Walkerton Agricultural Society

The Society was formed in the latter part of the 19 th Century. The Fair was called the Great Northern Exhibition. It was held on the same site as the present fair grounds and ball diamonds. It had a half mile track, a grandstand just north of the present community centre west of the track and a judge’s stand east of the track. There was also a large frame building called the palace at the north end of the grounds.

The Great Northern Exhibition drew large crowds. About the year 1908 the Fair Board arranged to have Tom Longboat, the famous Indian runner come to the Fair and compete against three other runners, relay style. This event was widely advertised and both the Grand Trunk and C.P.R. ran special trains into town for the show. But alas, Tom Longboat got drunk somewhere along the way and failed to show up, thus disappointing thousands who had come to see him. This was the beginning of the end of the Great Northern.