September’s Western Fair Celebrated Street Arts new indoor attraction, The Summit, thanks to the support of My Main Street

Posted: November 19, 2024

Category:

District News

 

Western Fair District receives My Main Street support to draw visitors and increase vibrancy in London

October 16, 2024, London, Ontario: The Western Fair Association is pleased to announce that our signature event, the annual Western Fair was selected for the My Main Street Community Activator initiative to support The Summit, a 10-day urban arts festival within the Fair.

The Summit brought amazing, talented artists to London, Ontario along with a massive indoor skate-space showcasing skaters, BMX, quads and scooter stars. “The 10-day festival within the Western Fair, brought the largest mural and urban arts stars London, Ontario has ever seen LIVE,” said Ken Galloway, Summit curator. A massive indoor skate-space, a giant photo installation, hands-on workshops, live mural painting and immersive change-making talks provided young people with a connection between their passion and their purpose.

Photo of The Summit at the 2024 Western Fair
Photo of The Summit, Western Fair 2024

Critically acclaimed British-Mexican photographer Pablo Allison, presented his photographic work depicting a migrant caravan from South America against a two-hundred-foot-wide canvas. The street artist named Bacon, who is widely regarded as Canada’s top spray painter, created a mega-mural on the walls of the Western Fair District, as did Rime MSK, an American graffiti artist. Furthermore, a congregation of outstanding artists also lead a Queens Park Mural Transformation on the walls of The Market at Western Fair, a lasting gift of art and culture to the City of London.

“The Market is a vibrant gathering place for everyone and having urban artists painting on the park side of the Confederation Building, home to our beautiful market during the annual Western Fair, has been an amazing journey,” said Carole Sceli, Business Manager, The Market at Western Fair District. “We love the vitality it brings to the Old East Village.”

The artwork remains for the public to enjoy in person when visiting the Western Fair District throughout the years to come.

A newly built Skate Park inside the Fair’s Community Pavilion hosted some of the greatest talent from the world of action sports. Joe Buffalo, a professional skateboarder originally from Samson Cree Nation – Maskwacis, Alberta and TJ Rogers, a fan-favourite Ontario skateboarder, considered one of the greatest street skaters in the world, joined The Summit as did Jon Julio, the Tony Hawk of rollerblading and Dua Flip and Milkbox the Artist, the two top stunt roller-skaters in Canada. Ryan Williams, a pro BMX and scooter rider – widely regarded as the best in the world – was also there.

The My Main Street support received for The Summit attraction allowed Western Fair to present a new experience and attract a unique audience that might not have experienced the Fair before. Funding for

the Urban Arts aspects of the event also helped create a unique, vibrant outdoor experience in the Old East Village with the murals added to Queens Park, and they will provide a lasting gift of art and culture, for years to come. Learn more about the event at Western Fair District.

My Main Street is built on the principle of supporting community economic development and creating vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods which will enhance the overall quality of life for residents while also promoting sustainable and inclusive community development. My Main Street is delivered by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), and supported by a Government of Canada investment through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). Learn more about the My Main Street program at mymainstreet.ca.

Quotes

“The Summit is one of the many impactful placemaking projects happening thanks to the federal government’s investment in My Main Street Community Activator projects. The Western Fair District has been empowered to leverage community events on their main street to create a hub of social and economic activity, setting long term change in motion.

Mary W. Rowe, CEO and President, Canadian Urban Institute

 

“Communities throughout southern Ontario offer a diverse range of exciting experiences and businesses, attracting both local and international visitors to their lively main streets. Our government, through the Canadian Urban Institute, is supporting organizations that bring events and festivals, such as The Western Fair, to showcase their region. When we invest in programs like My Main Street, we’re supporting and revitalizing our local communities.”

The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

Associated Links

  • Western Fair District
  • The Summit
  • My Main Street
  • Canadian Urban Institute
  • FedDev Ontario

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Media Contacts

Greg Blanchard, Media Liaison

Western Fair Association

gblanchard [at] westernfairdistrict.com (gblanchard[at]westernfairdistrict[dot]com)

Ken Galloway, Curator

The Summit

kenpgalloway [at] gmail.com (kenpgalloway[at]gmail[dot]com)

Samantha Staresincic, Communications Manager

My Main Street

Media [at] mymainstreet.ca (Media[at]mymainstreet[dot]ca)

Edward Hutchinson

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

edward.hutchinson [at] feddevontario.gc.ca (edward[dot]hutchinson[at]feddevontario[dot]gc[dot]ca)

Background:

About My Main Street: The My Main Street program has returned with an additional Government of Canada investment, building on an initial investment in 2021, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to spur local economic recovery. To date, the initial investment has supported nearly 4,500 businesses and organizations, nearly 7,500 jobs and leveraged nearly $19 million in additional investment. The funding aims to revitalize neighbourhood main streets with a healthy retail mix while generating inclusive economic opportunities. The program now features two streams – Business Sustainability and the Community Activator. My Main Street is delivered by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI).

About Canadian Urban Institute (CUI): The Canadian Urban Institute is a leading organization dedicated to advancing urban solutions. CUI collaborates with city builders, researchers, and community leaders to create thriving, equitable, and sustainable urban spaces across Canada.

About FedDev Ontario: For 15 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered

The Summit
Critically acclaimed British-Mexican photographer Pablo Allison, presented his photographic work depicting a migrant caravan from South America against a two-hundred-foot-wide canvas.
Critically acclaimed British-Mexican photographer Pablo Allison, presented his photographic work depicting a migrant caravan from South America against a two-hundred-foot-wide canvas.
The street artist named Bacon, who is widely regarded as Canada’s top spray painter, created a mega-mural on the walls of the Western Fair District
The street artist named Bacon, who is widely regarded as Canada’s top spray painter, created a mega-mural on the walls of the Western Fair District
Rime MSK, an American graffiti artist created a mega-mural on the walls of the Western Fair District
Rime MSK, an American graffiti artist created a mega-mural on the walls of the Western Fair District
a congregation of outstanding artists also lead a Queens Park Mural Transformation on the walls of The Market at Western Fair, a lasting gift of art and culture to the City of London.
A congregation of outstanding artists also lead a Queens Park Mural Transformation on the walls of The Market at Western Fair, a lasting gift of art and culture to the City of London.
a congregation of outstanding artists also lead a Queens Park Mural Transformation on the walls of The Market at Western Fair, a lasting gift of art and culture to the City of London.
A congregation of outstanding artists also lead a Queens Park Mural Transformation on the walls of The Market at Western Fair, a lasting gift of art and culture to the City of London.