Canoe race added to Chapple’s centennial bash

The call is out to all canoeists across the district to sign up for the “Mighty Manitou to the Booming Barwick” canoe race slated Sunday, Aug. 1 in conjunction with Chapple’s centennial celebrations.
Registration starts at 2:30 p.m. on the day of the race at the landing just below the Manitou Rapids. The race is set to begin at 3:30 p.m. sharp.
Entry fee is $10, with an 80 percent pay-out for the first five places. Trophies and T-shirts also will be awarded.
“A couple of guys decided we should have a canoe race from the Manitou landing to Barwick,” noted Rilla Race, one of the Chapple centennial organizers.
Phil Huziak and Marlin Carr are the brains behind the race, Race said. They can be reached at 487-9901 and 487-2250 respectively for more information.
“They just decided this is something they’d like to do,” Race said. “We [the committee] said if you want to look after it and organize it, go for it.”
Each canoe–which can be made of wood, fibreglas, or aluminum–must have two people in it and be at least 12 feet in length. Paddles must be standard size, and no motors or sails can be used.
All entrants must supply their own equipment and wear lifejackets for the entire race. No alcohol in permitted in the canoe and no canoeist may be under the influence to enter.
Spotter boats will be out on the river to enforce the rules, as well as provide a safety measure.
Canoeists, who must sign a waiver when they register, enter at their own risk (the Township of Chapple, Chapple Heritage Committee, Chapple Recreation Council, the Rainy River First Nations, and any members thereof assume no responsibility for any accidents that may occur during the race).
Meanwhile, the Chapple Heritage Committee is wrapping up its preparations for the centennial, which kicks off July 30.
Race said about 625 people have registered so far although she suspected as many as 1,000 people will attend the activities at different times over the Civic holiday weekend.
“A lot of locals didn’t register because you registered if you wanted the meals provided,” she noted.
The official opening goes July 30 at 2:30 p.m. at the Barwick Hall. People can pick up their registration packages there that evening at 7 p.m., Race said.
“On Saturday morning [July 31], there’s a parade at 10 a.m.,” she added. “The afternoon is mostly taken up with tours of various places, such as the OSB mill and interpretive centre.”
You don’t need to be registered to attend these events, Race said, noting anyone across the district is welcome.
But Race stressed you must be registered to attend the supper at the Barwick Hall on the Saturday night. Numbers at the dance afterwards also will be limited.
“Part of the registration was the free ticket for the dance,” she said. “We’ll only sell dance tickets if there’s room in the hall [but] we have a lot of people that probably won’t stick around for the dance.”
Fireworks are set to go Sunday, Aug. 1 over the river right after dusk, with a come-and-go tea planned on the holiday Monday (Aug. 2) as a way of saying goodbye to all the visitors.
The municipality has put in 16 camp sites near its office for the event, Race said, and a few sites were still available.
“We haven’t had any calls from people saying they didn’t have a place to stay,” she said, noting people were responsible for their own accommodations.
“I know we booked out the Emo Inn early,” she added.