It's Needs best business day of the year - 2010 Kentville Grand Street Parade

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2010 Kentville Grand Street Parade

Pizza slices n Dogs on Parade Day in the Needs Parking Lot

 

Kentville Canaan Ave and Main Street Outdoor dining.

 

 

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Pizza at Memorial Park ;

 

A delightful outdoor dining experience and a refreshing taste of old Italy has arrived in Kentville in the form of an authentic handcrafted Neapolitan masterfully formed old Napoli style Pizza that is prepared using only daily harvested local farm grown ingredients delicately layered on a hand-caressed bed of slow rising Sicilian sweet dough before being baked to perfection in the blistering 1000-degree volcanic heat produced by an in house dome style stone and mortar apple-wood burning biblical baking oven before being transferred by hand carved olive tree hewn paddle board to an elegant Roma statuary marble serving platform secured on a trio of perfectly aligned mid 19th-century Victorian wrought iron support arms that all seem to reach out boldly from the exterior of the host pizzeria to invite passer by pedestrian traffic into a gastronomical world of unresistant over indulgence to experience our ultra-modern multi-function mobile kitchen culinary EV catering unit now parked in a discreet location amongst the natural beauty and sublime serenity of Kentville's meticulously manicured Memorial Park where our humble crew of internationally trained highly skilled professional pizza-making maestros eagerly await the honor and privilege of providing valued Valley visitors with an unforgettable pizza dining experience that is deliberately designed with an added attention to detail that is sure to satisfy any individual taste and the culinary cravings of even the most demanding pizza connoisseur .

 

 

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ABF 2023 :

 

 

Shocking news from ABF,

 

 

* There's been a stunning development at ABF. *

 

Apparently in a new younger generation there are those who harbor resentment towards our nations history, for English colonialism, and even for the Monarchy ? Other minority groups have voiced discontent over the diversity and inclusion issue ? And so it seems that the current ABF Board of Directors has listened to the concerns and complaints of a few small minority groups while apparently ignoring and excluding the overwhelming majority of Valley residents ? And it appears that this current Board of Directors chose to resolve discontent by simply moving to implement and execute the nuclear option and final solution ? And therefore after a highly successful lengthy run of 87 consecutive years in a row, the highly anticipated, very popular, family oriented, inclusive and diverse, multi village Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess Pageant along with the prestigious Royal Coronation crowning ceremonies held in Wolfville have all been terminated forever by this current board of Directors ?

 

 

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-----------------------It's The End of an Era-----------------------------

 

 

"We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep."

 

 

Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival 2023 - ABF Board of Directors have announced they are making drastic new changes in format and making more devastating cut-backs to the annual People's Festival ? Recent concerns over ceremony, symbolism, monarchy and past colonialism, along with the ongoing inclusion and diversity issue relative to the Queen Annapolisa contest, as well as the current Trudeau Liberal political environment in Canada, may have all influenced a new generation of ABF Officials to radically update the historic Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess pageants in order to bring the Valley up to modern standards that they believe more relevant to current times ? And so it seems that Directors must have held an extremely private 'think tank' and without consideration, consultation, or bothering to invite or gain approval from long time participating Valley communities, Officials must have decided that rather than trouble themselves any further with the issue, why not just take the easy way out and simply get rid of this history ? And so it seems that a decision must have been made, in a very private way, to enforce the life ending final solution ? And so, as of 2023 the iconic 87 year old Apple Blossom Princess contest and pageant is to be shut down and terminated forever ? This act has been carried out without public input, inclusion, involvement, attendance or approval, and now one of the longest running, popular, highly anticipated, inclusive and diverse family events to ever benefit the Valley is over ?

This cold act of finality will end the 88 year reign of her royal Heinous Queen Annapolisa and it will terminate all further participation of the 7 to 10 Apple Blossom Princess contestants and child attendants representing 7 to 10 local Valley communities ? It also ends appearances by the beautiful hand crafted award winning Princess floats that are the focal highlight of Grand Street Parade and will signal the end of the ultra glamorous Queen and Ladies-in-waiting Crowning ceremonies gala that is held and televised each year from Acadia University in Wolfville ? This will end the popular community Princess Tea events, the Royal Party visitations to local Schools, hospitals and old folks homes that were so welcome and appreciated by Students, Seniors, shut-ins and the disabled ? And this means the end of Royal Party appearances at the Kentville Children's Parade, the Memorial Park Friday night open air Rock concert and fireworks, and Royal party attendances at many other events held annually throughout the Valley and Province ?

It appears now that current ABF Officials led by President Logan Morse along with Kentville town rep Lindsey Young not only interrupted the Pageant in 2022 when they temporarily postponed it, but have now in 2023 moved to terminate the prestigious event forever explaining that their decision was made to improve, include, modernize and evolve the fampus pageant ? This final act of termination ends almost 90 years of royal pageantry and also leaves a huge gap in the Festival itself ? It also negatively affects the nearby Valley communities who participate and always enter contestants in the Pageant ? The end of this important multiple community event and the taking away of the better half and Star of the Apple Blossom Festival brings forth the question of what replacement is planned, and what are local towns and villages that always play a major role in both the Queen and Princess competition suppose to do now ? And what about Valley youth and childhood dreams of one day becoming a child attendant or an Apple Blossom Princess or even a Queen ?

You have to marvel at the level of disrespect shown by these new generation Officials who have appointed themselves as the ones that will end the Pageant and then think that Valley residents are stupid enough to believe that by cancelling and taking away a long running 90 year old event they have in some perverted way of thinking moved the Valley forward or improved and modernized anything ? It seems far more likely that they have taken a giant leap backwards and robbed the Valley people of a much beloved, multi community, inclusive and live local family production that has always been the most anticipated highlight of the year for the past almost 90 consecutive years ?

