'It’s a springtime tradition': Belmore, Ont. kicks off annual maple syrup festival
It’s April in midwestern Ontario which can only mean one thing: it’s time for the Belmore Maple Syrup Festival.
“Springtime, so it’s time to the Belmore Maple Syrup Festival. Get your pancakes. Buy your syrup, and visit with old friends you haven’t seen all winter,” said Syrup Festival Chairman Alan Willits.
Over the course of Thursday and Saturday, approximately 5,000 pancake lovers will flow through the doors of the Belmore Community Centre. They’ll come from far and wide for their fill of sweet syrup and friendly banter.
“The maple syrup festival is just a tradition here. It’s just excellent. The people are great and the food is superb,” said Don and Lynn Wall of Holyrood.
The Belmore Maple Syrup Festival started innocently enough more than 50 years ago. The town’s arena needed a new roof, so the community came together to start the festival to pay for the roof.
They’ve been going strong ever since, raising thousands of dollars towards the upkeep of their community centre each year.
The 2024 Belmore Maple Syrup Festival in Belmore, Ont. kicked off on April 11, 2024. (Scott Miller/CTV News London)
“The profit of the event keep the arena running, subsidizes it, and it turns a great profit,” explained Willits.
It’s nearly pure profit for the community, because more than 300 volunteers do all the flipping, pouring and serving each and every year.
“I’m semi-retired, so it’s a volunteering community, and they need all the hands they can get. So, I’m happy to help out and do my part,” said volunteer Ron Schnurr.
“I’ve been always wanting to give back to the community. I’m from Wingham, but grew up not far from Belmore, near Mcintosh. So, happy to help,” added long-time attendee but first-time volunteer Roger Burchill.
The 2024 Belmore Maple Syrup Festival in Belmore, Ont. kicked off on April 11, 2024. (Scott Miller/CTV News London)
It’s that feeling of community — and great pancakes — that keeps people coming back to Belmore year after year since 1968, when the festival first began.
“Been coming 15 years. The food is great. The people are great. The service is excellent, and look at the people. It’s just so well organized,” said John and Eleanor Weigand of Dashwood.
The pancakes, syrups and sausage will be rolling off the assembly line on Saturday in Belmore, from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.
You can learn more about the event on the Belmore Community Centre website.
London Top Stories
-
-
PLAYOFF TRACKERPLAYOFF TRACKER Knights no longer perfect in the playoffs
-
-
-
-
-
-
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW
NEW Is there a cost to convenience? Canada approves new cancer immunotherapy treatment
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.
King Charles III returns to public duties with a trip to a cancer charity
King Charles III will return to public duties on Tuesday when he visits a cancer treatment charity, beginning his carefully managed comeback after the monarch’s own cancer diagnosis sidelined him for three months.
Canada's new dental program offering hope of free care to millions but many dentists aren't signed up
A new Canadian dental care program is offering the hope of free care to millions, but while 1.7 million people have signed up for the plan, only about 5,000 dentists have done the same.
NDP says Ottawa's new grocery task force isn't living up to government promises
The federal government says the task force it created to monitor and investigate grocery retailers' practices has not conducted any probes and doesn't have a mandate to take enforcement action.
Archeologists search for remnants of Halifax's 250-year-old wall that surrounded the city
Archeologist Jonathan Fowler is using ground-penetrating radar to search for historic evidence of the massive wall that surrounded Halifax more than 250 years ago.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
Kazakhstan arrests ex-interior minister in connection with unrest that left 238 dead
Authorities in Kazakhstan arrested a former interior minister on Tuesday, in connection with deadly police crackdown on unrest that gripped the country in 2022, Kazakh news media reported.
Winner of US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot is an immigrant from Laos who has cancer
One of the winners of a historic US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot last month is an immigrant from Laos who has had cancer for eight years and had his latest chemotherapy treatment last week.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Kitchener
-
Man sentenced in 'shocking, unprovoked attack on a stranger' at Cambridge grocery store
A man who stabbed an employee at a Cambridge grocery store in 2022 has been sentenced to three years behind bars.
-
Waterloo exploring potential MZO for new affordable housing project
The City of Waterloo is moving forward with a plan to try and rezone 25 acres of city-owned land near RIM Park to allow for affordable and attainable housing.
-
Teenager charged in Fergus attack
A teenager is facing charges after an attack in Fergus sent one person to hospital.
Windsor
-
U of W Students’ Alliance office defaced with hate and homophobic slurs
For three consecutive days - from April 10 to 12, the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance Pride Centre was defaced with hateful homophobic writing - etched on their office door.
-
Sinkhole closes downtown Windsor intersection
A section of downtown Windsor has been closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic after a sinkhole opened up in the middle of an intersection.
-
'Overdose awareness anthem' released by London, Ont. musician
Written and performed by Smith, who hails from London, Ont., the song details the story of Windsor’s Christy Soulliere and her son, Austin, who died in 2022 of fentanyl poisoning at the age of 27.
Barrie
-
Man charged with two break-ins in one night: OPP
Thanks to video surveillance, police busted a man for two break-ins Monday.
-
Police investigate $90,000 worth of stolen golf carts
Police continue to investigate a golf cart theft in the Township of Oro-Medonte, as eleven carts were stolen from Settlers' Ghost Golf Club just over a week ago.
