TEHKUMMAH—The excitement is heating up across Manitoulin as South Baymouth gears up for ‘Manitoulin Salutes Chi-Cheemaun’s 50th,’ a celebration of the five decades of service provided by the ferry and the Owen Sound Transportation Company (OSTC).
The Expositor caught up with key organizer John Greenway to talk a bit about the South Baymouth Community Economic Development Association (SBCDA) plans for the Saturday, August 10 event.
The Chi-Cheemaun ferry, and its predecessors, have been important to not only South Baymouth businesses, but all of Manitoulin Islands communities, Indigenous and non-Indigenous and extending well beyond the Island’s shores.
Although touted by one and all as the celebration’s champion, Mr. Greenway offered hearty thanks to his fellow committee members. He is a past president of the host SBCDA.
“We need to thank the OSTC for all their assistance,” said Mr. Greenway. Walk-on admission to the ferry will be at half-price for the day.
The main official remarks will take place at 2:30 pm on Saturday, August 10 and both Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes and Algoma-Manitoulin MP Mike Mantha have been invited to speak along with Tehkummah Mayor John Deforge. “We have invited the leadership of M’Chigeeng and Wiikwemkoong,” added Mr. Greenway.
The day will start out with a breakfast barbecue from 9 am to 11 am on Saturday morning, complemented with a craft and vendors’ market from 10 am to 3 pm. Throughout the day there will be displays and booths set up, some highlighting the history of the ferry service.
At 11 am to 2 pm there will be a barbecue lunch, with a parade at 11:30 am moving through the downtown streets. An antique car show takes place at 1 pm to 5 pm and a street dance gets underway from 8:30 pm to 10 pm and culminates with fireworks at 10 pm.
“This will be an opportunity to show our appreciation Island-wide,” said Mr. Greenway. “Let’s get out and show the Chi-Cheemaun a special Manitoulin Island welcome.”
