Timmins’ little kayak festival is starting to attract some big attention.
Festivals and Events Ontario, the non-profit organizational body that promotes events in the province, named the Great Canadian Kayak Challenge and Festival one of the Top 100 Festivals for 2015 for excelling within the industry.
“This event has taken on a life of its own,” said Guy Lamarche, the city’s manager of tourism, events and communications.
Now going into its seventh year, the three-day event has grown from modest beginnings to a premier attraction for paddling enthusiasts around the globe.
Held Aug. 28 to 30 on the Mattagami River, the festival features workshops, entertainment, vendors, water excursions, and, of course, kayak races.
The 2015 edition has expanded and will feature some new elements, Lamarche said.
“We expect a much bigger show this year. From a corporate standpoint, we raised more corporate dollars in cash this year than all previous years.”
As the province marks the 400th anniversary of French presence in Ontario in 2015, Timmins has also been able to tap into additional funding to tie in activities and events that celebrate French culture, including a play that tells the story of the voyageurs.
Entertainment has also been expanded and a variety of food vendors will be featured as well.
“The culinary experience associated with the festival has grown,” Lamarche said. “We opened it up last year, and much to our surprise, there was a fairly good uptake, and I suspect this year it will be no different.”
The children’s program has been broadened, and Lamarche is in talks with Parks Canada and the World Wildlife Fund to bring their programming to the mix.
Now that the festival is growing and starting to gain traction, more sponsors and participants are seeking to get involved.
“At this point, it’s not always us reaching out, trying to grab some of the low-hanging fruit, but it’s others reaching out to us, looking for an opportunity because they’ve heard about us,” said Lamarche.
When they arrive, festival-goers will be greeted by a noticeably spruced up Timmins.
The city is installing new signage featuring the updated “I’m in” logo and colours throughout the city, and refurbished artifacts from the defunct gold mine tour are being reintroduced to various host sites.
A self-guided tour has been created around the items. Added to the offerings is the Summer Concert Series and its industrial tours.
