Stacked with Syrup & Spirit: Strawberry Festival serves up Canada Day cheer

July 3, 2025 · 0 Comments

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The sweet, sticky smell of strawberries flooded the Caledon Fairgrounds as the annual Strawberry Festival and Canada Day Celebration was held.

Run by the Caledon Agricultural Society, the event featured pony rides and petting zoos, a classic car show, an agility dog show, live music, multiple vendors, and one of the highlights of the day: the pancake booth.

The booth, filled with volunteers, doled out hundreds of pancakes throughout the day, topped with strawberries that had been painstakingly cleaned and sliced by volunteers the day before, a process that took almost seven hours.

Downey’s Farm had donated eighty flats for the day, and every last strawberry was used.

Gabriel Hansraj and his family have been working at the pancake booth at the strawberry festival for the past twenty years, starting when he was 10. Hansraj shared that he can’t imagine doing anything else for Canada Day.

“I started to do it to get hours for high school. But after that, our town needs assistance with this. It’s really the family, you’ve got my dad here, my aunt, everyone. We’ve got to make sure that people get their pancakes on Canada Day,” said Hansraj.

He shared that they owe it all to the Agricultural Society, because without them, the batter wouldn’t get made.

“If we don’t have a good batter, it doesn’t matter how well I can cook the pancakes,” laughed Hansraj.

Families and more lined up past dozens of booths to get a taste of the classic Strawberry Festival treat.

MPs and dignitaries also celebrated Canada’s 158th birthday at the celebration.

Dufferin–Caledon MP Kyle Seeback shared that Canada is “unequivocally the best country in the world.”

“I came here at 9 o’clock to help flip pancakes for this event, but there have been people here since five. This event does not happen without the amazing hard work of the Caledon Agricultural Society,” said Seeback

Councillor Christina Early for Wards 1, 2, and 3 shared that every year they see more vendors and more crowds, and that it stands as an excellent day for the community.

“The Agricultural Society and all the volunteers that put this together work so hard to make sure that you can get in that gate for free today and enjoy everything here to offer. So, please meet your neighbors, buy some pancakes, enjoy the day, and Happy Canada Day,” said Councillor Lynn Kiernan for Ward 1.

The crowd joined together to sing O Canada as Derek Saxton, Sergeant-at-Arms, Legion Branch 449, Alton, raised the Canadian Flag.

Councillor Mario Russo for Wards 4, 5 and 6 said July 1 is a day to acknowledge the Legion.

“I want to make sure that we all acknowledge our veterans that allow us, and allowed us, to do this on a yearly basis” he said.

Ed Taccone, President of the Caledon Agricultural Society, spoke on Canada’s History.

“As we celebrate 158 Canada Day years, we stand on a land with a rich and complicated history. While we take pride in the beauty of our country and the strength of our people, we must also acknowledge the difficult truths of our past. Particularly, the experiences of Indigenous peoples. This is a day not just for celebration, but for reflection and recommitment,” said Taccone. “Canada Day is a day for all Canadians. It is a day to celebrate our diversity, our unique perspectives, and the many voices that make up our nation. Let us strive to create a future where every Canadian feels a sense of belonging and pride. In our shared home, let us build a Canada where respect, understanding, and justice are not just ideals, but realities for all.”

He said it is a journey and requires the participation of all to move forward with open hearts and a willingness to listen, learn, and grow together.

“This Canada Day, let us renew our commitments to building a better, more inclusive Canada for all,” said Taccone.

As attendees left with baskets of strawberries, Canadian memorabilia, and full stomachs, this will surely be a Canada Day to remember.