For years, the organizers behind the Virgil Stampede have poured the money they raise from the annual festival back into the community around them. This year, it’ll be Red Roof Retreat and Radiant Care’s Pleasant Manor Retirement Village that will benefit from their efforts, at $50,000 each.
The Virgil Business Association has pledged the net proceeds from the Stampede, $100,000 total, with half being doled out over two years to Red Roof Retreat’s new expansion to support walking trails and other recreational spaces, and the other half going to a new fitness room at Pleasant Manor.
“We’re confident that we can cover those commitments,” said Virgil Business Association president Richard Wall, adding that it could mean using 100 per cent of net proceeds from this year’s Stampede and possibly some of next year’s.
The Virgil Stampede, a tradition that has run for more than 57 years, featuring rides, games, food and entertainment while raising money for community projects, will take place this May long weekend on May 17, 18 and 19.
Admission for adults is $5 each and children under 10 are free. Ride bracelets can be pre-purchased for $35 at events.frontdoor.plus/event/1138 or at Phil’s Independent until May 17 at 11 a.m., or for $45 during the Stampede weekend. Bracelets are valid for one day, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
If residents pre-purchase tickets online before May 1, they will receive a free cotton candy snack as well.
According to the Stampede’s website, volunteers are needed to assist at the food booth — an opportunity for high school students to earn community service hours. Volunteers can register at virgilstampede.ca/contact/volunteer-registration.
Over the years, the Virgil Business Association has helped fund splash pads, arenas, playgrounds and other recreational spaces across NOTL, said Wall.
“Sometimes it’s 1,000 (dollars) here, it’s 2,500 (dollars) there, so we’re always contributing in some way, shape or form,” he said. The business association’s last major project was the Virgil skate park, built in 2020.
“I don’t even know what the whole list is, but it’s all sports and recreation and it’s all only in Niagara-on-the-Lake,” he said. “Our mandate is to fund sports and recreation facilities that are accessible to the community.”
At Pleasant Manor, the long-term care home on Elden Street in Virgil, the association will provide the funds for new exercise equipment, while funds for Red Roof, a local charity that provides recreational and respite services to children and young adults with special needs, will support the development of walking trails, among other things, Wall said.
Red Roof plans to replace its bungalow on Concession 6 with a new, 5,700-square-foot accessible building, with a targeted opening in September 2026. Funding from the business association will support outdoor recreational spaces at the new site.
Pleasant Manor is adding a new long-term care building behind its existing 41-bed facility off Creek Road. The new fitness space, planned for 2026, will be part of that expansion.
A proposed three-season pavilion at the sports park — the focus of last year’s Stampede fundraising — is still on the business association’s radar, but Wall said the group has done all it can and can’t move forward until design plans are finalized and town approvals are secured.
“The reality is, we don’t have a design, we don’t have a budget and we don’t have town approval,” he said.
Marah Minor, the town’s communications co-ordinator, confirmed in an email to The Lake Report that the town is on board with the project, but as it is still in the idea stage, no timeline or budget has been set.
“The (Virgil Business Association) brought this project forward to staff, who are greatly supportive of it,” said Minor. “The town and the (business association) will share the project costs, pending Council’s approval of funds.”
Wall said some money has already been set aside for the pavilion since it was the main focus of last year’s Stampede.
“But we don’t have an amount,” he said. “Future proceeds will continue to build up for the pavilion that we want to develop.”
The pavilion would provide residents with a covered space to use in the spring, summer and fall, while also making use of the existing Virgil Business Association building infrastructure, said Minor.
Wall said it’s important to inform people of how their money is used.
“When we don’t have a major project, people are always kind of wondering what we do with the funds,” he said, adding that the funds typically total between $50,000 and $75,000 a year.
Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa praised the business association’s long-standing generosity and support for the community.
“It’s been unbelievably generous and always helpful, for so many of the many great amenities we have in our community,” Zalepa said.
Zalepa said the association’s impact on the community of NOTL has been “quite enormous.”
