Ontario’s prettiest village to celebrate its rich history
A Manitoulin Island village is set to commemorate its rich history next month.
Kagawong calls itself ‘Ontario’s prettiest village’ and takes its name from an Ojibwe word meaning “where the mists rise from the falling waters.” The natural beauty on which the village sits would be enough of a reason for the village to celebrate but the fishing and timber centre that it first established was the heart of the area.
The falling and flowing waters of the Kagawong River once powered the Kagawong Mill. The mill, built in 1925, produced paper before being converted in 1932 to generate hydro-electricity until its closure in 1949.
The mill has been converted into a museum, the Old Mill Heritage Centre, which will host the History Day event at the Park Centre on Aug. 8.
An undated photo of the exterior of the Old Mill Heritage Centre Museum in Kagawong. (Old Mill Heritage Centre/Facebook)
This year’s theme is ‘Tragedy and Triumph on Lake Huron.'
The event will feature the tragic tale of the Rhu, a 24-foot vessel that sank on Aug. 23, 1965, while it was travelling from Little Current to Gore Bay, killing four people.
An undated photo of the pulpit inside the Kagawong Anglican Church is from the bow of the ill-fated Rhu. (Old Mill Heritage Centre/Facebook)
Former journalist Mike Strobel has done extensive research on the Rhu and will present his findings, including an interview he had with a survivor of the wreckage at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
“When you understand the, you know, the personal crisis they all faced, they all faced the drama, the guilt. There's all kinds of human emotion in there,” said Strobel.
“It's no longer just a, you know, ‘x’ number of people died in a shipwreck and, you know, the North Channel in 1965 – it's now it brings it alive.”
The event will also include tales of the Chi-Cheemaun as it marks its 50th year of service on Georgian Bay.
The MS Chi-Cheemaun's maiden voyage of its historic 50th season. (Ian Campbell/CTV News Northern Ontario)
Admission to the History Day event is free – but the Old Mill Heritage Centre said it welcomes any donations.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Environmental racism': First Nations leaders claim cancer-causing contamination was covered up
The people of Fort Chipewyan believe the federal government believe the federal government knew its water was contaminated and hid the issue for years. Now the chief of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation is leading the call for immediate action.
Death toll from Hurricane Helene rises to 227 as grim task of recovering bodies continues
The death toll from Hurricane Helene inched up to 227 on Saturday as the grim task of recovering bodies continued more than a week after the monster storm ravaged the Southeast and killed people in six states.
Car flies into B.C. backyard, lands upside down
A driver suffered only minor injuries after going airborne in a residential neighbourhood in Maple Ridge, B.C., on Friday, the car eventually landing on its roof in someone’s backyard.
Donald Trump, Elon Musk attend rally at same Pennsylvania grounds where gunman tried to assassinate Trump
Donald Trump returned on Saturday to the Pennsylvania fairgrounds where he was nearly assassinated in July, holding a sprawling rally with thousands of supporters in a critical swing state Trump hopes to return to his column in November's election.
Tax rebate: Canadians with low to modest incomes to receive payment
Canadians who are eligible for a GST/HST tax credit can expect their final payment of the year on Friday.
'No one has $70,000 dollars lying around': Toronto condo owners facing massive special assessment
The owners of a North York condominium say they are facing a $70,000 special assessment to fix their building's parking garage. '$70,000 is a lot of money. It makes me very nervous and stressed out of nowhere for this huge debt to come in,' said Ligeng Guo.
Police ID mom, daughter killed in Old Montreal; video shows person break into building before fatal fire
Police released the identities of the mother and daughter who were killed after a fire tore through a 160-year-old building in Old Montreal on Friday.
Frequent drinking of fizzy beverages and fruit juice are linked to an increased risk of stroke: research
New data raises questions about the drinks people consume and the potential risks associated with them, according to researchers at Galway University in Ireland, in partnership with Hamilton’s McMaster University.
'I screamed in shock and horror': Family faces deadly Vancouver hit-and-run driver during sentencing
The sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty in the deadly hit-and-run in Kitsilano two years ago began on Friday.