CLE opens its gates and lets the fair begin

Family and friends coming together to enjoy games, rides and food is the real attraction of the annual Canadian Lakehead Exhibition, says one Manitouwadge resident.

The CLE opened Wednesday with participants getting another chance to walk through the parking lot of Silver City filled with rides, games and food. Stevie Wielgosch, from Manitouwadge Ont., said she had attended the fair every year with her mom, Tammy, and her dad, Paul. She said it was the reason they travelled to Thunder Bay.

"The CLE is pretty cool," Wielgosch said. "It’s been around for a long time so I’ve been able to come here a lot with my family"

Tammy said it is mostly her daughter and husband who go on the rides, but she said she still enjoyed spending time with her family at ground level.

CLE president Lawrence Timko said he enjoyed coming to the CLE with his three grandchildren.

After 30 years volunteering with the CLE, Timko said it was rewarding to see children enjoying themselves and makes the work he does rewarding.

"My grandchildren have come here about four or five times," Timko said. "They eat tonnes of food and they’re on the rides the entire time with their friends and they just have a good time."

Reta Stoger, fair chairperson, said there were 39 rides. While a modest crowd greeted the fair when it first opened at noon, she anticipates an overall healthy attendance over the next five days.

"We’re hoping attendance will be better than last year," Stoger said. "Last year we hit 60,000 and we’re hoping for better this year. The CLE is a fun thing to do and everyone just wants to go to the exhibition. I know when I was young, I couldn’t wait until the fair came."

Admission for the CLE is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and children under 12 years old.