The 61st Annual Rockhound Gemboree in the Town of Bancroft has come and gone, and for Mayor Paul Jenkins it is a time to look back on the history of the popular event.
The first Gemboree took place in 1963 with a few dozen volunteers and exhibitors with a few tents and a room at the local Legion. Jenkins said it grew to the point where it took place at the arena but eventually added the curling club as it became the largest gem and mineral show in Canada.
“It’s also been identified almost every year as a top 100 festivals in Ontario. It is a big deal and a lot of it is based on the unique geology in the region and as a result of that, all the rich minerals that are present.”
Visitors come from all over Canada, Europe and the United States.
“It’s not just about gems and rocks. There are also a lot of seminars on various topics like paleontology. Last year, I went to the T-Rex presentation.”
The town purchased the Gemboree from the local chamber of commerce in 2020 thanks in large part to rising costs to hold the event. Jenkins said it was becoming increasingly difficult for the chamber to earn a profit.
“Then what happened? COVID. It was shut down for two years, but this was our fifth year of operating it. We have more resources and staff, and it is all accounted for. It’s just easier for an organization like the town to put it on because we already have the resources that it takes.”
The event continues to be a big economic driver for the town as Airbnb’s, motels, restaurants and shops were full all weekend.
Jenkins added it’s part of Bancroft’s identity and it has helped put it on the map as a tourist destination.
“We’ve had vendors from Texas. People know where we are and who we are. It is definitely part of our identity. I am sure it causes some inconvenience for some of the locals because of the traffic. We have so much traffic going through here now because it’s a long weekend…It’s additional, but a lot of it is already here.”
