Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, tens of thousands of people will visit Elmira to celebrate the 51st annual Elmira Maple Syrup Festival. This festival is the largest of its kind in the world. Over 2,000 dedicated volunteers devote hundreds of hours to make the day a huge success.
All proceeds from the festival are returned to charitable organizations. I am extremely proud of the festival and the incredible work they do to give back to our community. The Elmira Community Nursery School, Epilepsy Waterloo Wellington, Child Witness Centre, Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council, Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region and Woolwich Counselling Centre are just a few of the organizations that have benefited from the great work of the festival.
Join us in Elmira tomorrow to enjoy the sugarbush tours, pancake-flipping competitions, the famous outdoor mall, antiques, crafts and, of course, gallons of fresh Canadian maple syrup. From10,000 attendees 50 years ago, to the more than 64,000 who came out last year, let us make 2015 the biggest year yet.
My deepest thanks and appreciation to all who make the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival the best and biggest in the world.