Merry Maple Fest in March

By Ryan Percy

The first weekend in March saw re-enactors and educators turn the John R. Park Homestead into a maple-themed heritage weekend.

More than 2,000 visitors from Windsor-Essex and abroad came to attend the event highlighting how pioneers and Metis lived and worked in the 19th century..

Blacksmithing, woodworking, axe-throwing and more were available throughout the conservation area to show key aspects of 1800’s work and give attendees hands-on experience.

For one American, 21-year-old Tyler Bailey, who drove from Ann Arbor, Michigan, there was one part of the event he said took him by surprise.

“Honestly, it is the snow taffy,” said Bailey. “I always made fun of it. I did not think it was an actual event where people lined up to do it so I think that is pretty fun.”

The maple taffy was the most popular attraction at the festival. Children and adults alike ran wooden popsicle sticks through hot maple sugar and cold snow to make a historical treat. Every face left with a bright smile and a satisfied sweet tooth.

Presiding over the pot of melting maple syrup and sugar was Kris Ives, the education director and curator for the Essex Region Conservation Authority. She said the goal of the event is to help people experience Canadian cultural heritage firsthand.

“Maple is a really great chance for people to connect with trees in a different way,” Ives said. “We often think about them as a habitat for birds, providing shade or cleaning air but also they are a food source. In terms of conservation we want people to appreciate their environment, become stewards, embrace Essex county as a place for life, work together for a healthy environment to enjoy the fruits and products of the environment.”

According to Danielle Stuebing, ERCA’s director of outreach and communications, John R. Park homestead and other outreach programs help to shift perception towards environmental conservation.

“I think people’s attitudes have really changed over that 20 years,” Stuebing said of the time she’s worked for ERCA. “The recognition of how important the environment is. Not just for animals and critters but for our own human health.”

The best weather for maple syrup gathering requires the correct temperatures during the day and night. During the night it should be no colder than minus 6 Celsius and the day should be sunny and around 4 Celsius. If it gets too cold during the night, the sap may take longer to run during the day or not run at all.

Without conservation of the environmental past, the conservation of the cultural past shifts from being reenacted to just being reread. The Maple Fest is just one of many opportunities for  Windsor-Essex residents to engage with history physically and learn through hands-on experience.