Skip to content

Double-whammy celebrations Saturday

Queen Charlotte's Hospital Day and Old Massett's Haida Day - two community celebrations on opposite ends of Graham Island will provide islanders with a fun-filled Saturday (June 19).Don't miss the chance to dump MP Nathan Cullen in the Hospital Day dunk tank in Queen Charlotte, says organizer Greg Martin. Mr. Cullen's staff called to arrange a meeting with QC council on June 19, so they've recruited him at the dunk tank instead."Oh, the water is painfully cold," said Mr. Martin. "I don't envy him at all." School principals, RCMP officers and more will also be up for a soaking. Another event not to miss is the screening of Dr. Duncan McColl's 8mm film from the 1930s. Mr. Martin says the footage features shots of the old hospital in Charlotte and around town, the logging camp where the QC ball field is now, the railroad on Moresby Island to Arrow Camp and a train dumping logs into Cumshewa Inlet. There are also shots of the Beaver totem pole still standing in Skidegate and a group of men yarding a canoe into a boat shed, along with footage of the commercial fleet anchored in the Skidegate Bay.Mr. Martin is hoping to old timers will recognize more sites and people in the film. It starts running with the pancake breakfast at 8am and will play on a continuous loop in the community hall throughout the day.The parade marshals at 10 am and the hammer bell ringer is back this year (it was new last year) as is the sumo wrestling, mini-Olympics, booths, a five-km family run, slowpitch, inflatable fun, bingo, salmon dinner and a Community Club dance and more. Check the insert in this Observer for a full time table.The goal of the 102nd Hospital Day is to raise money for island wide health projects, which include a specialized stretcher, hospital bed, exam table and long term care patient sit to stand lift.Old MassettHaida Days is a newer event, but packed with fun just the same. A pancake breakfast starts things off at 9 am at the Haida Health Centre and the Clan Parade goes from there. Clan members, drummers, singers, bikes and floats are welcome.Sports events, a chowder cook-off, softball, volleyball and more at the Old Massett baseball field round out the day and a barbeque dinner along with singing and storytelling (bring drums and instruments to the firepit at the end of Raven Avenue) will take place in the evening.