There’s a chill in the air, so that must mean the end of summer is near and with Timmins residents, that means the Great Canadian Kayak Challenge and Festival is nearing.

The 9th Annual festival runs Friday through Sunday at Participark, with activities for all ages to enjoy.

The main attraction, of course, will be the live music and the kayak races along the Mattagami River.

The festival itself will start at a new time, 4:00pm Friday afternoon. Manager of Tourism Guy Lamarche says in past years, they’ve noticed foot traffic is low Friday afternoon, so they moved the start time.

Lamarche says there will be many races along the river Saturday. Registrations keep pouring in, and while there have been around 75 registrations thus far, he expects that to double to around the 150 mark.

Registration closes Thursday afternoon at 4:00pm. Lamarche says even if you register at 4:01pm, it’s too late.

Around 57 per cent of paddlers registered are from Timmins. But others will be coming from all parts of the province, and even from as far as Prince George, BC.

The entire weekend is free to attend, but officials warn that parking is always limited.

But at the same time, they’ve opened up the options a little bit. The following is what you have to work with in terms of lots:

  • Two lots at the bottom of Commercial Avenue
  • Participark’s northwest, southeast and southwest lots
  • Southwest of Mattagami Bridge in the Game On ball hockey/Timberland Ford lot
  • Mountjoy Arena
  • Archie Dillon Sportsplex

On-street parking is available around the venue ‘where allowed,’ and an extended portion of Participark’s southwest lot—in front of the washrooms—will be designated for accessible parking on a first-come-first-serve basis.

The grassy section in the northwest corner of the park is opening up for parking once again.

If you are paddling, there is reserved parking near the registration tent southwest of the Mattagami Bridge.

With all that in mind, officials are urging the usage of public transportation, including the free shuttles provided by First Student Canada.

  • Canadian Tire to Participark along Riverside Drive
  • Whitney Arena to Participark along Algonquin Boulevard
  • Confederation Multi-sports Facility to Participark

There are several drop off/pick up points along the way, check their site for all the details.

Another traffic note: fireworks will be happening Saturday night, so Algonquin will be closed between Theriault and Norman from 8:00pm to 10:30pm.  Eastbound traffic should detour at Shirley Street and westbound traffic should detour at Highway 655 or Theriault Boulevard.

If you’re in a parking lot that exits inside the closed road, you won’t be allowed to leave until the road is reopened.  Officials say doing so will get you charged.

As for traffic in the river itself, public access from the boat launch to the beach is restricted to paddlers.

It will be closed off from the general public from 8:00am to 6:00pm for all three days.

Timmins Police and South Porcupine OPP will be monitoring the area to ensure everyone’s safety.

If you have a private dock, officials ask that you use extreme caution around competitors, including yielding for paddlers, slowing down and minimizing your wake.

And if you see a drone, nobody has been authorized to fly one so that person is doing so at their own peril, against Transport Canada regulations.

Now to the fun stuff!

Concerts will run from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, there will be a water ski & fly-board stunt show, helicopter rides and a community marketplace and exhibits.

There’s also an Indigenous component, with Saturday kicking off with a sunrise ceremony at 6:00am and sacred fire at 6:30am.

A blessing of the water goes at 8:00am.

For your full schedule of events, concerts and much more, CLICK HERE.

Filed under: Local News