The Canada Day celebrations, hosted by the town of Blind River, hosted a special event known as “The Race.”
The event was organized on behalf of the town by its Community Engagement Coordinator Tammy Olsen.
The event was fashioned after the popular TV reality show The Amazing Race and had racers challenged with some detours and roadblocks where only one of the two-member teams could participate.
“The race, this is the first time and it’s the launching of a new event for us,” she told ElliotLakeToday following the official opening.
It was divided between teams with one member over 18 years old and the other under-18. There was also a mini race for children five-and-under.
Mayor Sue Jensen took part in the official opening celebrations at noon on Canada Day with members of her council and welcomed all to the celebration, including Americans who had docked their boats at the marina.
The mayor said Canada Day events have been held at the marina for the past three years for better accessibility for all attending.
“We had 33 teams race through 16 stations three of which were detours so 19 stations in all,” Olsen said of the success of the first-time race. “The winning team was Farm Girls Strong, Chantalle Thomas and Kate Trivers with a race time of 43 minutes.”
“All racers in the mini racer station walked away a winner, every mini racer winning bubbles and a freezie,” Olsen added.
The mayor said any money made from the celebrations will “go back to the community.”
The Marine Café hosted a barbecue and the local Legion color party also helped at the official opening.
About 13 local service clubs, organizations and volunteer groups with information booths to talk with visitors about the work they do in the community.
The town hosted a fireworks display in the evening.