As winter months wind down and the waterways begin to open, boaters are eager to look forward to relaxation on the water, or perhaps participate in a boat race along the North Channel.
Each spring skippers and crew gather at the Hilton Beach Marina to assist with the launching of vessels that are removed from winter storage cradle by crane and lowered into the water for the summer boating season.
Due to COVID-19, the boat launch that was to happen on May 9 is not taking place.
“The direct financial impact to the Village resulting from the closure of our marina as a non-essential service, is yet to be determined,” said Hilton Beach Mayor Robert Hope. “We are expecting at this time to have at least a partial season with the marina open but this will be decided by social distancing protocol and essential services decisions made by the provincial and possibly federal governments.”
About 35 vessels are typically launched with many more boats arriving on trailers or sailing in from other winter storage sites to enjoy our short summer boating season, Hope said.
Total seasonal boats affected by the non-essential closure directive is about 115.
Hope went on to say, via Email that the impact to Village businesses will be felt negatively as patrons/boaters will not be here to support their services.
“With boats not going into the water at the normally scheduled date, council has yet to decide what sort of a pro-rated seasonal slip fee to charge vessel owners if and when we do get into the water,” Hope said adding storage fees for an extended shoreside storage season have yet to be determined as well.
Fisheries and Oceans divested themselves of pretty much all the marinas that they were responsible for, Hope said over the last 20 years or so to the municipalities that were hosting them.
“To my knowledge, almost all marinas from Sault Ste. Marie to Little Current are now operated by villages, towns and cities in which they are situated,” he said. Exceptions to this would be the few privately run marinas such as Kensington Point, Spanish River, Whitefish and Little Current.
Not only will Hilton Beach be impacted by the marina closure but also its summer events.
Recently it was announced, with regret that the Village of Hilton Beach Council announced the cancellation of all its summer events for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes Hilton Family Yard Sale, Arts at the Dock, Hilton Beach Car Show and Community Night.
“The financial impact to summer tourism dollars for the village and local businesses will be negative to be sure,” Hope said. “Cancelation of recreational programs and major events is not something our council took lightly and if it turns out that we have erred on the side of caution with respect to COVID-19 and social distancing protocol then we will have done our best respecting the health and safety of ratepayers, their families and our patrons.”
As for the Open Air Market, council at this time has not made a decision to restrict operation of the market as it would be a function of the Ontario government and possibly Algoma Public Health determining essential services.
