Brussels Fall Fair 2026: Gaspirc returns after Little Ambassador stint

BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN

This year’s Brussels Fall Fair Ambassador is Rowan Gaspirc and she has already said that she’s excited to step into such a coveted role with her extensive history with the Brussels Agricultural Society.

 

Gaspirc already held an Ambassador title when she was crowned Little Ambassador back in 2019. That, of course, meant that she was one of the lucky ones who served a term that spanned a number of years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She, along with Junior Ambassador James Speer and Fall Fair Ambassador Sean Mitchell, served from 2019 to 2022 while the competition was suspended due to the pandemic and the society hosting truncated fairs or, in some cases, just a parade in order to comply with the public health regulations of the day.

 

Throughout that time, Gaspirc said she learned so much from Speer and Mitchell as far as the Ambassador program and she plans on implementing some of what she learned from those great role models into her time as the next Ambassador.
She said of Mitchell, specifically, that he was always so friendly and professional when going about his Brussels Fall Fair Ambassador duties and she always greatly admired that, so she’ll be working to bring that into her time wearing the crown as well. She also noted that while both Mitchell and Speer were so kind to everyone they crossed paths with as they represented the society, they were also so kind to her as the third part of the trinity and she always appreciated that as well.

 

In Tory Lynn Daw’s story on the Brussels Agricultural Society’s special Ambassador night last month, she described Gaspirc as a dedicated and community-minded young leader who has spent much of her young life giving back to the community of Brussels. 

 

In addition to the time she has given to the Brussels Agricultural Society, Gaspirc has also served her community as the co-president of her school’s student council and as the president of the Brussels Leo Club years ago.

 

Beyond her volunteer work, she is actively involved in a variety of extracurricular activities. She plays broomball in Blyth and is a trombone player with the Seaforth All-Girls Marching Band. Gaspirc also has a deep appreciation for the outdoors and enjoys connecting with nature, including through her participation in the El Camino Hike along the Maitland Trail.

 

This fall, she will be applying to Environmental Science programs across Canada, with the goal of pursuing a career focused on creating a more sustainable future. 

 

As for the Brussels Fall Fair Ambassador night itself, Gaspirc was able to be part of it virtually. She was unable to break away from her job at Camp Kintail, so she joined via Zoom and was able to hear the other contestants’ speeches and then deliver hers to those in attendance, all without leaving her workplace.

 

She said it was nearly seamless and she felt as though she was part of the event, after some early doubts that the technology would be good enough or that the people in attendance or the judges would see her the same way as a candidate who was able to make it in person. However, at the same time, she also couldn’t help but reflect on the benefit of the technology and the fact that she could be part of the night when, in past years, if she couldn’t be there in person, there simply wouldn’t be an alternative. 

 

She thought it went well, though she acknowledged that she had some stiff competition in Ksenia Wagemans, so she was stunned when her name was called as the winner. She thought that either she had misheard or that the judges had misspoke. But, that simply wasn’t the case.

 

Now, looking ahead as the new Brussels Fall Fair Ambassador, Gaspirc says that while she’s obviously looking forward to the Brussels Fall Fair and being part of the parade, she’s definitely looking forward to attending the events in other communities - other fairs, plowing matches and more - and being able to spread the word about the Brussels Fall Fair and all that the Brussels Agricultural Society does for its home community of Brussels.