President’s Message for the 2026 Exhibition.
The theme for this year’s Exhibition is “Proudly Canadian”. This is an idea we can all identify with. We do not all see this country the way non-Canadians do. Canada is viewed, from the outside, as a stable, safe and caring nation. This is something we should be proud of.
The Cowichan Exhibition is proud to get an early start on the 2026 Fall Fair theme by promoting a Canadian icon. The Exhibition is hosting the RCMP Musical Ride on August 8. Visit our web site at www.cowex.ca for up to date information. The Musical Ride is being held as a fundraiser for the new hospital. This is another idea that we can all identify with and is a good way to show our pride in a caring society.
This catalogue is your guide to showcasing your Proudly Canadian interpretations with your exhibit entries in the 2026 Fall Fair. Building off the Musical Ride, this year’s Exhibition will feature as much maple syrup, bannock and butter tarts as we can have in one Fall Fair. I hope this prize list will inspire you to beaver away, proudly showing your best work with your entries in the competitive events. You can never show too many maple leaves.
Tony Irwin.
Important Fair Parking Improvements.
We have changed he traffic flow for the Fair. This change is being made to get traffic off the highway faster. This will reduce the congestion and improve the safety at the Mays Road intersection.
The most important part of this change is the roadway that was a single lane exit from the parking field; it is now a two-lane road. All parking traffic will be directed down this wider roadway into the parking area. Please pay attention to the posted signs.
The exit from the parking area will also have some changes. A new path, laid out along the far west of the parking field, will be the priority exit lane. Follow the signs to the end of the parking bays for the easiest way back to the highway.
There will be three exceptions to this change.
Number One. Handicapped Parking behind Mellor Hall will remain the same. Cars will still be able to make a right hand turn into the Handicapped parking lot as before.
Number Two. Dropping off passengers at the ticket booths will be allowed by permitting a right hand turn onto the roadway fronting the ticket booths.
Number Three. Access to livestock will be the same as before with a right hand turn allowed.
Past Presidents
Prior to 1948, the Cowichan Exhibition Society and the Cowichan Agricultural Society operated under the same leadership, beginning with Archdeacon Reece in 1868, the first year of the fair. This list reflects the leadership of the Cowichan Exhibition Society when it became a Board on its own.