The Shriners are coming to Saugeen Shores.
Later Friday and into Saturday — shriners from the Mocha roup will descend on the town for fun and business sessions.
Spring Ceremonial chair Paul Zorzi says there could be thousands of Shriners from as far away as Windsor and Sault Ste. Marie taking part.
Things get underway tonight with music and a fish fry at the Southampton Coliseum.
The general public is invited to the event at 15 dollars a couple.
Saturday’s highlight will be the traditional Shriners parade, featuring the funny little cars, mini bikes and fire trucks, along with clowns.
The parade begins at 2 PM on Green Street and proceeds north on Goderich Street to the Plex.
The parade route will be closed to traffic during the procession.
Zorzi says the ceremonial is here because of a Dobbinton area farmer.
Illustrious Jack Cumming the Potentate for the area chose Saugeen Shores and Bruce County because he wanted to bring the ceremonial back to the earth and highlighting rural Ontario.
Zorzi says he can’t put a figure on the economic benefit to the town of such a convention as the Shriners but he can say pretty well every motel room in the area has been booked by out of town Shriners.
The 2-day event is being hosted by the Bruce Shrine Club.
The Shriners across North America raise some 800 million dollars to help maintain their 22 hospitals that focus on taking care of children who have suffered defects through birth or through burns.
The closest hospital to this area is in Montreal but the Shriners provide transportation and hospital services free of charge.
