MANITOULIN—Drive around Manitoulin: the results speak for themselves. People have decorated in the Harvest Glory Days theme, and there are lots of new participants.
It’s always good to have a champion for any cause and the success of this Expositor initiative, over the past dozen-plus years, has been usually rooted in one or two individuals deciding to get involved to “pretty up” their particular community.
And so it is this year with Little Current that will be the latest recipient of a roadside sign that declares this town has joined the ranks of Harvest Glory Day-winning communities.
In Little Current, the hard work of Lisa Hallaert was helped along by volunteers Bernie Belanger and Linda Bowerman among many others. Congratulations to the Port of Little Current where bullrushes, besides being readily available and free to gather, have made a difference along with the kid-friendly displays downtown where kids can measure up beside a cornstalk or poke their faces through sunflowers for family photos.
Every other community that has previously qualified for Harvest Glory Days bragging rights with a sign attesting to their demonstrable sense of community spirit will once again receive a 2025 leaf to add to their signs. These include: Mindemoya, Aundeck Omni Kaning, Gore Bay, Manitowaning, Providence Bay and Spring Bay.
Some things to watch for: nicely decorated farm gates on Highway 540 just before Ice Lake (Kagawong side,) the Beange farm gate (kitty-corner from Burt’s Country Meats), all through Providence Bay, but particularly the main drive into town.
Sheguiandah has very nice displays at Batman’s Mill and down at the Government Dock gazebo, two manikin couples are stepping the light fantastic (and the signs says dances are only $5 each.)
Manitowaning’s and Mindemoya’s displays are consistent along the main travelled roads of the communities, but there are surprises throughout the residential neighbourhoods.
Spring Bay has once again decorated five antique tractors in Harvest Glory Day colours from one end of town to the other and Gore Bay is nicely decorated in its neighbourhoods but, because of construction, the usually whimsical displays downtown couldn’t be mounted this year. Next year though, we can expect downtown Gore Bay to be “lit up” for Harvest Glory Days.
Downtown Kagawong has great displays around the corner anchored by the Chocolate Works. In Honora, the Bond Family has once again filled their yard with whimsy (also involving tractors.)
Please refer to the list of addresses and accompanying map on page 16 where you can see precisely who has decorated and registered. The space below shows representative photos of this year’s displays.
Happy Thanksgiving.