Why current ABF Management, who claim to be stewards in charge and responsible for the promotion and presentation of this event, appear unable to perform their duties or to perform the job they're paid to do and do what their predecessors have always done so well each and every year for the past 87 years, often in far more trying circumstances and in far less prosperous times, is difficult to comprehend ? And you have to wonder, Whatever happened to the # 1 rule in business that says that if you can't do your job because of your inexperience, immaturity, inability, personal bias, laziness, or just plain stupidity, then,, YOU'RE ALL FIRED ! (and a Class action recovery suit may be forthcoming ?)

 

 

An Identity Crisis ;

 

 

Can an identity crisis be looming in the town of Kentville ?

 

A proud and neighborly salt of the earth working class community with generous hard working friendly citizens and a rich historic Railroad, agriculture, food and farming background is losing many of its longtime local traditions, themes and trademarks while elected Town officials, many of them new arrivals just stand still, watch and even enable ? After having always been identified as the main Provincial railroad center ever since the old Dominion Rail days dating back to 1869, the town has since lost all passenger and freight train rail service in and out including a modern passenger Dayliner service that traveled back and forth to Halifax every day ? And after the railway had been shut down it seemed they couldn't clear out the brand new train station, dig up tracks and demolish the old roundhouse fast enough ? And so now, in what seems to be cruel mockery, the only visible signs left in Kentville from past glory years of what once was the largest, most important, most active railroad center west of Halifax is a hand painted picture of a train mural that has been etched onto the weather beaten side of a downtown business building ?

Unfortunately the end of the railway industry wasn't to be the last major transportation loss yo be forced upon the people of Kentville as they were to become even more isolated from the outside World when for no apparent rational or necessary reason the aviation community at the Waterville municipal Airport CCW3 complex were told to get out when they had done nothing wrong and had no where else to go ? An invaluable contributor to the local area was suddenly lost when a fully operational well established municipal airport, a well known popular Canadian sky diving facility, an internationally known long time pilot training and licensing academy, many private aircraft owned by local owners, and numerous other fully established aviation businesses were all lost to the community after being ordered off the property ? An eviction order courtesy of Kings Council also left our young Camp Aldershot Air Cadets without their base of operations, and now the next generation of youngsters will have to grow up without their popular aviation training and education facility ?

And so it had seemed that a duly elected group of officials who don't even live in the area had ended the long life of a historic local Aviation facility that took multiple decades to build and establish, and they had transformed a thriving Aeropark into a useless barren open field of weeds where unsupervised Michelin bike riding children can now be seen dodging dandelions that are poking their heads thru the deteriorating asphalt runway that once served as the landing platform for private and commercial aircraft to fly in and out on a daily basis ? And to add salt to this wound, what appeared to be a calculated senseless forced eviction and the subsequent devastating lost revenue to the local economy was to be hailed by Kings Council, ( and also by the prestigious Ivany Report Committee ) as being a bold and brilliant business decision to greatly improve and benefit the local area ?

After months of facing homelessness and an uncertain future, a few of the evicted tenants found sites elsewhere and relocated at their own expense to start all over again, while others just quit, and others were finally redirected to a new location in Greenwood (which just happened by chance to be Kings Council County Warden's home riding) ? And so, in the end a devastating loss for Kentville and the entire local area became a windfall for Kingston Greenwood, and, Kentville was left to carry on without either a Railway or an Airport ?

 

When the original Kentville KCA town School closed, Kentville lost its high school and students were left without a home town school ? They were now bused daily to the nearby town of Canning ? This left only the Grade 1 to 8 age groups to identify with Kentville as their home school, a situation that still exists today ? There is no longer a movie theater in Kentville as the downtown movie theater has been closed forever, and the popular Edge sports bar, eatery and pool hall had also closed down and was never replaced ? Harvey's Hamburgers drive thru closed down and it wasn't replaced ? The longtime bowling alley in New Minas was bought out by developers, torn down, and replaced with a business office complex ? We lost the local salvage, reclamation and disposal site in South Alton when the Provincial Government ordered it to be shut down, but the same folks who shut it down never offered to replace it to leave the community without this much needed facility ? One day a portion of roof blew off the town funeral home and it never re-opened leaving only one such establishment in town ? And, just as the citizens of Kentville were shocked to learn that both Apple Blossom Princess and the Queen Annapolisa pageants were terminated after 87 consecutive years, there was at the same time an all age Drag Queen show preparing to entertain at the Kings Arms Pub in a total flip flop scenario from the one that most Kentville citizens identify with at this time of year when popular Irish Rovers or Scottish pipers played at the pub ? Numerous local restaurants and small businesses have come and gone - mostly gone - and, after Maders has served the community for 50 years, high taxation and license fees, ridiculous Government rules and regulations have left Maders barely able to hang on ? The main town supermarket Jasons IGA had a fire forcing him to close down for over a year and so there was no supermarket to provide groceries for local citizens ? The ever popular multi venue Wandlyn Inn burned down and all of its venues were lost to the community ? The Inn was never replaced after the fire and now there's just a fast food MacDonald's on the old property as a replacement for the many lost hotel rooms, the indoor swimming pool, whirlpool and sauna, the nightclub, dual convention centers and dual restaurants that Wandlyn Inn had offered ?

 

The traditional July 1st Canada Day town sponsored event of fun, food, speeches and local entertainment held each year at the wading Pool was curtailed by the Town due to budget considerations, and if you want to enjoy July 1st entertainment or fireworks you must travel to New Minas, Hantsport or Berwick ? Access to water supply is always one of the most identifiable utility entitlements to be provided by any town ? Billions are currently being spent by the Canadian taxpayer to provide all First Nations people with free safe water ? Yet Kentville water commission charges the customer 10,000 dollars just to turn their town owned water on at the roadside and nothing else ? And after this initial surcharge has been forced upon the customer he still has to pay for all yard trenching, pipe laying and household plumbing work to be done ? KWC's valued new customer is then rewarded with a water bill courtesy of the town each and every month thereafter ?

