On January 16, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School in Russell hosted the very popular Living Locally Fair. Every year on the third Saturday of January, St. Thomas Aquinas partners with the Russell and District Horticultural Society to promote environmental stewardship by highlighting local farmers and food producers, artisans and community groups and services. This fair, with its farmer’s market atmosphere, draws people not only from nearby communities but from Ottawa, and all over Eastern Ontario. People come to sample local cheeses, chocolates, or smoked meats and home-made ice cream. Other visitors came for fresh ground coffee, organic seeds, or to learn about heritage varieties of cattle and vegetables.

Now in its 8th year, the fair was again a huge success. In its first year, the show had about 35 exhibitors and 650 visitors. This has grown in 2016 to an incredible 134 exhibitors with an estimated 4,000 people in attendance. Admission to the show is free, but donations to the food bank were received. Approximately 25 boxes of food and over $500 in cash was collected, which will greatly assist the Russell Township Food Bank.

The Guatemala Mission team provided coat check services with donations going to offset the costs of their upcoming mission trip experience. Part of the success of the show is due to the team efforts of custodians and staff, who empty classrooms to prepare for the large influx of visitors to the school. The event would not be possible without the student volunteers who help to prepare for the event by moving desks and furniture, assisting vendors with setup, and assist with cleanup for Monday morning. Exhibitors and visitors to the school had nothing but praise for the student volunteers, who contributed more than 300 hours of community service between Friday afternoon and Saturday evening.

St. Thomas Aquinas CHS looks forward to hosting another successful event in 2017.