Wow, 15 years already! Dr. Dale Scott started this endeavour a decade and a half back to raise money for the Mindemoya Hospital Renovation and Expansion fund. To date, what started out as Dale and a couple of dedicated individuals has become a great success and has raised thousands with his two day fun and fitness fundraiser. The trek is on September 24-25th or portions thereof, your choice. The “Full Monty’ or less-than?! Visit the ‘Tour de Meldrum’ on Facebook for details.
Keeping the two-wheeled events going, the McLeans Relay is coming up on September 3rd on the gorgeous mountain bike trail in Assiginack. It, like other events, is back after a two-year hiatus! The McLean’s relay challenges riders to see how many laps they can complete in 6 hours. Try it solo, or in teams of 2-4 people. The course consists of about 6km of challenging, but fun singletrack with very little climbing.
The race entry fee is $20, to be paid on-site before the race. All proceeds will be donated to a worthy cause. Draw prizes will be provided by Breakaway Sports. For information you can email: caroline.black39@gmail.com with your team info.
Wiikwemkoong’s Mackenzie Shigwadja and her partner Kyren Lazore (hailing from Six Nations) have both been demonstrating their prowess in lacrosse.
Mackenzie is now a veteran on the varsity team at Brock University in St. Catherines.
Kyren, for his part, won the silver medal recently at the World Junior Lacrosse Championships. Playing for team Haudenosaunee, they defeated Team USA and played Canada for gold in the finals and came away with the silver.
It is encouraging to see that the Manitoulin Panthers have announced that their tryout registration is now open. The deadline to register is Sept 16th. On their website (manitoulinpathers.com), click on the Registration Link tab to register. The schedule of tryout and development skates are to be posted soon.
Cape Croker’s Nawash Sin is now the seven-time All Ontario First Nation champs with Lyle Baibomcowai and Mike Abotossaway critical to the team’s success over the last, say, seven years! The All-Ontario First Nations Championship was recently played on the Saugeen FN. Lyle won the award for the top catcher of the whole weekend.
The all local team, Wiikwemkoong’s Sons of Pitches (Gerry’s Kids!) had their best result ever getting into four games with a two and two record! Congratulations to Coach Gerard Baibomcowai and players: Brandon Pheasant, Nelson Morningstar, Warren Simon, Michael Aiabens, Jesse Peltier, Jordan Trudeau, Ralph Gonawabi, Gregory Trudeau-Paquette, Jonas Aiabens, Darren Zack, Evan Peltier and CJ Newberry.
Dan Fletcher’s Manitoulin School of Martial Arts is returning to the Mindemoya Hall as their dojo this season. The school is a multi-discipline karate school that specializes in Goju Ryu style and self defence. This will be their 12th season on Manitoulin and they just keep on growing! Wednesday, September 14th will mark their registration day as well as their first class. The evening begins with a Mixed Ages class from 6 pm to 7:15 pm and then an all-ages, Specialized Techniques Class from then until 8:45 pm.
Contact can be made by phone at 705-348-0455 or through email: renshidanf@gmail.com
The Wiikwemkoong Development Commission – Enaadmaagehgik “People Helping People” is putting the call out for entries to support their $15,000 goal of supporting youth for student bursaries. The fun begins on September 9 with a four-person scramble “Poker Run” format. There are all kinds of special awards through the day including two, ‘hole in one’ challenges for $15,000 total, putting, driving, poker hands, etc!
The team fee of $600 includes dinner, cart and registration gift. Sign-up starts at 8:00 AM with respective tee times to follow starting at 9:00 AM. For more information, contact Jamie Oshkabewisens at 705-859-3001 ext. 231 or by email at spassistant@wikydevcom.ca or just visit: www.rainbowridgegolfcourse.com.
Back in the NOJHL, Espanola has been ramping up to join the Northern Ontario Hockey League once again with a new moniker, the Espanola Paper Kings. The team has already secured an affiliation with the nearby Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League and the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL have officially confirmed a player alignment with the Espanola Paper Kings for the upcoming 2022-2023 season. The team is quickly whittling down its roster and will definitely have some Manitoulin looks as they don a new jersey and new attitude. Go Paper Kings!
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