They have even managed to take away Kentville's most famous of all and instantly identifiable town landmark in the hotel name Cornwallis Inn ? Cornwallis Inn is a well known trademark hotel name that has become synonymous World wide with the name of Kentville and ae name that represents a multitude of fond memories for residents ? It was hard to understand why the Town would ever allow such an important name to be changed, and it was also hard to understand why a previous Town of Kentville planning dept would ever allow numerous subsidized low rental apartment units to be built onto the side of this Town centerpiece and that also serve to block the access lane to the rear parking lot ? The Cornwallis Inn will always be one of the Valleys greatest treasured landmarks and is due for protected Canadian heritage site status ?

They have also changed well known and immediately identifiable names of some Kentville Streets and also the local traffic bridge that traverses the Cornwallis River ? And so now many citizens and delivery drivers do not know what they're talking about when they use these new names and it can be especially hard on Seniors who can become confused by unnecessary name changes made to familiar places ? In some cases this has created a safety hazard ?

In 2017 ABF Directors attempted to take Kentville's Grand Street Parade away from Kentville and move it to a different town ? Outraged citizens were forced to claw and battle just to get their own local parade returned back to them after they have hosted it for the last 87 years ? And, in yet another huge step backwards in that same year, ABF decided to cease and desist all Wednesday, Thursday and weekend games, food, music, displays, amusements, local student displays and performances, etc. etc. that were always held at Memorial Park during Apple Blossom festival week ? No explanation was given and no replacement or apology was ever offered by the Town for such a major loss of long running public outdoor entertainment to be absorbed by the citizens of Kentville ? And Kentville has now lost its most identifiable of all citizens that being their beloved Apple Blossom Princess Kentville, when a newcomer generation of ABF Officials showed uncommon immaturity, disrespect, disregard and insensitivity when presuming themselves to be the ones that are entitled to end the long running iconic Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess competition after 88 years ? This means that all public Royal party appearances including all Princess Teas, the appearance at Kentville Children's Parade, Friday night concert, Wolfville Coronation ceremonies, fireworks, Parade, all Royal visitations to schools, shut-ins, Seniors, and all hospital attendances normally made by Queen Annapolisa and the Royal Party will no longer take place ?

In 2022 the Kentville Grand Street Parade was understandably limited following the 2 previous Covi year cancellations, but unfortunately this year's 2023 effort wasn't much better ? The enormous contribution and wonderful diversity of nearby Valley communities from Windsor to Digby was no longer included in this Parade ? Apple Blossom royalty and all Princess floats were also no longer included ? Many residents expressed disappointment when their beloved Apple Blossom Princess Kentville and child attendant were no longer included in their own Town Parade ? And it seemed Kentville has lost its most identifiable citizen and a wonderful Town Ambassador who carries out many important official Town duties while advertising and promoting Kentville simply by representing the town with beauty, charm, grace, dignity and talent all year long whenever and wherever she went ?

The long running three consecutive weekdays of wonderful mid week Apple Blossom entertainment down at the Park have been cancelled and Apple Blossom week entertainment is cut down to a bare bone single Friday night affair offering minimal local entertainment, some kindergarten bouncy castles, and food wagons that sell twenty dollar hamburgers, (gone are the days of the dollar dog and drink) ? And it feels strangely empty down there now that the highlight of the evening Royal Party visitation and rock music supplied by Eddy's Basement is no longer included ? And there was even a noted decrease in the quality of the fireworks, ( which btw will no longer be started by Queen Annapolisa at her official Royal Party visitation to the Park following Coronation ceremonies in Wolfville) ? And, the newcomer ABF Officials have found yet another way to take more away from ABF patrons when charging inflation stressed locals a high entrance fee just to attend a downtown open air ABF street dance ?

And so, the citizens of Kentville have become frustrated with the many cutbacks, cancellations and closures that are never replaced once gone ? Both of the Provincial Railway and the municipal Airport are now permanently closed and even Acadia Van lines inter provincial no longer stops ? The Wandlyn Inn complex and all of its popular hotel and restaurant services were never replaced ? Devastating cut backs were made to the historic Apple Blossom Festival that saw a week long fun filled period of public entertainment at Memorial Park reduced to a minimal Friday night affair and a parade that lasted less than an hour ? Concerns remain about the absence of an in-Town High School for Teens, the loss of a key funeral home, the loss of the Pool Hall, the absence of a movie theater, the loss of Harveys drive thru, the loss of one of 2 Tim Hortons and their non local hiring policy, the loss of the dt pizza parlor, the loss of the local fruit and vegetable market, the absence of a 7/11 convenience store, the closure of the bakery, and also the loss of the local disposal site when no replacement was offered by the Province that shut it down ? And there was the shocking elimination of historic Valley culture when they terminated the Valley Apple Blossom Princess event and when they put an end to the long running prestigious Acadia U Coronation ceremonies in Wolfville ? The sacrilegious changing of the name of Kentville's internationally known name Cornwallis Inn symbolically married to the Town name Kentville and cherished by local residents was extremely disappointing ? And many citizens worry about the serious shortage of tourist facilities after the Wandlyn hotel complex burned down and the Town had lost so many hospitality, business, tourist, restaurant, hotel, night club, convention and recreational venues ?

And now, in a more recent issue, we are seeing more and more of our small businesses that are located all over the Valley that not only provide local employment but also serve as popular meet and greet gathering spots for friends and neighbors, are now changing hands after being bought out or turned over to strangers that are not from Halifax or from N.S. nor even Canada but have arrived from another Continent ? These take-overs appear to include replacing management and assuming control over the business and hiring policy in some long time Valley fast food, gas, and coffee businesses ? And now it seems that whenever shopping at the Milne Court Petro-Can, or New Minas Ultramar, KVille Ultramar, KFC, or Mary Browns, the DQ, or the Burger King, or Subway, or any of the 3 Timmies , or Walmart, Needs, or when receiving a parcel from amazon, or paying the bill at a cash register st many other stores it feels like you're suddenly in a foreign country ? And some of the newly hired employees are new to Canada and not familiar with local currency and so it is advisable to count your change when paying by cash ? There are also some worries that the temporary foreign workers program is unfair and possibly racist, and others worry about the advent of nepotism if local establishments are run by new management and when many of our local residents can't find local jobs any more ? Another major local employer, Eassons Trucking, also seems to be affected by the current influx of foreign workers with some reports of untrained, unlicensed, unqualified, (and Government subsidized) unsafe drivers behind the wheel, and rumors that some units with multiple workers on board have a hole drilled in the floor of the sleeper cabin to accommodate a long piece of ABS plumbing pipe that is used to transfer raw shidzen sewage on a one way trip from the truck cabin interior directly down to the open highway below and avoid pit stops at the Big Stop ?

