ASSIGINACK—The Municipality of Assiginack is the latest of the Island municipalities to see the benefit of having a full-time events coordinator on staff and has recently added Jackie White of Manitowaning in this capacity to the township roster. Ms. White is excited to bring even more events to the already bustling arts-filled community, noting that this is the first time the community has had the position of project and events coordinator. “Council is taking a very proactive approach in establishing this position within the community,” she said.
“The council recognizes what a wonderful place Assiginack is and wants to promote it so that visitors and residents alike know all the fun activities you can do here,” Ms. White said. “They want to encourage smaller-type events that can be done more frequently, yet still benefit the residents.”
The events coordinator said she has been fortunate to work with “some very dedicated people in organizations within the community and on a national level, gaining a lot of experience in creating and carrying out events. I am hopeful that those experiences will lend themselves to this position.”
Ms. White said the year is proving to be an exciting one so far.
The public works crew is now dumping snow at the entrance to the Manitowaning racetrack in such a way to make climbing hills for kids, she explained. “As well, on their own time they have taken a groomer and created a fantastic sliding hill from the information booth on Highway 6 right down to the track. They even cleared out the parking lot so you can drive right in and hit the hill.”
“Earlier this month we had two-time author Terry Johnson come to our library to talk about her newly released book ‘Ice Dogs,’ Ms. White continued. “When she is not writing, she is a conservation officer and in the past has been a musher and park ranger, so she is extremely entertaining.”
On March 12, the municipality is also hosting a craft night for kids and adults to learn with some “fabulous instructors” in six different areas of the crafting world, Ms. White shared.
Hunters can mark August on their calendars when Assiginack brings the first ever Whitetail Deer Show with one of the famed Beasley brothers of the hit television show ‘Canada in the Rough’ as guest speaker. The show will have vendors and exhibitors as well as a Foundation for the Recognition of Ontario Wildlife (FROW) measurer for a shed competition—so start looking for those abandoned antlers!
“We have a few other projects in the preliminary stages but we don’t want to divulge them until we can roll them out completely,” Ms. White said. “We also have a brand new blog where you can find out what is going on in our community at assiginack.blogspot.ca. As well, our website is undergoing changes and we have added a ‘coming events’ section so you can plan to join us.”
Ms. White urges all Assiginack residents with ideas for events to contact her at the municipal office, 705-859-3196.
