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Our Story

Earl, Sierra and Kendra Stanley
Earl, Sierra and Kendra Stanley

Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane FarmTM is a treasured family-owned working farm.

Since we opened the doors in 1993, an abundance of love, devotion and hard work from three generations of Stanley’s have gone into the farm.

Earl Stanley, his daughters & nieces, his siblings Ron, Kathy and Karen & Erik, and parents all help out to make sure your visit to our farm is one to remember!

Over the years a great number of extended family, friends and neighbours have also helped from gathering sap to baking cookies.

Stanley’s wouldn’t be Stanley’s without the love, dedication, hard work (and the occasional hug), and inspiration of the late Joy Stanley.
We miss you so much.

Located just 25 minutes from downtown Ottawa, Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm™ has quickly become the National Capital Region’s premier reception destination for your Wedding, Company Retreat, or other group function.

(L-R) Ron, Art & Earl Stanley

Our History

 

 

Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm has been in business since 1993 however the farm’s history goes back over 200 years! The land that the farm is on was granted to the Loney family in 1786. Over the next 200 years each generation of Loney’s worked hard to build up and farm the land, and every spring they would tap the hundreds of maple trees on the property in order to enjoy the delicious maple syrup that the sap produced!

 

In 1850, after the originl homestead was destroyed in a fire the Loney family commissioned the building of the Stonehouse that exists on the farm today. Then in 1867 the family built a brand new barn, this is the same barn that now houses all of our animals. John Loney was born in 1916 and lived his whole life on the farm until his passing in 1992. The Stanley family were relatives and  longtime friends of the Loney’s and Earl and his siblings grew up helping collect and produce maple syrup every spring.

 

It was through these experiences that they grew to love the property and eventually on July 1st, 1993 Earl and his brother Ron Stanley took possession of the farm. With help from family and friends over the next year Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm opened for its first Maple Syrup Season in 1994. Since then the Pancake House has grown from seating 20 to over 300 at once and we still show the original way maple syrup was produced on the farm over 100 years ago.

 

 

Over time the business has evolved to become a beautiful wedding and conference centre, Earl and his late wife Joy were married right here on the farm in 1997. With water features, beautiful gardens, towering maples and 2 venues each with their own appeal, Stanley’s has become one of the premier wedding and events destinations in the city of Ottawa but still opens its gates to the public each spring when the sap flows!

Earl, his daughters and family continue to come up with ideas to improve and expand the business in these changing times!

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Our Team

Earl Stanley
Earl Stanley
Owner/Visionary

Earl and his brother Ron have been running the farm since 1993, when they purchased the land from the Loney Family. Having helped the previous owners with farm operations and maple syrup production, Earl was eager to maintain farm operations while also pushing the land to reach its full potential. Because of his deep love for the farm, Earl and his late wife Joy decided it was the perfect place to host their wedding. Thrilled with the results, they decided to continue to create a beautiful location and reception spaces for other couples to enjoy, just as they did. With the help of their daughters, family, and many friends, Earl continues to run Stanley’s as a 250-acre working farm and thriving event space. Despite Joy’s passing in 2014, Earl continues to carry on their mission: educating visitors, entertaining guests and clients, and serving fresh and quality products at the farm. His imagination, spirit, and dedicated work ethic keep the dream that he and Joy shared at the forefront of all daily operations.

Kathy Gutscher driving away in 4-wheeler
Kathy Gutscher
Office Manager

Kathy joined the family business on a temporary basis in 2005 to lend her brother Earl a hand...and never left! Many years later, she remains an essential member of the team, managing the office and leading operations for the Farmshop and gardens. From planting flowers to curating the shelves with homemade and farm-made products, Kathy ensures that everything reflects the quality and care Stanley’s is known for. When she has spare time, she can often be found bottling maple syrup from our sugar bush or capturing photos of life around the farm.

Ron Stanley
Farm Manager

Ron worked with his brother Earl to purchase the farm in 1993 and soon took the lead on managing agricultural operations. His deep knowledge of farming, herd management, and animal care has helped expand our herd, produce high-quality beef, and maintain a thriving farm. You can often find Ron tending to the cattle, feeding the animals, or serving as a coachman for weddings, when he’s not spending time with his three daughters or sneaking a taste of maple taffy.

Sierra Stanley
Front-of-House Manager

Sierra Stanley brings a wealth of experience from various professional fields to her role as Front of House Manager. With over 8 years in the events industry, Sierra has developed a keen eye for detail and a knack for ensuring seamless event execution. She is known for her professionalism and expertise, making sure every event runs smoothly. Her role involves coordinating staff, managing service, and ensuring that every small detail is perfect. Her dedication and meticulous approach are key to the success of our events. In her free time, Sierra loves exploring the outdoors with her partner and their dog, Sunny Muffins. She loves the outdoors so much that she even started our very first summer camp here at the farm - Stanley’s Forest & Farm Camp!

Kendra Stanley
Wedding & Event Coordinator

Kendra has been part of the farm her entire life and officially joined the team full-time after graduating from St. Lawrence College’s Hospitality and Tourism Management program in 2020. As Kitchen Manager, she ensures that every dish served at Stanley’s is delicious and prepared with care, drawing on her lifelong experience in the family business. While she’s skilled in all areas of operations her true passion shines through in her baking, which adds a special homemade touch to our events and farm offerings.

Colin Gallagher
Operations Manager

Having grown up in the area, Colin has been coming to Stanley’s for as long as he can remember. Since joining the team in 2016, he has worked in nearly every role—including server, supervisor, bartender, farmhand, maple taffy maker, and more—gaining a deep understanding of how the farm operates. Today, Colin is the primary contact for couples and clients reaching out to plan or book their events, using his extensive knowledge to help bring each vision to life. Colin and his wife, Sierra, actually met at the farm and were married here in 2024. Sierra also works part-time at the farm as an Event Supervisor and Day-Of-Coordinator.

Francis Arcand
Wedding & Event Coordinator

Francis is the Wedding and Event Manager here at the farm. He grew up in a neighboring town and as such is familiar with the area and with country life. That, combined with his passion for design and his expertise in event planning and coordination makes him your perfect ally when planning your wedding or event here at Stanley’s! Francis will meet with you to plan the look and design of your event as well as be your contact person throughout the planning process to iron out all the details. On the day of your event he will make sure your vision comes to life!

Boo
Morale Officer

Boo takes his job very seriously — when he’s not napping, bird-watching, or demanding pets. He’s the first to greet guests (when he feels like it) and keeps the office running smoothly with his expert supervision from the nearest sunny spot. Whether he’s wandering into meetings, helping with “paperwork,” or simply offering stress relief in the form of head boops, Boo ensures there’s never a dull moment at the farm. He might even poke his head out during your event just to see what’s going on.

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