And, some concerns were shown over the recent Kentville municipal election, when many candidates seemed unawares of the Town's long time real traditions, customs, character and past history ? Some candidates idealistically saw Kentville as a kind of happy go lucky, blissful, Hallmark or Who-ville movie set type village inhabited by busy jolly munchkins frolicking up and down picturesque colorful cobblestone streets bordered by quaint shops, internationally known boutiques and fancy eateries ?

Kentville has elected a new Mayor who is also a new local business owner, who must tackle the current town crisis ? He appears to have befriended and may possibly be being influenced by the ex County Warden Brothers who resides in the Kingston/Greenwood area and who doesn't give a squat about Kentville and had previously sold out Kentville when leading the charge to use heartless expropriation without compensation to shut down the local municipal Airport, popular skydiving academy, international flight training academy and many other successful aviation businesses at Waterville ? And what about the new Mayors' recent New Year's message of congratulating himself on enlarging the size of his downtown retail store and expressing personal happiness over the new (taxpayer funded) installation of a brand new double wide sidewalk in front of his store, but failing to mention serious town issues like town youth unemployment, racial profile hiring at Hortons, the fentanyl and opioid crisis, vandalism, street people and homelessness, the end of our Princess Kentville and the loss of millions in town revenue after they terminated Queen Annapolisa and ruined Grand street Parade, as well as, the no place to stay or eat for tourists visiting Kentville problem, the long running need for an indoor town recreation facility (no one wants to get their daily exercise by hiking down crude outdoor trails, attacked by mosquitos, and witnessing users shoot up in the privacy of the forest) ? And there's also the housing crisis, the sudden high increases in rental rates crisis, the alarming rate of downtown business foreclosures and bankruptcies, and a need to honor Kentville's glorious past railroading history with a museum and outdoor train and locomotive display of some sort ? Adding to this, disrespect had been shown when, ( due to a drop of rain ) they cancelled this year's Military march-on and (the best in area) Remembrance Day ceremonies always held outdoors at the Memorial Cenotaph on Park Street ? There was also Kentvilles snubbing of the Trudeau Liberals express wish for diversity and inclusion in Canada when a shortened Grande Street Parade was no longer as inclusive or as diverse as per normal ? And where Senior citizens were seen to be perched precariously aboard a stop and go, unsheltered, jerking motion, no sided open vehicle without restraining devices, water or protection from the sun ? There was also the confusion caused from the nonsensical changing of many long time well known established town names including the most famous of them all the Cornwallis Inn ? There's also the pressing need to build a high school, and there are some complaints about the failure to provide public outdoor entertainment events that exceed the grade school level ? There was also some controversy over the hanging up of the biggest pride flag that money can buy hung above the main entrance of the Cornwallis Inn, and of course, also the serious drainage problem discovered when the recent town flooding crisis took place? There was also concerns shown after the Provincial Government forced our local reclamation and disposal site to permanently close down and didn't offer to replace it but just left the area without one ? And, there remains a demand for an inquiry into the exploitive five figure fee charged by Kentville water commission to a new customer just to turn the water on at the road ? And there are concerns over many recent takeovers of local small businesses when our locals around here can't find work ? And some new concerns have been expressed over the formation of an exclusive kind of Ontarioville newcomer type town slowly establishing itself as an independent town within a town ? Some local drivers are concerned over this years Spring pothole epidemic that made some streets unfit to drive on (at a time when a brand new double lane sidewalk installed in front of Phinneys was smooth as a baby's bum), and the refusal by Town to help drivers with expensive auto repairs caused by unguarded potholes ? And there was also concerns over the inadequate street lighting in many areas and the residential streets and sidewalks still needing attention ? And there was some complaints relating to the inconvenience felt by local residents when ultra slow motion repairs on Canaan Ave moved at three legged turtle racing speed and had caused this vital access route to remain closed to traffic, incl emergency vehicles, for many many Months, (unlike the speedy workmanship and high priority given to a new downtown sidewalk installation in the front of Phinneys) ?

And so, can it be time to stop come from away newcomer mentality, and make it mandatory for all candidates bidding on these important Town governing positions to be born, raised and reside in the town of Kentville in an effort to preserve, protect, retain and respect the unique character, history, diversity, identity and many longtime community traditions that make Kentville ?

 

 

OUCH ? ( can someone please remove the daggers from our back ), Et tu, Warden Brothers and u tu Leo ? March 10th 2014, a date that will live on in Infamy - Warden Brothers, (Greenwood riding) and Kings County Council use calculated forced eviction to shut down the Waterville Airport aviation complex and relocate some components to the Kingston/Greenwood area ?

www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/28588465413/in/album-7...

 

Newcomer ABF directors trying to erase history ? The page showing all past Queens and Apple Blossom Princesses has been removed from the official Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival site ? The popular history page honoring all past Queen Annapolisa winners 1933-2018 with photos and bios has been taken down and apparently replaced with huge portraits of the newcomer directors ?

Meet the newcomer directors,

www.appleblossom.com/about/

 

How dare They ! Kentville IS the Cornwallis Inn and the Cornwallis Inn IS Kentville ! If you were to google the 2 words Cornwallis Inn you will get over 600,000 entries with almost all of them married to the word Kentville.. (what a great promotional tool) . The world famous Cornwallis Inn is the source of many fond memories for local and Valley residents.. "It was the centre of everything’: The past and present of Kentville’s iconic Cornwallis Inn"

www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/lifestyles/it-was-the-centre...

