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Providence Bay
Alexia Hannigan

Alexia here with your great Canadian Farmer fly! Today (June 24) is Farmer’s Day, and I thought about how Canada and farming go hand in pitchforked hand. When you consider Canada’s history and topography—from the West Coast to the rolling hills of the prairies and the East Coast—farming, in all its various forms has become a significant part of how people and trades across our great country planted roots, honored their cultural traditions, and evolved and prospered over time. I then got to thinking about the folk classic old Macdonald and wondered about the roots around that childhood classic and its origins. Who wrote that song? Well, here’s the story: Playwright and professional jokester Thomas d’Urfey penned the original tune for an opera in 1706. Later, it became much more widely known and turned into a folk song in the United Kingdom and America for hundreds of years. Lyrics and renditions changed over the years, but the classic ode to Farmers and their “farm” animals remains a constant, forever embedded in our childhood memory books. And as for the farmers, with Providence Bay Fair only a couple of months away, we know you are busy doing what you do best: keeping the farm and keeping everyone fed! Your dedication, resilience and hard work throughout every season and challenge provide the food on our tables and help sustain our local economies and communities. So, a Moo Moo and an EI EI O to all the amazing Ontario farmers - a straw hat tip to you! We thank you for all you do.

Here’s what’s happening:

Providence Bay Arena and Fairgrounds: Agricultural Society and Fair: The 2026 “Carnival Lights and Musical Nights” Providence Bay Fair is scheduled for August 21-23 and will be epic as always. Be sure to follow the Providence Bay Facebook page or visit providencebayfair.ca.