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Kevin David Hollands
Markham Fair President 2010

By Myra Chepack

Kevin Hollands was born at Scarborough Centenary Hospital on June 17th, 1974. Although Kevin was born into an urban area, his grandparents’ history in rural living appears to have been passed on.

Kevin’s grandparents, Harold and Annie (Pring) Hollands, were market gardeners who also raised a mix of livestock in the Kennedy and Lawrence Ave. area. Harold was an active member of the East Riding of York Agricultural Society and thereby involved in Markham Fair. Kevin’s Dad, David Robert Hollands, recalls the Scarborough of his youth. He said Saturdays were spent at the East York Market, eating locally-grown produce (a currently promoted initiative in 2010!) He said it was common back then to know all your neighbours from the Danforth to Agincourt.

David Hollands married Margaret (Bailey), of Scarborough, originally from Manchester, England in 1969. Kevin’s parents resided at Don Mills and Eglinton, where his mother worked at IBM and his father at Jim Davidson Motors. In 1971, David and Margaret moved to the Ninth Line in Box Grove. This was still largely a farming community at that time and Kevin and his younger brother Bruce became friends with the sons of the local farming families such as the Littles, the Seeleys and the Burkholders. Kevin helped out on the farm of Lawrence Burkholder, learning to operate tractors and occasionally getting to drive the pick-up back to the farmyard. He spent hours and hours combining the farm fields, from the minute school would end each day he would be rushing to get to the farm. With farming in his family background and growing up in a farming community, it was not surprising that Kevin became involved with the Markham Fair at the age of ten.

Kevin completed his formal education at Markham District High School. Like many other past presidents he met his future wife Pamela (Evans) from Claremont through his activities at Markham Fair. Kevin and Pamela married on May 15th, 1999. Kevin operates his own business, KPD Signs, located in Goodwood where his family currently resides. They have three children. Daughter Shannon is 9 years old and she would like to play on the Women’s Olympic Hockey Team one day. Daughter Caitlin who is 7 years old, likes to participate in the Children’s Pedal Tractor Pull at the Fair every year. She has won ribbons in the pet show with their family dog, Hunter. Son Devin is 3 and was the Markham Fair Baby contest winner in his category in 2008. The whole family has been involved in the Fair from work bees, supporting the Ambassador Contest, putting up signs, building the decorative straw-bale creatures and walking in the parades.

Kevin and Pamela are both from close-knit families who have been involved in the Markham Fair. Pam remembers being as young as 5 years old when her parents took her to the Fair every year on the Friday night. It was a tradition that was started and carried on even with her sisters and their families. Kevin has many nieces and nephews who have used the Markham Fair as the avenue to gain their volunteer hours for their high school diplomas. Pam’s Aunt Marion (Wells) has been a judge for the Homecraft division for years and her sister Kim has won many ribbons for her entries. Kevin’s brother drives down from Haliburton every year to volunteer on many committees. Kevin feels we need to build on these traditions and make the Markham Fair a tradition for more families and friends.

Over the past seventeen years Kevin has served on many committees including Administration, Building and Maintenance, Concessions, Emergency/Police Services, Governance, Grounds and Landscape, Midway Contacts, Parking and Security, Personnel, Rentals, Sponsorship and Special Attractions. As well he has served in every capacity on the Executive. His wife, Pamela, has worked at the Baby Contest, the Jazz tent and Special Attractions. Kevin and the Special Attractions Committee are currently in negotiations to provide new and exciting entertainment in an effort to draw attendees to the Fair. It takes a lot of planning and hard work to provide the most affordable entertainment for people from all ages and all walks of life. He is focused on providing children with the chance to experience the freedom and joy of rural living, as he did as a youngster. Kevin is thrilled by the large number of children and teachers who visit the Fair and anticipates making their trip even more educational and fun. He looks forward to the challenges and opportunities to interact with many people throughout this year and demonstrate his determined, self-directed skills in promoting Markham Fair.

While agriculture, education and building traditions will be forefront in Kevin’s focus, it is also very important to him that we make viable financially healthy decisions that will help the Fair prosper for years to come. An entire year of dedication is required, along with the experiences of the past, to bring our increasingly urban area a true taste of our rural roots. It is the determination of the President to value and build on these deep roots. As our President Kevin says it is important we remember that although Markham Fair’s deep roots were planted in the past, they are what will help secure our future. We wish President, Kevin Hollands, and the Directors sunshine and large crowds.