 

 

Apple Blossom Festival news updates :

 

 

Logan Morse and a newcomer ABF Board of Directors have broken the hearts of Valley families especially the Children when they move to terminate the historic and long running Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess Pageant after 88 years ? ABF Directors show no remorse, while boasting that their bold action was needed to improve, evolve and bring the pageant up to their modern standards ? www.pressreader.com/canada/annapolis-valley-register/2023...

 

May 26, 2023 - We Are the Ones. An unusual display of disrespect and arrogance shown by newcomers when the long running historic Valley Peoples Pageant is cancelled without notice, consideration, consultation or approval ? A modern generation of ABF Directors with bold new ideas have apparently proclaimed themselves to be the one generation in 88 years that can interrupt and permanently end 88 years of wonderful multi Valley village Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess enjoyment ?

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/apple-blossom-festival...

 

Annapolis Valley families in shock and children cry when learning their beloved Queen Annapolisa Pageant has been cancelled without notice, consultation, consideration or compassion ? Newcomer Directors say they are taking action to improve, evolve and modernize the historic Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival ? www.saltwire.com/atlantic-

 

Air Show Atlantic Inc.- Valley residents have lost a long time major yearly family entertainment event when the ABF Greenwood Airshow is terminated and will be no more. Fast forward to Aug 24, 2024, and, to corporate greed ? Air Show Atlantic Inc. now charges big bucks to see taxpayer owned aircraft at a taxpayer owned airport in a vastly inferior airshow ? Air Show Atlantic Inc. doesn't have the courtesy to offer a discount Seniors ticket category for Valley Senior citizens ?

www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/52345513615

 

How dare They ? Kentville IS the Cornwallis Inn and the Cornwallis Inn IS Kentville - If you were to google the 2 words Cornwallis Inn you will get over 600,000 entries with almost all of them married to the word Kentville.. (what a great promotional tool) . The world famous Cornwallis Inn is the source of many fond memories for all local and Valley residents.. "It was the centre of everything’: The past and present of Kentville’s iconic Cornwallis Inn"

www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/lifestyles/it-was-the-centre...

 

Kentville identity crisis. Help, Is there a Superhero anywhere out there that can save Kentville from the newcomer agenda ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54418705157/in/album-7...

 

The highly controversial 2017 Grand Street Parade - Has Kentville once again been the target of exploitation ? After Warden Brothers, (Greenwood ) and Liberal MP L Glavine (Kingston) had all but hijacked Waterville Airport before relocating it to their own home riding in Kingston/Greenwood area, it seems that the town of Kentville must face yet another attack from the Kingston area when Alxys Chamberlain, Apple Blossom Princess Kingston, and ABF Directors attempt to take yet another major source of revenue and another major attraction away from the town of Kentville ?

Et tu, Madama Chamberlain ? The unconscionable attempted hijacking and subsequent recovery of Kentvilles's most beloved yearly event ?

www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/18506181065

 

2023 Kentville Grand Street Parade - A disregard for safety of Seniors is shown as unrestrained Senior citizens are precariously perched atop an unsheltered, open sided, stop and go, large unstable jerking motion moving platform ?

www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/53900780519/in/album-7...

 

Exploiting a past Queen Annapolisa in a photo op ? Politicians at the official opening ceremony of the 2023 Apple Blossom Festival pretend there's still a Queen Annapolisa Pageant while knowing full well that Queen Annapolisa and the Apple Blossom Princesses have been terminated forever and are no longer a part of the Festival ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/53755100811/in/album-7...

 

2023 Kentville Grand Street Parade, what happened to inclusion and diversity ?

Newcomer Parade officials defy and snub the Trudeau Liberal Government's demand for diversity and inclusion in Canada ? Many nearby local Valley towns and villages are not included in this year's parade ? This exclusion also means a denial of the diversity usually provided by these towns and communities ? Where is Canning, Digby, Annapolis Royal, Hantsport Greenwood, Windsor ? Where's our Queen Annapolisa ? Where's the Apple Blossom Princesses and where's all of the individual Town floats including Princess Kentville ? To view complete 2023 Kentville Grand Street Parade press here, www.dailymotion.com/video/x8lchie www.dailymotion.com/video/x8lchie

 

Facebook, Friends of Kentville - The site Administrator, a new arrival from PEI, says she wants to see Kentville as the queerest town in all of Nova Scotia ? www.facebook.com/groups/2588266877982288

 

Will a drag Queen replace an apple blossom Queen in Kentville ? www.nsbuzz.ca/life/kentville-all-ages-drag-show-draws-pro...

 

Nov 16 2023 - Apple Blossom Princesses call for a return of Queen Annapolisa,

www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/communities/former-apple...

 

The Town of Kentville has cut back and cancelled many hours and even entire days of long time traditional public outdoor entertainment ay Memorial Park that was always a standard part of Apple Blossom Festival week ?

www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/52094784785

 

A medley of guest Tribute bands seen at Memorial Park Kentville that were always free of charge in the past when performing at the Festival : Petty Larceny, Fleetwod Mix, Keep the Faith, Stones Tribute, Green River Revival, Viscious, Eddy's Basement, Matt Minglewood,

www.dailymotion.com/video/x5hqti9

 

Corporate greed shown by newcomer organizing committee ? Instead of providing a free guest Tribute band for the patrons as per normal at the anual free Memorial Park Friday night concert, it will now cost 50.00 pp to see a 'Queen tribute band' performance. that's 50.00 per ticket in 2025 ? acadiau.universitytickets.com/

 

Town of Kentville appears to rip off its own citizens right at Apple Blossom Festival time ? Cold-hearted Capitalism shown by Town and newcomer otganizing committee ? Citizens to be burdened by a twenty dollar per person out of pocket expense just to attend an outdoor street dance held on taxpayer owned street property during Apple Blossom Festival week ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54546051832/in/photost...

