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LITTLE CURRENT—Thanks to a partnership between the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin (NEMI) and The Manitoulin Expositor, a Manitoulin Community Safety Day will take place at the NEMI Recreation Centre on June 6.

“Community Safety Days are popular events that happen in communities all over Ontario providing an opportunity for first responders and emergency services to meet community members face to face and to demonstrate some of their capabilities and technology,” notes Expositor sales manager Kevin Spikes who broached the concept to NEMI events coordinator Lisa Hallaert.

“There are approximately 40 exhibitors,” said Ms. Hallaert. “Kevin Spikes, who works at the Expositor, he sent me an email, and we had to chat about the whole idea, and I thought it was an awesome idea. It’s awesome for the community and it’ll bring people from all over the place.”

“There’s also going to be a substantial truck zone for kids to explore emergency vehicles like police cruisers, fire trucks, ambulances and search and rescue vehicles,” said Ms. Hallaert. “There’s also going to be the Masonic chip team here, which is a child identification program that provides parents and guardians with fingerprints, voice prints and other identification. They’re bringing lots of fun things, too. Some of their toys, such as ATVs and drones.”

Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory will be demonstrating the drones they use for community safety, searches and surveying.

“The drone will be tethered,” noted Ms. Hallaert, “because we have to be careful due to the airspace. There are a couple of police dogs that are coming too, but you can’t pet them though because they’re service dogs.”

“Foodland in Mindemoya has kindly offered to supply food at the site at the event, hamburgers and hot dogs with all proceeds being donated to Manitoulin Family Resources,” noted Mr. Spikes.

“Kudos to Lisa Hallert, who took the lead on the event and provided all the support in order for this event to happen this year,” said Mr. Spikes. “Hopefully, in future years, we’ll move it to different municipalities around the Island.”

As an added bonus, the Manitoulin Community Safety Day door prize will be one of the NEMI emergency preparedness kits, containing over $400 worth of items vital in an emergency.

Over 40 local, provincial and national booths featuring police cruisers, fire trucks, ambulances and emergency services will be enhanced by interactive demonstrations such as the Hydro One “Hazard Hamlet” to teach children about electrical safety.

In addition to the Town of NEMI giving away an Emergency Preparedness Kit. Visitors can stop by booths for a chance to win Scene+ points and Foodland gift cards too.

Manitoulin Community Safety Day takes place at the NEMI Recreation Centre, curling club side, on Saturday, June 6 from 10 am to 4 pm.