MANITOWANING—The Assiginack Library Annual Easter Egg Hunt celebrated 30 years with this past weekend’s event and those attending have been coming out to collect the colourful Easter confections for multiple generations.
The hunt has been conducted on the property of Les and Delmer Fields for all of those 30 years and more. “It’s been 30 years with the library and we had it for a few years before that,” said Ms. Fields.
Asked why her family has hosted the event for all these years, Ms. Fields becomes quite animated. “Why?” she repeats, “Why? Because it’s fun!”
Ms. Fields went on to explain that “it’s a great community activity.”
Looking out across the Fields’ fields both those sentiments are clearly illustrated by the squeals of delight echoing across the pastures and the bright winter clothing of scampering children seen through the snow and brush.
“Grandparents, moms and dads and kids of all ages come out every year,” said Ms. Fields. “Some of the young people who started with it are now helping to hide the eggs and coming back with their own children. It’s become a generational thing.”
Ms. Fields said that the social occasion is a lot of fun for many of the older folks who come out to watch from behind the yellow tape delineating the “adult free zone” marking the edge of the fields. “We tried a lot of things over the years, but one thing we found out, it’s a lot easier if you keep the adults out,” laughed Ms. Fields. “The kids are old enough to go looking for themselves.”
Assiginack Librarian Debbie Robinson stood on a truck bed above the waiting crowd to direct each age group to their assigned egg hunting grounds and to lay down the ground rules (of which there weren’t many, basically staying inside the tape line and to be courteous to your fellow hunters) and to advise the eager hunters that that some of the plastic eggs could be redeemed for cash prizes.
Volunteers in bright construction vests are stationed around the fields at the tapeline to ensure the children do not wander too far afield in their excitement. For the younger set, the candies and bright coloured plastic eggs are “hidden” on the lawn close to the house.
“We have 12 to 15 people who come out to hide eggs and to volunteer their time,” noted Ms. Fields. She attributes much of the success to the members of the community who come out to help. “It’s easy,” she grins.
As to the social nature of the event, Ms. Fields points out that many people come home to the Island at Easter time. “Once you have gone to church and you have the big dinner waiting for you at home, what else is there to do?” she asked. “There are even some of our summer people who come up for Easter.”
Ms. Fields doesn’t see the event fading any time soon. “It really doesn’t get any better than this,” she said.
photos by Michael Erskine