 

They've Ruined It ? Millions of dollars in revenue wiped out ? Our great Festival is no longer even recognizable ? How could anyone take a world class event and turn it into something stupid ? President Erica Gillis has to be the worst ever ?

www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54418705157/in/album-7...

 

Directors Erica Gillis, www.appleblossom.com/about/

Mayor Andrew Zebian www.facebook.com/andrewzebian

 

2025 Kentville Grand Street Parade - Is this a joke ? A low entree, bare minimum 45-minute Kentville Grand Street Parade this year ? Zero in large marching street bands and majorettes other than the regular RCMP (mini version) marching unit, no Sottish pipers or pipe bands, zero in Apple Blossom Royalty and no famous royal floats, Most of the regular nearby surrounding Valley village participants not there, no horse and wagons, no armaments, soldiers, marching bands or displays from Aldershot or Greenwood, etc etc, ? And yet Guest parade announcer proclaims in quote @ 29:17, " this parade is the largest in Canada, - it's the longest with the largest route and the most entries. " Wha-a-a-t ? Where did that come from and what's she talking about ?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQuaIdrQi00

 

A different Apple Blossom Princess occupies a makeshift Royal throne on board the historic Kentville Apple Blossom Princess parade float in Grande Street Parade on Apple Blossom festival Saturday. The newcomer Mayor of Kentville now rides the float in its annual trip down Main Street ?

' Somebody get that King a crown and sceptre '

www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54557663677/in/dateposted

 

They've ruined it part 2 - Millions in town revenue lost as Parade attendance shrinks to an all time low ? May 31st, 2025 Kentville Grand Street Parade has gone from 100,000 down to 10,000 - They've ruined the Festival, and the Parade too ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54568017261/in/photost....

www.facebook.com/avabf

 

ABF Directors may disapprove and terminate the Queen Annapolisa pageant and Apple Blossom Princess competition but nevertheless Valley residents will always continue to admire, support, respect and remain fond of British Monarchy. Most Valley citizens were delighted to hear that his Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla are coming for a royal visit to Canada on May 26 and 27, 2025. This year's incomplete and now 'Royalty-less' ABF starts on the 28th, www.cbc.ca/news/politics/king-charles-canada-visit-1.7524946

 

the genocide of our Valley history and culture ? The long proud history of all 87 past Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess winners has been removed from the official Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival website ? The special site page that is dedicated to previous Queen Annapolisa winners 1933 thru 2019 has been taken down and apparently replaced by jumbo size portraits of the newcomer ABF President and officials who have taken over the iconic Festival ? www.appleblossom.com/history/past-queens

Meet the directors,

www.appleblossom.com/about/

 

 

May 29th, 2026, Kentville Memorial Park, the ABF Friday night concert, ( Can the good ole days of dollar dogs and bargain Big 8's be over) ? High level security protocol for an evening of food wagons and kids bouncy castles ? ( must have taken up most of their budget at the sacrifice of bringing in some quality outside live entertainment) ? Town calls in outside police to assist local Kentville force, cordons off the entire ground zero event perimeter with road blocks, street barricades and manned guard check posts to establish maximum level traffic control that, unfortunately, forces patrons including seniors, the handicapped, toddlers, and Mothers carrying babies to park and walk a fair distance to get to the park gates ? Also, in the past years the concert always brought in special outside guest rock bands, and featured interesting games, demonstrations and displays, and there was a visit from the Queen Annapolisa Royal party following the prestigious coronation ceremony in Wolfville, However, unfortunately now the concert appears now to have deteriorated into some kind of a Children's outdoor romper room type of family show that features food trucks, inflatable air bouncy castles and a local band as the featured guest star main stage performer ? There's not much to do or see for those that exceed the elementary grade school level other than to maybe purchase some food from a food truck charging upscale restaurant prices and then dine on a paper plate using plastic utensils while standing up in a crowd of unruly kids and being lustfully observed by some nearby hungry saliva drooling pet dogs leashed to owners ? However, thanks to the heightened security and crowd control there was a report of a parking violator being successfully apprehended and a runaway pet was also captured and returned to its owner ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54558198569/in/photost...

 

Oct 4th, 2025 - Kentville Harvest Festival held annually in Centre Square :

A disappointing effort this year that didn't include many of the long time traditional favourites like the family horse-drawn hay wagon ride or the pumpkin people scarecrow making class, contest and the live group demo ? Didn't see much of a showing from the Valley harvest, Valley livestock or the local Valley farmer ? Many of the usual Harvest Festival standards that had always been featured in past festivals were no longer here but are instead replaced by business kiosks selling commercial merchandise unrelated to the harvest ? Some bouncy castles were brought in along with some high-priced food trucks ?

 

Upgrade 2025 ? A photo taken from in front of Phinney's dept store downtown Kentville after major renovations to double its size gave Phinneys the second largest downtown store front display window area next only to the NSLC liquor Store : A massive Town expenditure was budgeted this year for a major upgrade to the Mayor's downtown business backyard as Webster Street gets a complete 100 % total beautification makeover with new installations of street paving, paint and signage etc, new double sidewalks both sides, driveway entrances, and new curb and gutter both sides ? All other streets surrounding the Webster Street downtown area business block also upgraded including Aberdeen Street (twice), Cornwallis Street and Main Street ?

www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54835340734/in/photost...

 

 

The Koncerned Kentvillian must ask, " why is it every time that you gas up at Milne Court Petro-Can, New Minas Ultramar, KVille Ultramar and now the Big Stop, or go to the KFC for chicken, or Mary Browns, or the Burger King, or Subway, or all of the 3 Timmies for coffee, or Walmart, oe Needs, or receive a parcel from amazon, or attend the cash register post to pay a bill at many other stores, it feels like you're suddenly in a foreign country ? " What has happened to all of the friendly locals that used to hold these positions and were one of the main reasons that we frequented these establishments ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/54418705157/

Kody Bloise . Liberal Party

 

 

Kentville's own Trash Canyon - toughest S.O.B. wrastler to ever come outta the KVille !

www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/53939211581

 

Trash Canyon - If u go away,

www.dailymotion.com/video/x8zb9u0

 

Kentville - Mader's celebrates 50 years of service

www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/55187690268/in/dateposted

 

George Orwell's dark prediction has just come true.

