The Gunflint Canoe Races are not just historical for the fun— this exciting community event also helps provide funding for vital emergency medical services.
Enjoy an evening of fun at the Gunflint Trail Canoe Races on July 20 at the Gunflint Lodge waterfront.
The event will earn dollars to support the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department in its important work of keeping the Trail safe for residents and visitors.
The 35-member team is on call for medical emergencies, accidents, rescues and fire protection. Recently the department’s coverage area expanded as far as Greenwood and Twin Lakes, a total of 192 square miles, making it the largest fire department territory in the state.
Members meet every other Tuesday evening for training sessions on various aspects of handling life-to-death emergencies: A baby was born in the ambulance on the way to the Grand Marais hospital and deaths have resulted from medical emergencies. The department has battled devastating fires including the Ham Lake conflagration.
When the fire department became an entity it was decided to have three stations, one at each population center along the Trail. Station 1 is near Poplar Lake, Station 2 at Gunflint Lake and Station 3 has a tiny building at Sag Landing. All stations have brush trucks and the ambulance is at Station 2. They havea total of six trucks.
Proceeds from the canoe races will help provide bathrooms and storage space and help with continuing expenses of the department.
Canoe race events include two raffles at 4 p.m. (Wenonah canoe and manyitem raffle); silent auction; kids’ events; and an eating contest.
Food service begins at 4:30. Canoe races begin at p.m. with the long-distance race, followed by many age and gender races. Gunnel pumping is the evening’s finale.
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