KAGAWONG—If it’s fun for the entire family you are seeking this weekend the Manitoulin Streams Improvement Association (MSIA) Outdoor Angling Trade Fair will fit the bill.
“We’ve had about 1,000 people online expressing their interest in the event,” said Liam Campbell of MSIA. “We’re hoping to get a crowd of about 2,000 people over the weekend.”
“It will be a fun event for all members of the family,” said Mr. Campbell. “I think the weekend aligns with the walleye fishing season opening, so there will be fisherman coming to the Island anyway.”
“The outdoor angling trade fair will take place in Kagawong on May 18-19. The event will be more than just an angling trade fair, it will include food, music, games, an auction and a fishing derby. Whether you are a business owner, an angler, a tourist or a local, the trade fair is the place to be this May long weekend,” the MSIA online post states.
“There is going to be a kids’ walleye fishing derby with different age categories, and a biggest fish any species division, with over $1,000 in fishing gear and cash prizes, a fly casting for distance competition and there will also be a fly casting for accuracy competition, anchor toss and a boat pull challenge,” said Mr. Campbell. “Blaine Armstrong will be holding a fly fishing demonstration.”
Other kids’ activities include a Science North interactive booth, free face painting, a tour of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Marine Unit vessel and a community passport stamp competition, which will see participants visiting and getting a stamp from businesses and groups. On the latter, “it will be an open competition. We will be giving out passports with businesses and group names on it. The first person that brings back a passport with all the names wins a prize. Participants will have to explore Billings.”
“We have three guest speakers on hand during the weekend including a presentation by Neil Debassige, an avid outdoorsman and host of Fuel the Fire TV, a presentation by Moe Gauthier, owner of Manitoulin Sport Fishing Charters, and Sonny Osawabine of Debajehmujig Story Tellers who will be presenting Odawa foundational teachings.
“We have live musical performances throughout the weekend, with Aiyana Louis, Cole Hughson and Annette Smith,” said Mr. Campbell.
Mr. Campbell said the vendors booths have all been sold out. The trade fair will have a variety of outdoor, angling and artisan booths including businesses selling tackle, bait and other fishing gear, ATVs, kayaks, boats, docks and other outdoor equipment, organizations related to the outdoors, angling and water safety, artisans making goods from the local environment and local food vendors.
All the speakers and singers will take place in the outside arena on the Park Centre grounds, with the other half of the arena featuring vendors. The parking lot and both levels of the Park Centre will be used. In the downstairs area a silent auction, live auction, raffles, and 50/50 ticket and draw sales will take place.
“Its been three years that we (Manitoulin Streams) has been working on this event,” said Mr. Campbell. “We would like this to become a bi-annual event and to move the event around to other communities every fair, so that everyone on the Island can benefit.”
“We are fortunate to have about 30-40 volunteers who will be helping us run the trade fair, including members of the Billings Recreation Committee, the Island Waste Reduction Group, MSS Robotics team, Little Current Fish and Game Club and Lake Manitou Area Association. The township is donating the venue in kind and have been very helpful to us in preparing for this event,” added Mr. Campbell.
For more information and a list of all events taking place during the weekend go online to manitoulinstreams.com and see the ads on Pages 14 and 15 of this newspaper.
