by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative
45-years ago, a group of volunteers armed with the desire to support Community Living Essex County (CLEC), hosted the very first Ruthven Apple Festival.
That inaugural event was hosted in the heart of Ruthven, attracting 3000 visitors and raising $5000.
With support growing over the years, four-and-a-half decades later, the Ruthven Apple Festival has raised over $1M to support the local organization’s transportation service that benefits many of CLEC’s clients.
CLEC currently provides support to around 700 individuals, and their families, who have an intellectual disability.
With popularity at its peak, the Ruthven Apple Festival attracted around 5000 through the gates each of the two-days it was hosted last year, and raised a record-breaking $77,000, CLEC's Manager of Community Relations and Resource Development, Tony DeSantis, said during this year’s open ceremonies on Saturday morning.
“That has only been possible because of the dedication of volunteers,” DeSantis said, noting it is also a win-win to have a partnership with Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens, which provides its grounds to CLEC to host the Ruthven Apple Festival.
“The Ruthven Apple Festival is a much-anticipated event that brings young and old together to experience everything Essex County has to offer,” he added.
The 2024 installment of the Ruthven Apple Festival was hosted over the weekend, with volunteers hoping Mother Nature would cooperate, as rain threatened to dampen the event grounds at Colasanti's Tropical Gardens, but not the spirit of community that brought everyone together.
Despite the drizzle, many local dignitaries attended the event to not only show support to CLEC and its clients, but participate in the annual apple peeling contest.
Essex MP Chris Lewis attended the event to not only test his apple peeling skills against area mayors and deputy mayors, but to also recognize the event's 45th milestone through presenting CLEC with a certificate of achievement.
Reaching such a significant milestone just doesn't happen, Lewis noted. A lot of support from sponsors, farmers for the onsite local produce market, and through volunteer efforts need to come together to host such an event.
“Great things happen when great people come together for a great cause,” Kingsville Mayor Dennis Rogers added on behalf of all the dignitaries onsite, including Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy, Leamington Deputy Mayor Larry Verbeke, Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue, LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche, and Lakeshore Deputy Mayor Kirk Walstedt.
Walstedt won this year's Apple peeling contest, having achieved the longest peel. That gives him bragging rights until next year.
Karen Bolger, Executive Director of CLEC, noted the event would not be able to continue without all that support, in addition to the many who come through the gates to buy unique items in the vendor area or grab lunch from the food booths available onsite, or enjoy the live entertainment hosted throughout the two-day event.
A kids’ area is also dedicated to providing youths at the event plenty to do.
DeSantis was looking forward to the car show planned for Sunday, hoping the weather would clear.
Diane Bourbeau, a member of CLEC’s Board of Directors, noted the organization could not offer what it does without the generous support of the community.
“We rely on the kindness of people like you,” she said, also thanking all those involved in making the Ruthven Apple Festival all it has come to be.
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