North Grenville Sustainability Fair
April 26, 2026
Municipal Centre in Kemptville
17th Free Sustainability Fair brought to you by Sustainable North Grenville
We Have the Power to Build a Better Future!
For those new to our community, this is an opportunity to connect with small businesses and community groups local to our area, learn and share on various topics under the theme of sustainability, and see one of the largest electric vehicle displays in Eastern Ontario (and test drive some of the latest models!).
While some attendees are keen environmentalists, many are simply families coming out for a free, family-friendly event to see what they can learn or how to get involved. Kids have a chance to get involved too in our popular children’s area, where they will have a chance to engage in fun and creative activities. There’s something for everyone at the North Grenville Sustainability Fair!
EV show and Test Drives
We’re glad to be sponsored by some of our local dealers to enable us to use the arena so we don’t have to worry about spring rain spoiling the fun. Come see the latest from Myers GM Kemptville, Smiths Falls Nissan and Smiths Falls Kia (partnering with Brockville Kia), Kanata Mitsubishi, Ottawa Polestar and Volvo, Barrhaven Ford and Star Motors Mercedes.
As in previous years, we are also working to bring back the test drives and visitors are encouraged to sign up early for these since they book up quickly
Test Drive Signup at the Show
Greening your home
The Greening Your Home Section is where you can meet local home-grown expertise that can help you make your lifestyle and home more sustainable. This year’s Sustainability Fair will have local businesses providing heat pumps, solar, batteries, and efficient buildings built with environmentally friendly materials. Hardware, however, won’t be the exclusive focus.
The Fair will also will also shine the light on lifestyle and community topics like electric tools, bicycle maintenance, home services and the Municipality’s new Auxiliary Residential Unit Program.
Presentations are listed below.
Presentations
The Fair continues the tradition of presentations on a range of topics to help with your budget, your well-being and the health of our planet. The presentations are held at the Urbandale Theatre, at the North Grenville Municipal Centre, as they are offered hourly between 10am and 3pm. Fair admission and presentations are free.
- 10 am Local Wild and Medicinal Herbs – Rebecca Graves
- 11 am Additional Residential Unit “ARU” Initiative – Dr. Schoemaker Holmes
- 12 pm Residential Solar and Battery Backup-up Solutions – Terry Luchies
- 1 pm Electric Vehicle Ownership – Jeff Goodman
- 2 pm Rideau Valley Conservation Programs and Funding for Landowners – Derek Matheson
Bike Essential Maintenance and Inspection Sessions by Mitchell Langford from Valley Sports is held in the arena.
Local Music and Food
Enjoy Local Food
While you explore the fair, be sure to stop by The Boathouse Café, a new local favourite from the historic hamlet of Burritt’s Rapids. They’ll be serving up a variety of fresh, locally sourced meals, snacks, and beverages—including vegetarian, vegan, and omnivore-friendly options.
Live Music All Day
Music lovers can enjoy performances throughout the day, alternating between informal sets in the foyer (including ‘learn to play the ukulele/autoharp’!) and stage performances inside.
- 10:00 AM – Grenville Troubadours (Foyer
- 10:30 AM – Andre Courtemanche (Food Area Stage)
- 11:15 AM – Bruce Enloe and Friends (Foyer Busking)
- 11:45 AM – Libby & Cal (Food Area Stage)
- 12:30 PM – Learn to play the Autoharp! (Foyer)
- 1:00 PM – Arthur McGregor & James Clugston (Back of the Hall Stage)
- 1:45 PM – Learn to play the Ukulele! (Foyer)
- 2:15 PM – Heroic Mad Peasants (Food Area Stage)
Vendors
Featuring around 40 local small businesses; from food vendors to crafts and handmade items as well as service businesses and a great number of community groups.
Children’s corner with games and crafts is available at no charge.
Happening Now
Sustainability Fair 2026: Greening Your Home
The Greening Your Home Section is where you can meet local home-grown expertise that can help you make your lifestyle and home more sustainable. This year’s Sustainability Fair will have local businesses providing heat pumps, solar, batteries, and efficient buildings built with environmentally friendly materials. Hardware, however, won’t be the exclusive focus: the Fair will also will also shine the light on lifestyle and community topics like electric tools, bicycle maintenance, home services and the Municipality’s new Auxiliary Residential Unit Program.
Sustainability Fair and Market 2026
With less than a month left to go, the workshops and presentations are now set and scheduled for the upcoming 17th Annual Sustainability Fair and EV Show. This free event is returning with a showcase of our local businesses and community groups, a Greening Your Home space, and Electric Vehicle show.
Sustainability Fair 2026: Biggest Eastern Ontario Electric Car Show
As we began planning this event even before Christmas, we asked ourselves the usual questions: What needs to change? What stays the same? What will people want to see and experience? How will we write the article on the EV show?
And now, gas is at $1.60+ per litre. Driving a Civic 100km will cost $11. An F-150? About $19. But we live in North Grenville, and we commute more than the average Canadian.
Green Investing
In our community engagement events here in North Grenville, we regularly hear from our neighbours some ideas on topics they’d like to hear more about. Often these have clear value to our community. It’s not always easy to find the right opportunity, setting, and experts, but we’ve managed to put this together for a webinar on green investing.