MANITOWANING—The Manitowaning Fall Fair has been going strong for more than 138 years and as Northern Ontario’s longest continually running agricultural fair it continues to serve up the very best examples of what rural living has to offer.
The doors were barely open when attendees of all ages began to flock into the Assiginack arena to take in the hundreds of exhibits and displays and to enthusiastically applaud Jacqueline Bryant, winner of this year’s volunteer appreciation award, before settling in to listen to the music of Robbie Shawana and friends.
Assiginack Deputy Reeve Paul Moffat was joined by Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Mantha in presenting Ms. Bryant with the community’s highest volunteer recognition award. “You can always count on Jackie to step up and help out,” said Deputy Reeve Moffat. “She has always been an incredible volunteer and community minded citizen.”
For the kids there were games galore taking place out in the main foyer, with DJ ScratchleyQ providing a musical background to get things pumping. The squeals of delight and laughter rang out across the room as children chased beach balls and raced Hot Wheels down the racetrack as amused parents and grandparents looked on.
The next day’s festivities really began with the annual parade and its rural themed floats and riders were a great hit with all.
Once back at the arena grounds, there were pet shows, displays by Manitoulin Streams, Hydro One and the Michael’s Bay Historical Society to peruse before heading out to the pet show, the horse show or the horse pull.
John Castelton MCs the horse pull from the traditional back of the pickup truck sound system where he had the pleasure of announcing John Graham from Tehkummah in first place in the light weight division with his team of horses named Snap and Bell and Kevin Gilbert of Purple Valley in the heavyweight division with his horses Dan and Sam.
Results from the horse show had not arrived by press time, but the turnout was most certainly enhanced by the spanking new horse corral built by the Township of Assiginack for such events. The solid construction of the new facility will ensure a safe environment for the horse show for many years to come.
One of the few disappointments of the weekend was the last minute cancellation of the dunk tank. MPP Mike Mantha was so disappointed at the prospect of not getting soaked, that he searched for a suitable aquiline substitute. “I brought my suit just for the occasion,” said Mr. Mantha. “We can’t let an opportunity like this pass.”
Soon a chair was set up at the stage under the gazebo, with a pyramid of cans stacked for the young folks to knock over with a well-aimed tennis ball. Mr. Mantha was soon soaked to the skin, not once, but several times. Never has a politician worked so hard for so long to end up all wet.
