MANITOULIN—The heavy snowfall that hit the area last Thursday certainly did not slow down the annual Easter egg hunts that took place in Gore Bay and at least two other Island locations last weekend. “Everyone had a wonderful time,” stated Amber Merrylees, who has organized the Easter Egg hunt held on the property of Lily Third on the East Bluff of Gore Bay for 25 plus years. “The Easter egg hunt has to take place on Good Friday at 11 am whether there is rain, shine, snow or whatever.”
“We had a great crowd on hand again this year, maybe a little less kids than last year because people couldn’t get out to the event due to the snow over night,” said Ms. Merrylees. She had her truck and a family friend, Elizabeth, dig out paths for the children to travel on to get the chocolate Easter egg treats and Edeana Merrylees, Julie Mitchell and Nate Cooper had been out earlier in the morning hiding the chocolate Easter egg treats in the snow.
Sponsors of chocolate treats included the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 514 in Gore Bay, Manitoulin Transport Social Club, Carnaby Chocolates (based out of Toronto), Freddie’s Welding, Dennis and Dawn McCann of McCann Concrete, Deans Valu-Mart, Barney’s Bargain Barn in Manitowaning, Jill Windsor Tax Returns, “and our special parents who also supported us by buying chocolate Easter eggs for the kids.”
“There was lots of kids, and lots of smiles,” said Ms. Merrylees. “And the parents were saying the kids enjoyed the hunt a little more this year because they had to dig for the eggs in the snow. When they filled their Ziploc bags it looked like cotton candy.”
On Friday, under beautiful sunny skies, the Billings Recreation Committee also hosted a large group of children for its Easter egg hunt held in the Park Centre area.
Meanwhile, in Mindemoya plastic eggs with chocolate treats inside them were scattered throughout the ball field adjacent to the Lions Pavilion. The event is organized by April Watson, Stephanie Gray and Erin Lariviere with the support and donations by the municipality of Central Manitoulin for the chocolate eggs and prizes.