London England, Apr 22,2026 - The British Parliament has just enacted legislation to install a form of Orwellian Totalitarian rule into the current democratic English society that allows for the installment of Government social control in the form of the placement of mandatory lifetime probationary orders on select unwary citizens without asking their permission and who will then be officially monitored from birth to death to insure compliance is met on the legal probation order that is attatched to them ? Rob Cunningham and his Cancer Society are crusading in Canada for residents of his democratic home country to be forced into this same form of Totalitarian social control ? www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/uk-agrees-ban-on-cigarette-s...

 

 

Dec 13th, 2025 - this is a bit rich ? A doctor advertising smoking for the liquor store ? Dr. Robert Strang Chief Medical Officer of Health and top doctor for Nova Scotia is now appearing in TV ads that endorse the (safe) smoking of pot while representing the Provincially owned liquor stores ? It's also a bit rich that Rob Cunningham and his Cancer Society do not appear to have a problem with this smoking ad ?

www.facebook.com/watch/?v=4190201767960744

 

Closing down museums, tearing down 88 yr old historic statues, the vandalizing of precious artifacts and the changing of historic street and heritage site names are all slowly erasing a peoples' proud history ? March 04, 2026 - Halifax Nova Scotia - P. C. Provincial Government downplays the importance of preserving the Provinces history and culture, and dismisses those who strive to preserve, protect, honor and expand it ? Artists, cultural and heritage workers, arts organizers, and their allies rally in Halifax over the latest Tim Houston PC worst in history 130 M cuts to the essential funding needed for arts, culture, tourism, and heritage sector programs ?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQjKntnV55c

www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/55129846907/in/dateposted

 

 

A cultural genocide is going on in Kentville ?

Why always Kentville ? Now it's the library ? First came the loss of the Railway and Day-liner service back in 1989, then Kings council expropriated the local Airport and evicted the many other established aviation schools and businesses, they had tried to take Grand street parade away from Kentville in 2017, and then we lost the famous Cornwallis Inn logo and the 88 yrs old statue in Halifax was torn down, they then terminated Apple Blossom Princess Kentville and ended the 87 consecutive years of the Queen Annapolisa pageant. Kentville lost a massive amount of diversity that had always been provided by the multiple villages that participated in the Festival, as well elimination of the Princess teas, the Coronation, and all of the popular mid-week public outdoor entertainment always normally held at Memorial Park during ABF week ? And now they appear to be after the popular long time Kentville Library ?

After the Town has terminated so many traditional sources of public enjoyment while never offering a similar replacement, and as Kentville gradually approaches cultural ghost town status, it is noticed that the downtown business core (in which the Mayor has a major private business interest ) has been totally renovated and restored to pristine condition by way of a complete 100 % makeover beautification program complete with new installations of street paving, street paint, new double sidewalks on both sides, new driveway entrances, new curb and gutter both sides, signage and flower pots ? And the other three surrounding streets making up this downtown business block have also been totally upgraded including Aberdeen Street (twice), Cornwallis Street and Main Street ?

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/annapolis-valley-libra...

www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/video/2026/06/02/funding-cuts-lea...

 

May 18th, 2026 - CBC speak with forked tongue ? CBC lures unsuspecting RCMP members into a trap set by First Nations ? Ambushed by the CBC and First Nations, a music video ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/55278767366/in/dateposted

 

the ongoing deterioration of Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival in Kentville ? Bring back Eddies Basement to Memorial Park ? www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/55295377420/in/photost...

 

honey they shrunk the stage ! Safety side fences have had to be installed,

www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/55307116357/in/dateposted

 

An ongoing downsizing of the world-famous Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival ?

www.flickr.com/photos/74039487@N02/55304178661/in/photost...

 

 

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ABF 2017 :

 

A quick review of the notorious hostile takeover bid and an attempt to extract the 2017 Kentville Grand Street Parade away from its natural home in the town of Kentville ?

 

 

February, 2017 - With only 3 months to go and parade planning and preparations well underway as per usual for the upcoming 2017 edition of Kentville Grand Street Parade, officials were suddenly caught totally off-guard and were absolutely blindsided by shocking news coming from out of nowhere that current ABF Management who are in charge of the festival had made a final decision in private to take Grand Street Parade away from its long time home in Kentville ? Apparently, they had already moved to taken it away from Kentville and then transfer it to New Minas during secret meetings held without inviting, consulting, requesting permission or giving proper notice to Kentville ? And so it seemed that a group of inconsiderate Officials with radical new ideas had ignored town of Kentville interests and 87 years of tradition, and had (incredibly) just taken the annual Grand Street Parade ( and even future Parades ) from Kentville without consultation, notice or permission ? Drastic location changes and even elimination of other longtime events and attractions always held in Kentville such as the Friday night outdoor show and fireworks, the Memorial Park Wednesday and Thursday displays with Valley student participation and numerous attractions, the bringing in of popular outside bands, and even the famous historic Kentville Children's Parade were all targeted by this grouping of ABF directors for cut-back or termination ? Radical changes in the Queen Annapolisa and Apple Blossom Princess competition including gender, contestant rules, location of crowning ceremony, and changes in overall competition format were also discussed ? ABF Officials defended secretive, inconsiderate and authoritarian type actions by claiming that as stewards of the festival they are entitled and obliged to uphold the integrity of the festival ? (integrity ? ) They later changed stories saying they were left with no other choice due to Kentville's inability to prove they can successfully host such a large Parade event, ( Kentville has hosted this parade for the last 85 years ), and also because the people in charge of Grand Street Parade were unprofessional, indifferent and uncooperative ?

