The Madawaska Valley Fish & Game Club held a mini gun show on Sept. 12 at the clubhouse in Quadeville. Club spokesman John Rutledge explained that due to COVID restrictions, the annual show at the Barry’s Bay arena could not take place. The club’s monthly dinners have met the same fate this year. As these are both popular fundraisers for the club, the club executive decided to attempt a mini gun show. He said that vendors at the mini show were limited to only 40 tables in the clubhouse, while in past years at the Barry’s Bay arena the show accommodated up to 90 vendors.
Despite this, The Current spoke to vendors from Belleville, Sudbury, Hastings County, Orleans, Carleton Place, and Pembroke. Some of them were first time attendees, while others were regulars. Kip Hawley of Firearms & Collectibles drove down from Val Therese, North of Sudbury. Hawley is a regular vendor at this show. His roots are in Hastings County and although he has lived in the Sudbury area for 45 years, he hunts out of Maynooth. (Photo at top shows Hawley’s central display)
The vendors said they were happy to have the opportunity to display their collections and accessories. Debbie and Gary Munro of Munro’s Military Archery & Knives in Carleton Place said they had attended a show in Renfrew before lockdown, so this was their second of the year.
Denis Boulianne (above) of Outdoor Armories in Pembroke brought clothing, tents, hunter shelters, and other accessories. He and his wife are often seen at summer outdoor events as their other business is DB Kettle Corn. Because of the pandemic, the popcorn season didn’t take place in 2020. Boulianne pointed out that DB Kettle Corn’s familiar blue tent consists of a canopy over one of his custom-made frames.
As always with community organizations, an event only takes place because volunteers invest a lot of time and effort. The mini gun show was no different.
Bev Kauffeldt (left) handled registration at the door, along with Jordan Genrick. They ensured that all visitors and vendors respected COVID guidelines. The liberal use of hand sanitizer meant that vendors needed to remind visitors not to touch the guns as residue from the sanitizer that remained on people’s hands could damage the finish on any gun with a wooden stock.
Posing for a photo outside the clubhouse are (from left) Don Kennedy from Combermere, John Rutledge, and Barry Tiegs from Lake Clear. Absent was Iris Kauffeldt, club President, who was providing a barbecue at Kauffeldt Lake for the ATV riders enjoying a Poker Run on the same day.
