Pine Fort Days is a great experience
Pine Fort Days wouldn’t be the same without the tent camp of voyageurs sharing life from ages past.
I first covered Pine Fort Days back in 2019, when Thomas Corry was feeding his entire camp, Old Goat waxing poetic by the fire, Pinky actively sharing the story of why his toe nails were painted a fluorescent pink, while other voyageurs were going about their business shaving paddles and mending clothes.
Visiting the park during Pine Fort Days is always a very memorable experience. The tents, the trinkets and treasures on display, and the voyageurs staying in character and never wavering from it. The period clothing is always perfect, and helps bring the past to life effortlessly, in both colour and character.
There were cannons being fired, many games, much fun, and a whole lot of learning going on.
FYI – bannock making looks easy, but there are some nuances that if missed, make for a very yucky bread. (I had a generous neighbour willing to share their delicious creation!)
The knowledge of the voyageurs is uncanny and it really is as though they actually have lived life during those times.
Many say that life was so much simpler way back in the ‘olden days’, but watching the re-enactments from that era, I really don’t think so.
The modern conveniences we are now able to utilize make our lives so much easier.
Today, a trip to a store of our choosing allows us to stock up on all the supplies that our household may need, whether that is food, soap or clothing – quite different from the days of the voyageur where most things were hand made and not purchased.
Although the Pine Fort Days voyageurs were peaceful and relaxed in their camp this warm summer day, fresh from the rain a day previous, back in the day such a camp would be filled with hustle and bustle from sun up to sun down in an effort to get everything done.
The never-ending hunt for food, collecting water, feeding animals, caring for children, growing gardens plus so much more, the workday never ended. Excessive heat, rain, winds and cold were also energies to be contended with. The camp communities brought people together and added strength with the many jobs being shared among the group.
Thank you to the Voyageurs who made this weekend amazing again and we look forward to your return next year!
PHOTO CAPTION: Many of “The Voyageurs” spent their weekend at the Pine Fort Days in Sprucewoods Provincial Park, including “The Old Goat” who was set-up in the shade to sit for a while, and maybe fire his cannon when the time was right. PHOTO BY SUZANNE PADDOCK
