SubscribeNotice of Large Event and Increased Traffic - July 20, 2024 & July 21, 2024
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Radha Soami Society Beas Canada (RSSB)
471360 County Road 11, East Garafraxa, ON
Annual Event
Saturday July 20, 2024 and Sunday July 21, 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
| What is RSSB? |
| Radha Soami Society Beas Canada (RSSB) is a registered religious organization in Canada, with headquarters in India. For more information please visit: https://rssb.org/index.html |
| When did RSSB come to East Garafraxa? |
| In 2016, RSSB purchased the property located on County Road 11, with the intent of establishing a place of worship. In addition, they purchased two adjacent farms and are continuing to actively farm. |
| Does RSSB have the right to be in East Garafraxa and practice their religion? |
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Yes. Township zoning by-laws have allowed places of worship at this location since 2004. After satisfying all the technical studies required by the Township and County of Dufferin, Township Council gave final approval in 2017 to proceed with the development of the site. Since 2020, every Sunday morning, a weekly service has occurred which has been open to the public, where residents of East Garafraxa have also attended. |
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What is the RSSB Annual Event? |
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It is when the Spiritual Leader attends in-person. This is referred to as the Master’s Satsang Program. For more information please see: https://www.torontoprogram.org The expected attendance is 23,000 for each day. |
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What is the Traffic Plan? |
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Please see linked Driving Instructions. In order to minimize traffic congestion near the RSSB Event, please take the assigned route for your origin city and follow the colour-coded directional signs placed along the road. Please note that the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will be assisting with traffic flow near the Event Centre and will direct you towards the best route into the site. |
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Can I attend the RSSB Annual Event? |
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Yes, however, due to the requirement of pre-registration, there may not be space available for this year. For more information please see: https://www.torontoprogram.org Alternatively, please consider attending any Sunday service, which is open to the public and does not require pre-registration. |
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Is this RSSB event allowed in a rural small Township? |
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Yes. All, County, Township, emergency management, and public health regulations/permits have been met. For some historical comparison, in September 2023, the Township of Amaranth hosted 60,000 visitors to the annual plowing match and rural expo. Every year rural Townships in the area host large events such as Fall Fairs and Rodeos that have become part of the local scene. In 2025, rural Caledon will host the Canadian Golf Championship at TPC Osprey Valley expecting very large attendance numbers. |
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I heard the last time this Annual Event occurred it caused significant traffic issues. |
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This is correct. In August 2022 the Annual Event was scheduled on a weekday and was unexpectedly popular. Event planners were not prepared for it. A lot has been learned from the event and has been changed for 2024. |
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What has been done to mitigate traffic concerns? |
Planning for 2024 began soon after the 2022 Annual Event. Some of the items that have been changed include:
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Will this traffic have impact on Township roads? |
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Although the properties are in East Garafraxa, the driveway accesses are on County Roads 3 and 11 and most traffic has been directed to travel on the County Road network. All County roads are engineered at a higher standard and capable of supporting this volume. |
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Can such a large event be stopped and denied from taking place again? |
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No. This is an event held on private property and RSSB has satisfied all zoning requirements and obtained all the necessary permits. Similar to all site developments this was part of the original 2017 approval process. This Annual Event is expected to re-occur each year, in either July or August. |
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What is being done to ensure this event is safe? |
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RSSB has worked with Dufferin County Emergency Management Office in planning for emergency incidents and ensuring all necessary safeguards are in place. Additionally, during the weekend of the Annual Event, the Township will be convening the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), with representation from Police, Fire, Ambulance, Public Health, Hospitals, Public Works and Provincial Emergency Management Officials. This is a very common practice for municipalities and this group has been convened to be able to respond to and/or mitigate any unforeseen incidents that may arise within the Township, at the RSSB property or the traveling public. As a recent example, the Township of Amaranth had convened its EOC during the 2023 plowing match and rural expo. |
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Who is paying for all these costs? |
| As is customary with all approved events held on private property, RSSB will be reimbursing the Township for all expenses related to the Emergency Operations Centre, in addition to the hiring of paid duty OPP. |
| Who can I contact if I have a non-emergency complaint or want to give feedback about the annual event? |
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RSSB has set up a complaint protocol and registry with the following contact information: Martine or Nikki Telephone: (437) 870-4712 Email: sostscinfo@gmail.com |
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Will there be media attending the event? |
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All Media inquires regarding the event, from either domestic or international media outlets, will be referred to RSSB. Media inquiries related to traffic on the day of the event will be managed by the OPP. |