MANITOULIN—Harvest Glory Days, the effort by The Expositor Office to encourage communities to decorate in a fall harvest theme, is in its second decade now.
Here are some of the judges’ observations after 10-plus years of visiting all Island communities at this time of year, year after year.
First of all, there is much more of an abundance of home flower gardens in municipalities and First Nations, in addition to the ones seen in public places, (these are often if not usually the work of volunteers,) that is evident throughout Manitoulin.
The other observation is that, in addition to large displays involving corn stalks, pumpkins, scarecrows, hay/straw bales that are, in fact, installations, there is a plethora of homes, and this is evident everywhere, where myriad homeowners have taken the time to put one or two pumpkins, (or similar) at that front doors or somewhere on their properties, visible from the street or highway.
These are indeed Harvest Glory Day displays and so The Expositor Office acknowledges and thanks everyone who has taken the time to celebrate this special season in any way possible.
Through the course of this Harvest Glory Days “friendly competition” among all Island First Nations and municipalities, those communities boasting the largest abundance of displays, on public and private properties, large and small, are rewarded with a large and colourful roadside sign that attests to high levels of community spirit, as evidenced by the amount of seasoned decor on display. In subsequent years, these winners are awarded an additional “leaf” to add to their signs to indicate that, once again, they’ve maintained the standards that won them recognition in the first place.
This year, there is no change from 2023 and the same communities continue to decorate at the same high standard.
In the small community category, Spring Bay will once again get a leaf for its sign.
In the mid-sized community category, leaves will go again to Sheguiandah, Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation and Providence Bay.
In the large community category, once again Manitowaning (that has been a winner right from the start), Mindemoya and Gore Bay will get leaves attesting to the community spirit in evidence.
Congratulation- and thanks- to all who took the time to decorate at any level, both on public and private property.
There is a sampling of photos of displays from the various communities in this paper in addition to a list of those who took the time to register their addresses.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
by HGD Judges
