THUNDER BAY - Hunting and fishing is a lifestyle for many people living in Northwestern Ontario, and more and more young people are getting involved in not only the hobby aspect of the sport, but the competitive side as well.
On Saturday and Sunday, the New Ontario Shooters Association held a gun show at the Slovak Legion, with hundreds of people attending the two day show.
“It’s bringing all the people into one spot to socialize and network and endorse the sport,” said Trevor Buzak, show committee member with the New Ontario Shooters Association. “I wouldn’t say it was something that was long overdue, but it’s almost like a lifestyle if you are living in Northwestern Ontario. A lot of people hunt and a lot of people fish.”
There were more than 68 vendors selling everything from firearms, to survival tools, to arts and crafts. Buzak said this is the first time a gun show has been held in the city for several years, with previous shows being held in Murillo and Kakabeka.
“Based on feedback from vendors and people who attended, we decided to try something different,” he said.
The show also serves as a fundraiser for the New Ontario Shooters Association junior shooters club, which is growing every year, according to the club lead coordinator, Dave Levata.
“It’s grown substantially,” he said. “Shooting has become more of a recognized sport.”
Levata said there are between 30 and 40 kids, ages seven to 18, who are involved in the club, with as many as 25 attending shooting nights on Wednesdays.
“It’s nice because of Northwestern Ontario, where we are situated, it’s a very outdoorsy community,” he said. “We do have a lot of hunting and fishing and it gives a lot of the primary basics for the children to learn a firearm. We teach them basic firearm safety and they learn how to shoot properly down range.”
The youth shoot BB-guns and .22 caliber rifles at targets on a range. Levata said the sport teaches the youth a lot of different skills including patience, motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and breathing control.
“It’s a personal discipline,” he said. “Unlike hockey that is a team atmosphere, it helps develop their own personal skills. It’s a very in-depth sport. It’s no different than what they do in the Olympics with the three position shooting.”
Jordan Gale Richards has been involved in the club since last fall and joining has been a perfect fit for the 12-year-old.
“It’s really fun,” she said. “It’s fun to just get out and do something. A lot of my friends have come and signed up. My family is big into hunting and fishing and I just liked learning how to shoot and shooting is my passion.”
Kayla Levata and Cassidy Jacobson, both 15-years-old, have been shooting for a little longer, with Kayla shooting for the last four years and Cassidy the last eight.
“I’ve definitely learned how to handle a gun properly and competition shooting and how to breathe properly,” Kayla said.
“There’s more concentration,” Cassidy added. “It takes more skill. And it also teaches you safety. Because you are handling a firearm, you apply it to other real life scenarios, not involving guns, but just following instructions and rules. There are a lot of rules on the range that translate to everyday life.”
Kayla has taken her love of the sport to competitions in Northwestern Ontario. But for both Kayla and Cassidy, the sport is about more than taking aim for trophies and medals.
“It was just something really fun to do after school and to meet new people and new friends and do something with my dad,” Kayla said. “Give it a try. Don’t judge it. It’s really fun and you do meet a lot of people and you pick up a lot of skills.”
