kayak frenchOn August 29 and 30, we invite you to travel through time!

The members of the local organizing committee preparing the festivities to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Francophone presence in Ontario, their partners, including Ontario 400, the Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario, the Trillium Foundation of Ontario, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports, FedNor and the Ministry of Canadian Heritage, invite you to a historical gathering that will exceed all expectations.

In honor of the 400th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain’s arrival in Ontario, the members of Association de Canot Camping du Lac Temiscamingue (ACCLT), Voyageurs of another era, will land in Timmins spectacularly and provide the most creative entertainment by interacting with the public throughout the Great Canadian Kayak Challenge and Festival to be held during the weekend of August 29th and 30th.

On Saturday, at 8: 30 a.m., these great Voyageurs will officially arrive, noisily landing on the shores of the Mattagami River. The public welcoming them on the beach can expect to witness a great commotion, screams and gunshots, illustrating how the crazy Voyageurs’ used to land after long trips. This outlandish scene will be reprised on Sunday at 9:00 a.m.

Dressed in costumes that depict the era, the Voyageurs will remain in character as they walk through the festivities’ site, the Mountjoy Historical Conservation Park, also known as Participark.

Do you want to live an exceptional cultural experience? Take a free ride in a Rabaska (bark canoe) with the Voyageurs between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. You can register by signing your name on a piece of bark that the characters will have on site; then, all you need to do is head to the bridge where you can board a great big canoe and prepare for stories, adventures, jokes and songs.

Saturday afternoon, at 3:00 p.m., the captain of the crew will finally gather the members of the troop and return to their uninhabited territories. Then, as you comfortably settle on the grass in front of the main stage, next to a bonfire, you will be treated to a bilingual and lively performance showcasing the colors of the 400th anniversary.

All the festivities are free; people of all ages are welcome. Le Centre de développement/The Venture Centre, La caisse populaire de Timmins, Collège Boréal, Tourism Timmins and Université de Hearst are proud to offer the participants a unique weekend, reminiscent of the good old days and showcasing characters who will proudly speak with the accent used in that era.

All are welcome!