And so it came to be that a newly elected Mayor and a new Council in its infancy were suddenly confronted with perhaps the most serious challenge ever to be faced by the town of Kentville since the tragic loss of their two major transportation sources, that being the loss of the railway in 1989, followed by the shocking loss of aviation in 2014 when the Town CAO and the Warden and Council conspired to close out Waterville municipal Airport and evict all businesses and tenants ? This new and very serious challenge came in the form of a surprise and pernicious attack and attempt to hijack Kentville's most beloved local commercial attraction ? The unexpected surprise action came from an unfamiliar and unfriendly source that appeared to be inconsiderate, disrespectful, and even a tad opportunistic when considering that Kentville just finished installing a brand new rookie Mayor and Council ? When the newly elected Mayor of Kentville was suddenly swarmed by news of so many extreme actions already taken against her town's best interests, a shocked and disbelieving Mayor Snow said when speaking with local media that she was overwhelmed, heartbroken and called the actions unprecedented, disrespectful and unacceptable ? Everyone seemed to agree that an attack on Kentville's most popular and well known outdoor event without courtesy of an invitation, negotiation, inclusion, consultation or approval is unacceptable ? Needless to say, the biggest losers of all were the good citizens of Kentville who have contributed so much over the last 90 years going back to the thirties and forties in times when the CNR train brought many Parade patrons to stay at the Cornwallis Inn ? Over the years the Town has invested enormous amounts of its time, energy and town resources into the creation of a world-famous event that draws tens of thousands of visitors.

All Valley towns take great pride and look forward to their individual town festivals and especially their yearly parade. The citizens of Kentville are no different. Towns like Kingston, Hantsport, Wolfville, Windsor, Berwick, Canning, Greenwood etc. will never have to worry about someone hijacking their yearly community parade or otherwise taking it away ? However, sadly, the citizens of Kentville now face the troubling prospect of a possible loss of their annual town parade without notice at any time and of losing many years of time, energy, town resources, manpower and all of the other general services and contributions made during the past 88 years that it has taken to create this world class event ?

The current 2017 ABF board of Directors is led by Angela Pelton and Alxys Chamberlain (Queen Annapolisa 2015), with Barb Madic, Heidi Scotney-Kinsman, John Patterson, Katie Gordon, Krista Morine, Linda Keddy, Logan Morse, Sarah Griffiths, and Steffany Cox-Lingard ?

 

 

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On the recent 2023 edition of the Grand Street Parade :

 

 

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On the recent 2023 edition of the Grand Street Parade :

 

 

"it looked as if some spectators along the route just joined in and began to walk along to make themselves a part of the parade ? "

 

May 27th, 2023 - Dismay, disillusion and disappointment prevail in Kentville over shocking changes and missing regular entrees in this years 2023 Grand Street Parade ? Where is our famous Queen Annapolisa and where are Apple Blossom Princesses and child attendants riding in their beautiful hand crafted decorated floats ? Where's the town criers ? And what about majorette groups, Scottish pipers and large multi marching bands that always attend ? And where is Hantsport and Windsor and their large delegations ? And where are Digby, Aylesford, Annapolis Royal, Canning, Middleton, Wolfville, and more ? Why are so many of the Valley towns and villages that normally participate not included in the parade this year ? It was also disappointing for many when for the first time ever, Kentville Apple Blossom Princess (aka Miss Kentville) was no longer included ? Many local residents young and old identify with the Apple Blossom Princess at this time of year ? The royal float had to be used this year to transport a group of everyday town residents sitting together in a social scene that was meant to identity Kentville with the issues of diversity and inclusion ? The New Minas float also did not include their Apple Blossom Princess this year, however it had been transformed into an advertising commercial for the famous New Minas UFO incident which all New Minions can identify with. Berwick's float didn't include a Princess Berwick this year but was altered to proudly identify with the town's upcoming Centennial celebrations. And the Kingston float was also missing an Apple Blossom Princess this year but instead promoted their long running Kingston Steer Barbecue that all Kingstonians can identify with. It was good to see an RCMP contingent again although they sent far less officers this year than usual ? And it was noted that only one other large marching band appeared in the parade when usually 4 or more of these big bands, many with pipers, usually attend after traveling from places like Cape Breton, Bridgewater, Dartmouth etc ? And where were the pets and farm animals ? There wasn't any horse teams, wooden wagons, riders or livestock this year and even the usual greyhound dogs didn't come ? Also noticed that some spectators must have just joined in and began walking along to become part of the parade, and others must have come over from the Children's parade with their strollers to join in ? There was a variety of advertisers, most from out of town but some local ? There were various Political parties represented, with the largest delegation coming from the Kody Blois Liberals ? All in all, this Year's parade seemed a minimum weak effort that really missed the inclusion and diversity of royal pageantry and the 7 to 10 spectacular Princess floats ? It was also missing the many large marching bands and majorette groups that usually enter ? It also lacked the usual agriculture horticulture and livestock component, the popular Scottish pipers bands that always attend, and also the large out of town contingents that normally participate ? This was not the famous grand street parade that patrons are used to seeing and did not represent the high standards and degree of professionalism set by all previous Grand Street Parades ? It soon became obvious that what was advertised as a newer, bolder, more inclusive and diverse parade was instead the opposite because it was instead now missing inclusion, diversity and the contributions of the many Valley communities and Princess contestants that always come to Kentville to participate in the Queen Annapolisa competition and take the Royal ride down Main street Kentville in their beautiful hand crafted royal floats ?

And so, to quickly sum up, can this strange, amateurish, shortened and Royal-less, apparently new mentality re-set version of the world-famous Kentville Grand Street Parade missing her Royal heinous Queen Annapolisa and the 7 to 10 Apple Blossom Princesses with their 7 to 10 beautifully handcrafted Town Princess floats and also missing the unique character and diversity provided by the many now uninvited Valley communities, and that appears as a new generation re-set version of the original 90 year old Grand Street Parade now signal the end of the once glorious Grand Street Parade era ?

 

 

Kentville is an incorporated town in Nova Scotia. It is the most populous town in the Annapolis Valley. As of 2021, the town's population was 6,630.

 

 

Done