KAGAWONG—Billings Township council has given its support to the concept of an Outdoor Angling Trade Fair for the Island, being hosted by Manitoulin Streams Improvement Association (MSIA) with partnerships in the community.

“This is a great opportunity for Billings,” stated Councillor Dave Hillyard at a council meeting last week. “They are looking at what would be kind of like a trade fair but gearing to outdoor angling, fishing, etc,” he said, noting the event will take place in May.

“The event would be like the Manitoulin Island Deer Show which had been held in Manitowaning for a few years,” said Councillor Hillyard. They are looking at possibly hosting the event over the May long weekend, with businesses involved in outdoor and angling being on hand, several speakers and a good education component. “With all the stream and trail work that (MSIA) has done in Kagawong, I think it’s a great opportunity for them to host this event here, and they are talking about holding it on a biannual basis.”

“This sounds like a great project, and good for the community,” said Councillor Vince Grogan.

Council had received correspondence from MSIA, indicating they have started to plan for the event and are seeking in-kind support to use the Kagawong Park Centre for a two-day session in May. The township parks, recreation and wellness committee is in support of this partnership as discussed during the committee meeting on November 27.

Seija Deschenes, coordinator of MSIA explained, “we’re still in the midst of starting to get plans up and running. When we originally applied for funding through FedNor for this type of event, the thought was of how much the pandemic had impacted businesses and how Manitoulin Island is tourism driven. People come to the Island to vacation here or stay at their cottage for the summer and angling/fishing is a big part of this. We had thought that to help the fishing and outdoor businesses and industry, we could look at holding an event that could promote these businesses and the Island. The idea of an outdoor angling trade fair came up.”

“We are hoping to have a two-day event, probably the long weekend in May when people are thinking about getting their boats on the water, coming up to their cottages, and the Chi-Cheemaun ferry season gets started,” continued Ms. Deschenes.

“Businesses involved in the outdoor industry would have the opportunity to be a vendor at the event, along with businesses making artisan goods from the local environment could be involved. We are looking at up to 60 business vendors being involved, food trucks as well as traditional food and artisan food being available. There would also be interactive booths from educational organizations set up.”

The vendors could include outdoors and the angling industry businesses on hand, those selling boats and boating equipment, kayaks, canoes fishing rods, tackle, life jackets and gear, Manitoulin Island fishing charters, ice fishing, Island accommodations and much more.

“Groups like local tourism organizations, North Channel Marine Tourism Council, Manitoulin Island Phragmites, cottager associations, the Lake Kagawong Water Advisory committee, maybe outdoor invasive species booths, Manitoulin Trappers, local fish and game clubs. businesses designed to improve water, tree management services, Wikwemikong Tourism, Fuel the Fire TV, the Manitoulin Secondary School Share/Go Green group might want to be involved, as well as MNFR, OPP and others.”

“We are also looking at having live music, guest speakers on all types of outdoor activities, music, guest speakers, and maybe offer stream tours, and competitions like fly fishing casting, kids’ attractions and other ideas,” said Ms. Deschenes. “All of this is still tentative and as I mentioned we are just starting to get ideas together on everything that we could look at.”

“All the events would be held inside and outside the Park Centre in Kagawong,” said Ms. Deschenes. “We would look for sponsorships and we feel holding an event like this would give us (MSIA) a way to give back to a lot of businesses and organizations who have helped us out so much in the past.”