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AEQUALIS CORAM LEGE Hogue Alain J. Law Office AVOCAT • NOTAIRE • BARRISTER • SOLICITOR A R E A S O F P R AC T I C E • Accidental & Personal Injury • Slip & Fall • Family Law • Land Sale/Mortgages • Civil Ligiation • Criminal Law • Corp. & Comm. Law • Wills & Estates • Debt Collection * FREE CONSULTATION * ALAIN J. HOGUE, B.A., LLB Res. 253-2554 (Also of the Saskatchewan Bar) PLACE PROVENCHER, 194 PROVENCHER BLVD. R2H 0G3 237-9600 FAX 233-2689 ajhlaw@mts.net PLEASE DONATE TODAY Celebrating 30 years of inspiring families and communities to grow together through the joy of learning. Sobering Funeral Chapel & Crematorium Beausejour, Manitoba 204-268-3510 or MB Toll Free 1-877-776-2220 "Honoring Life" • Memorialize the service of your choice with earth burial or cremation • Services may be pre-arranged in advance • On-site state of the art crematorium Makers of Fine Quality Sausage ALL OUR SAUSAGE IS MADE OF LEAN PORK & BEEF NO MSG, NO BY PRODUCTS, GLUTEN FREE All Our Deli Meats, Made in Store • Large Selection of Fresh Quality Meats • Wild Game Processing 204.268.4288 1004 PARK AVENUE E. • BEAUSEJOUR, MB • BOX 399 • ROE OCO Tuesday - Friday 9 am. - 6 pm. Saturday 9 am. - 5 pm. 204-369-5308 • www.whiteshell.mb.ca/rennie RENNIE HOTEL Large variety beer vendor, beverage room, VLT's licensed dining room and accommodations. Grand Marais Village Store Ltd. 204•754•2344 Grand Marais Your Lottery Ticket Centre y • Liquor Vendor • Lottery Centre • Park Pass • Beach Toys • Minnows • Fishing Licenses • Motor Oils & Fluids • Groceries • Meats • Produce • Jeanne's Cakes • Bottled Water• Firewood • Ice • Great Selection of Video Movies July & August: 8am - 10pm 7 days Remainder of year: Sun - Thur, 9 am - 6 pm Fri & Sat 9am - 8pm FOR REEN FEES 2 1 Valid until October 31, 2016 (not valid with any other promotional offer) www.lavgolf.ca 204-424-5046 INTRODUCING MANITOBA'S FIRST FOOTGOLF COURSE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION FOOTGOLF JULY 15, 16, 17 www.agsociety.net ANTIQUE TRACTOR PULL, QUILT SHOW WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY JUNE 18, 2016 7 W H I T E S H E L L METEOR FEST IS JUST ONE REASON TO CELEBRATE IN WHITESHELL BY JUDY OWEN COTTAGERS AND RESIDENTS AT FALCON LAKE AND WEST HAWK LAKE HAVE ALWAYS CONSIDERED THEIR PIECE OF WHITESHELL PROVINCIAL PARK TO BE A SPECIAL PLACE. E ach year they get to show it off, and boost the local economy at the same time. The townsites, about 20 kilometres apart in the south- east corner of the park, hold annual festivals that draw visitors and are circled on the calendars of those with ties to the areas. West Hawk gets the summer festival season going this year with its 13th annual Meteor Fest from July 8-10, which was started by the Falcon/West Hawk Lakes Chamber of Commerce. "People book the (West Hawk) campground or make sure they're at their cottage for that weekend," says chamber president Paul Duncan. The festival has created many childhood memories with traditional events geared for kids. "A parade comes down the hill at West Hawk with kids dressed up and there are prizes for things such as best decorated bicycle," Duncan says. "It's a real good family event." There is also a barbecue and bands on the beach, a sponge hockey tournament, pancake breakfast and plenty of other activ- ities for all ages. The party is named in honour of the lake's unique beginnings. More than a hundred million years ago, a meteor crashed into the area and formed a crater that became the lake. At 110 metres deep, it's the deepest lake in Manitoba and a popular attraction for scuba divers be- cause of the water's clarity. It's also the only crater lake in Canada accessible by road. Visitors to Meteor Fest have been able to enjoy the townsite more since it got a facelift. "The townsite of West Hawk Lake had a major renovation done two years ago, mak- ing it a beautiful, aesthetically pleasing area with a walkway from the top of the hill down to the beach," Duncan says. "They upgraded the boat launching area, giving easy access to the many businesses along the way." Falcon Lake showcases its charm with the Falcon Lake Fun Fest Aug. 5-7. It used to be known more than 25 years ago as Owlidays and was started by the local com- munity club and chamber, Duncan says. The big attraction is Wonder Shows with its carnival rides set up in the middle of town, as well as a barbecue, beer gardens and small flea market. A fireworks show has been moved to Canada Day. As with West Hawk, Falcon Lake has undergone renovations. "This past winter, the north side of the Falcon Lake shopping mall got a much- needed, upgraded facelift, making the shops and restaurants a welcoming place to visit, shop or enjoy an ice cream or refresh- ment on the patio area," Duncan says. Both townsites have become year-round homes for people who love its Canadian Shield setting and the fact it's only an hour- and-a-half drive from Winnipeg. A local realtor with Sigmar Mackenzie, Duncan lives year-round at Falcon. He esti- mates there are 3,000 properties throughout the park, with about half of those split almost evenly between Falcon and West Hawk. Entry-level cottages start at about $175,000 and go up to more than $1 million. A growing number of residents are retired, he says, explaining they spend the winter in places such as Arizona or B.C. and return to the Whiteshell for the warmer months. "Many of these folks have been long-time cottagers and it's been kind of their dream to live at the lake upon retirement." Local businesses promote year-round activities, including Falcon Beach Ranch, which offers log cabins for rent, trail rides in the summer, sleigh rides in the winter and cookouts. The area is well known for winter activities such as snowmobiling and cross-country ski- ing on groomed trails to downhill skiing and snowboarding at Falcon Ridge Ski Slopes. "You can get on a snowmobile here and go down to the states. You can go to Lake Winnipeg," Duncan says. "All the trails are interconnected so you can go for miles and on really nice groomed trails." Two winter events also draw big crowds, with hundreds of anglers attending this year's annual Falcon Lake Winter Fish-Off. "It's a big event. It just fills the town right up," Duncan says. "It's good for our area." Falcon Lake's Beaver Days winter festival also celebrated its 42nd anniversary last Feb- ruary. Activities included a snowmobile poker derby and sponge hockey tournament. Duncan says last winter was a bit slow for area businesses because of a lack of snow and a short snowmobiling season, but a nice summer could make up the slack. There are already signs the fishing could be great. "This spring has been fantastic for pickerel." "THE TOWNSITE OF WEST HAWK LAKE HAD A MAJOR RENOVATION DONE TWO YEARS AGO, MAKING IT A BEAUTIFUL, AESTHETICALLY PLEASING AREA WITH A WALKWAY FROM THE TOP OF THE HILL DOWN TO THE BEACH," DUNCAN SAYS. LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN ENHANCED AT FALCON LAKE AND AT WEST HAWK LAKE (PICTURED HERE), HOME TO THE ANNUAL METEOR FEST. PHOTOS COURTESY OF FALCON/WEST HAWK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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