-
County Road 27 has reopened after gas leak
County Road 27 has reopened after a collision investigation.
Northern Ontario
-
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
-
Former child protection worker in northern Ont. charged with sexual assault
Police in Greater Sudbury have charged a 57-year-old Sudbury suspect with sexual assault in a case that dates back 25 years.
-
Human skeletal remains found in Chelmsford area of Greater Sudbury, police say
A gruesome discovery was made in a remote wooded area of Greater Sudbury on Sunday night, Sudbury police say.
Ottawa
-
Treasury Board 'committed to hybrid work' after reports of mandated change coming in fall
The Treasury Board of Canada will only say it is “committed to hybrid work,” as reports suggest federal workers may be required to spend more time in the office.
-
Ottawa to see 10-15 mm of rain on the final day of April
Environment Canada's forecast calls for Ottawa to see 10 to 15 mm of rain today.
-
NEW THIS MORNING
NEW THIS MORNING Police warn of malicious 'Cheat Lab' program targeting gamers
Police in Kingston, Ont. have issued a warning to residents regarding a malware attack that is targeting video gamers.
Toronto
-
Shake Shack reveals plans for first Canadian location at Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square
When Shake Shack crosses the border into Canada later this year, it will make its debut at one of the country's most prominent intersections with a menu largely borrowing from what it serves in the U.S.
-
Canada's new dental program offering hope of free care to millions but many dentists aren't signed up
A new Canadian dental care program is offering the hope of free care to millions, but while 1.7 million people have signed up for the plan, only about 5,000 dentists have done the same.
-
A group of Toronto tenants have been on a rent strike for a year and say there's no resolution in sight
Dozens of Thorncliffe Park tenants have now been withholding their rent for one year and it’s unclear when the dispute will end.
Montreal
-
McGill says it will try to de-escalate standoff with camp before calling police
Montreal's McGill University says it will make efforts to de-escalate its standoff with a camp that's been set up on campus by pro-Palestinian activists before asking the police for help.
-
Man in hospital after shooting in Longueuil
A man in his 50s is in hospital after gunfire erupted in the Saint-Hubert borough of Longueuil.
-
Q&A: Quebec minister on the $603 million plan to protect the French language
Quebec Minister Responsible for the French Language Jean-François Roberge spoke to CTV News Montreal anchor Maya Johnson about the government's plan to spend $603 million to protect the French language
Atlantic
-
Burn ban not stopping some Nova Scotians from sparking up backyard blazes
Fire pit activity in Nova Scotia has been held to a minimum lately, but rain on Monday provided some relief from last week's mild and windy conditions.
-
'I’m horrified': N.B. advocates, users worried about animal tranquilizer
Four or five times a week, Josue Goguen tests street drugs at Ensemble in Moncton to see exactly what's in them.
-
Third youth charged with second-degree murder in death of 16-year-old: Halifax police
Police have charged a third youth in connection with the death of a teenager in Halifax last week.
Winnipeg
-
Winnipeg trial of man accused of killing four women starts with bid to toss jury
The trial of a Winnipeg man accused of killing four women began this morning with a preliminary matter before the jury is called in next week.
-
Winnipeg working on new way to fill potholes, with hopes of fewer repairs needed
There may be hope for Winnipeggers as they try to dodge numerous potholes on their daily commute. The city is testing out a new product known as Road Soup, which would be used to help fill the craters during the early spring.
-
'We’re almost stuck': Outrage in La Broquerie over property tax hike, road conditions
Some La Broquerie residents are outraged over a hefty property tax hike coming later this year.
Calgary
-
'Shocked and concerned': Calgary principal charged with possession of child pornography
A Calgary elementary school principal has been charged with possession of child pornography, authorities announced Monday.
-
Alberta government announces 'master plan' for railway development
The Alberta government has laid out the path ahead for an ambitious passenger railway system it says 'has incredible potential' for the province.
-
Here's how Canada's capital gains tax increase will affect Albertans with vacation properties
A new capital gains tax increase, aimed at Canada’s highest earners, is causing frustration for some Albertans with secondary homes or cottages, according to a real estate broker.
Edmonton
-
'There have been deaths on that property': City plans to demolish former Dwayne's Home building
The city could be on the hook for the bill to demolish a problem building in the heart of Edmonton.
-
Drinks outside on Rice Howard Way? Council to review proposal next month
Edmonton could have a downtown outdoor entertainment district as soon as June 1.
-
Alberta Municipalities say proposed provincial bill will create chill effect
The organization representing Alberta's cities, towns and villages says a bill that would grant the province sweeping new powers over local governments is creating an atmosphere of fear.
Vancouver
-
Arrest made in fatal White Rock stabbing
Homicide investigators have arrested a man for the fatal stabbing of Kulwinder Singh Sohi in White Rock.
-
Pierre Poilievre weighs in on BC NDP plan to recriminalize public drug use
B.C.’s plan to reverse course on a major part of its decriminalization plan has triggered swift and sweeping reaction.
-
Richmond residents call out city councillors over conduct
Two Richmond residents claim members of city council stepped over the line during the tense meetings regarding the establishment of a supervised drug consumption site.
