It's shaping up to be a big weekend in Timmins as crews put the finishing touches on the preparations for the tenth annual Great Canadian Kayak Festival.
The event is a celebration of all things paddling.
Thousands of kayak lovers flock to the city every August to participate in races, live music, and a unique blend of local history.
With a decade under its belt, the festival continues to grow
Guy Lamarche is the tourism manager for City of Timmins.
“Keep in mind, this was launched in the context of the city's centennial celebrations in 2009. This was supposed to come to an end in 2012. And here we are, ten years later, again, talking about a fairly big footprint that'll appeal to a number of demographics. Whether you're here for the paddling action, whether you are here for the vendors, or the concerts or the Indigenous village, it doesn't matter, there's a little bit of everything here, for everyone." said Lamarche.
He says the event has grown to be fully self-sufficient, getting its $400,000 budget from community donations and other forms of help.
