. Gloucester’s early prosperity was therefore closely tied to agriculture, transportation routes, and the region’s expanding markets.

A Landscape of Fields, Forests & Changing Neighbourhoods

Today, Gloucester blends its rural past with a dynamic urban presence. Though the landscape now includes residential neighbourhoods, commercial districts, and transit routes, pockets of farmland, open spaces, and natural areas still reflect its agricultural roots.

The local geography includes:

• Rolling farmland and former homesteads
• Green belts and conservation areas
• Woodlots and wetlands
• Parks and recreational paths
• Established suburban communities

This balance between natural space and suburban development gives Gloucester a unique character within the Ottawa region.

A Diverse & Welcoming Population

Gloucester has grown into one of Ottawa’s most culturally diverse areas. Families from across Canada and around the world have made their homes here, contributing to a vibrant and inclusive community. Schools, places of worship, and cultural organizations help foster a strong sense of belonging among residents.

Despite its growth, Gloucester maintains a welcoming, neighbourly atmosphere where community connections remain a central part of everyday life.

A Centre for Community Activity

Gloucester’s many neighbourhoods, such as Beacon Hill, Pineview, Blossom Park, Hunt Club, Greenboro, and Riverside South, feature parks, community centres, local shops, and gathering places. These hubs support sports programs, cultural activities, local events, and recreational opportunities for families.

Community involvement is strong, and volunteers play an important role in bringing people together across generations.

Agricultural Heritage Remains Part of Its Identity

Though urban development has transformed much of the landscape, agriculture remains an important part of Gloucester’s story. Former farm clusters, heritage buildings, local producers, and multi-generation farming families continue to shape the area’s history and character.

This heritage is celebrated each year through the Capital Fair, one of the region’s most significant reminders of Gloucester’s rural past.

The Perfect Complement to the Capital Fair

The Capital Fair reflects the strongest aspects of Gloucester’s identity:

• A respect for agricultural roots
• Strong community involvement
• Youth participation and learning
• Multi-generation traditions
• A blend of rural heritage and modern life

Together, Gloucester and its fair tell a complete story, one that honours the past while embracing the present and future of a growing community.

A Community That Continues to Evolve

Whether you explore its suburban neighbourhoods, visit its parks, learn about its rural history, or experience long-standing traditions like the Capital Fair, Gloucester offers a memorable blend of heritage and modern living.

It is a community where rural roots meet urban opportunity, where diversity strengthens identity, and where tradition continues to play a meaningful role in community life.

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