Caledonia Fair Building Receives Provincial Heritage Plaque

Nova Scotia's annual heritage conference kicked off by recognizing the oldest agricultural building in the province as a provincial heritage property.

Communities, Culture and Heritage staff were joined by Region of Queens Municipality Mayor Christopher Clarke and Deputy Mayor Darlene Norman and Doreen Holdright, Queens County Fair Association, to unveil the provincial Heritage plaque for the Main Fair Building at the Queens County Fair Grounds in Caledonia today, Sept. 25.

"Agricultural fairs played a significant role in the social, cultural and agricultural-industrial development in the province," said Kevin Barrett, heritage property program co-ordinator at Communities, Culture and Heritage. "What better way to begin the annual heritage conference than to present the heritage plaque to a building so important to the story of the people of Queens County."

The Main Fair Building was built in 1886 as a home crafts exhibition building. Its unique character-defining elements, such as its wooden structure, prominent front facade and unusual roof profile, make the dark green building stand out at the fairgrounds.

"This outstanding structure represents the agricultural sector of our community and illustrates the spirit and dedication of hard-working people throughout many generations who have laboured together to keep this exhibit building functional," said Ms. Norman, chair the 2013 Provincial Heritage Conference. "The Region of Queens Municipality is very pleased that the first building in North Queens to achieve provincial heritage status, and join the seven other provincial heritage buildings in Queens County, is one that echoes the character of our people."

The theme of the 2013 Nova Scotia Heritage Conference, hosted by the Region of Queens Municipality, is shaping cultural landscapes. The conference's sessions include The Role of Traditional Practices in Managing Aboriginal Cultural Landscapes, The Landscape of Grand Pré UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Cultural Landscape Experience at Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site of Canada. Attendees will also take part in open house tours of heritage sites in the area as well as a cultural landscape design workshop.

"As one of the oldest properties in Caledonia, the Main Fair Building is going to be a great asset, not just for the Queens County Fair Association, but to the community as a whole, because it will increase tourism opportunities for the area," said Ms. Holdright.