The Ottawa Journal - August 27, 1971.
| If the Central Canada Exhibition Association gets it in the ear on attendance counts at the "Ex" this year, the witch hunts should begin at home - within the realms of the CCEA itself. At least according to CCEA director Bill Vanden Bosch. Mr. Vanden Bosch, chairman of this year's "Ex" cattle committee, was bitter. He had just bucked the CCEA establishment by publicly slamming the association's board of directors for the slow demise of the agricultural division of the Ottawa exhibition. And his condemnation of CCEA policies concerning "Ex" agriculture goes even further. "The CCEA has been using agriculture as a lever," says the director. "We wouldn't have an exhibition today without the agricultural input here. But it's being used," Mr. Vanden Bosch said in an interview. "A few year ago we had a dog show here and we discontinued it. We used to have a nice horticultural building and we kicked them to hell out. "This year we have another excuse for reducing our agricultural show. We got rid of the poultry show and blamed it on the Fire Marshall's office. "Every time we kick someone else out, we lose more friends and more public." Mr. Vanden Bosch said the CCEA is "slowly but surely" pushing agriculture out of the "Ex." "We do it very nicely though, but by God we still do it." Temporary facilities provided by the CCEA this year for live-stock judging hasn't helped the situation. Ontario's and Western Quebec's top cattle breeders who annually exhibit at the "Ex" were "provoked" this year by a CCEA decision to eliminate their right to keep the animals on the grounds for the duration of the show, said the director. Lack of space was cited by the CCEA as the basis for its decision to disallow cattle owners to keep their animals at the "Ex". The province's best breeders "are really mad about this," said Mr. Vanden Bosch. "They don't bring their animals hundreds of miles just for $100 in prize money. They come to exhibit their merchandise, which is cattle." | The director said many top exhibitors have told him they will not return to the Ottawa exhibition until assurances are given they can keep their animals at the show for its entire duration. "And I don't blame them," said the director. Mr. Vanden Bosch said his attack on CCEA policy was "not just for the sake of complaining." He outlined to a board of directors meeting plans which could feasibly change the entire concept of agricultural exhibition. He calls it consumer involvement. What the director proposes - something already incorporated in Western Canadian agricultural exhibitions - is the setting up of exhibits outlining the entire processing of such agricultural fare as beef and milk. "Ottawa is so involved in getting beer gardens and new rides at its exhibition it's forgetting all about the consumer," believes Mr. Vanden Bosch. "We should take a bulldozer and clear out any one of the buildings at the exhibition grounds and put in either government or private exhibits showing the consumer just how they receive their farm produce." CCEA agriculture director Dr. Sydney Pickett also believes the Ottawa "Ex" is lagging far behind in its agricultural exhibition compared with the rest of Canada and other countries. He calls it "Agreconomy" and says the CCEA must become involved in this field. He said fairs in Europe are actively involved in the field of consumer education through exhibits. "I'm sure the Ottawa "Ex" will not reduce its agricultural aspects. They will be maintained at their present level and widened in scope in the future," said Dr. Pickett. Ottawa however, has waited too long and treated its agricultural history too badly to salvage immediately the turmoil it has wrecked on the agricultural segment of its fair, says Mr. Vanden Bosch. "If attendance is down badly this year the CCEA can blame itself." The director said he felt committed to fire a broadside at the "Ex's" board of directors. "I was elected to this job. Conditions aren't what they should be. I had to speak out." |