Locals and visitors criss-crossed Calumet Island on Saturday during the fifth annual treasure hunt hosted by Groupe L’Île-du-Grand-Calumet in an event designed to celebrate the island’s rich history while drawing attention to its beauty.
The hunt sent this year’s nine participating teams to explore historical sites and lesser-known corners of the island while completing riddles and scavenger hunt-like tasks. Points were earned for completing tasks and solving clues, with the top-scoring teams winning cash prizes and having their names etched on their trophies.
Teams had to travel across the island, stopping at monuments, a post office and a school, or on the road to search for hidden pieces of history engraved on fence posts.
For the third time, one task was broadcast on local radio station CHIP FM for participants to collect while on their journey.
At the event’s home base, the Calumet Island municipal hall, members of the Catholic Women’s League of Ste-Anne’s Parish sold baked goods and refreshments for the participants. The CWL works in tandem with Groupe L’Île-du-Grand-Calumet for many of their efforts, including the treasure hunt.
Despite being born and raised on the island, Andrea Lagarde, who participated this year for the third time, said the event continues to teach her something new. “It’s fun because you know of places, but this really lets you go and learn about them,” she said.
Guylaine La Salle, Groupe L’Île-du-Grand-Calumet president and a sixth-generation La Salle from the island, said the event’s mission is simple.
“Put the island back on the map,” she said. “People have a connection to the island, it’s special.”
She said planning the treasure hunt is a year-round effort, with new tasks to be made and new locations to be discovered. This year about 20 volunteers helped organize and run the event.
The treasure hunt is just one of several events the group organizes as part of its three-pronged mandate of highlighting heritage, culture, and tourism. Other activities include a quarterly meet-up series, Mémoires de L’Île, where locals share stories and talk about the island’s past.
“Right now, we’re talking about the houses, because every house has a story,” La Salle said.
Proceeds raised by participation fees as well as the 50/50 will go towards the group’s ongoing project, Honour Our Roots, an initiative to revive the cemetery of the 178-year-old Ste-Anne Church on the island. So far, the group has built a pavilion and attached path at the site
They’re now working to install a commemorative plaque listing all the 900 or so names of adults buried in the cemetery that may have been forgotten or lost due to the deterioration of the tombstones.
The group is relying on church records and community input, and gathering information through their Facebook page to ensure names are remembered correctly.
The group also hosts an annual fishing derby, now in its seventh year, which will be held on Aug. 9.
