PROVIDENCE BAY—Once again, the annual Dewar family sugar shack syrup auction has been a record setting one, with the winning bid for the first litre of maple syrup produced this year being significantly higher than any previous auction.
“It was certainly a very entertaining year, and everyone’s bids made it a very successful year,” stated Travis Dewar. “Karlene Scott was the bidding agent for a group called ‘The Wild Hogs,’ who won the auction with a bid of $2,100. The auction was a record year for us as two heavy hitters went toe to toe and drove the auction to new heights. Someone came forward known as Anonymous and challenged The Wild Hogs. They went bid for bid beyond anything we could have ever imagined.”
“In the end, The Wild Hogs won the auction and Anonymous committed to matching their bid of $2,000 as a donation,” continued Mr. Dewar. “The previous auction record for the first litre of syrup was $1,200, so the $2,100 winning bid by The Wild Hogs far outdistanced that amount.”
“The Wild Hogs and Anonymous went back and forth in challenging each other,” said Mr. Dewar. “At times I was in tears watching the videos they would post on our Facebook page. They certainly kept everyone on the edge of their seat to see who would have the highest bid.”
“With the top bid and all donations collected, this year’s auction raised $4,550 for the Northern Cancer Foundation, which is a record year,” said Mr. Dewar.
Mr. Dewar explained The Wild Hogs are made up of former Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) friends Rob Scott, Roger Hammond, Bryn Casson, Gordon Smith, John Gilchrist, Scott McDougall, Oliver Grigull, Lee Hayden and Jed Graham.
This year marked the ninth annual auction. The auction was first held in 2015, and previous to this year, the auction has raised $12,271 in bids and donations. The funds raised goes to the Northern Cancer Foundation. “Every single penny makes massive positive impacts on those undergoing cancer treatment in Northern Ontario,” Mr. Dewar observed.
While the bidding on the first litre of maple syrup the first year was $150, the bids have surpassed $1,000 three times with the highest in 2022, when $1,200 was bid on the first litre of maple syrup.
