The large population of Dutch Canadians living in Clearview Township is owed mainly to Canada’s role in liberating the Netherlands from German occupation during the Second World War. When the war ended, hundreds of thousands of displaced persons fled Europe, and a large percentage of these people were Dutch farmers who settled in Clearview to cultivate the land. To honour the enduring act of bravery and kindness that the Canadian soldiers bestowed upon the citizens of Holland during the liberation, service groups band together each year to host the Stayner Tulip Festival.

The Festival welcomes hundreds of visitors each year, with strong representation from the Dutch community. It features storytelling sessions and remarks from immigrants who lived through the war and settled in the area afterwards, as well as appearances from local historians and knowledge keepers eager to share their stories with the next generation.

The event is spearheaded by the Stayner Garden Club with input from other groups including the Kinsmen Club, Lions Club, and local library. For more information, visit https://www.discoverclearview.ca/community-events/signature-events/clearview-tulip-days