11 www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Fall 2023 the very start, it seemed as though the hotel had always been there. But whether or not such a past had ever existed was beside the point, as far as Davis was concerned. He understood that the Ojibway Hotel was not the place anyone wanted to think of as new, even when it was. The traditions that became part of life at the Ojibway – the shore lunches, the sunset strolls along the dock, the Sunday singalongs, and the annual regatta – were established as traditions within the very first years of the hotel’s operation. Right from the beginning, the Ojibway played a significant role in the Pointe au Baril community, particularly with the increasing number of cottagers. The inaugural islanders’ regatta took place at the Ojibway dock in 1907 and has since been an annual event held on the first weekend of August. The Pointe au Baril Islanders’ Association (PABIA) established during a meeting at the Ojibway Hotel in 1908, with Davis serving on its executive for many years. Many cottagers made regular trips to the Ojibway to receive mail and purchase provisions from the store. Eventually, visits to the gift shop, laundry pickups, and Saturday night dances became a weekly routine for many cottagers. The hotel was firmly established as a fixture of many Pointe au Baril summers. And its success, among guests and locals alike, stemmed from a steadfast principle – things could only be allowed to change very slowly at the Ojibway. Davis always aimed to maintain a consistent, leisurely experience for returning guests. Each summer was like the last: bellhops delivered firewood to the cottages during blustery weather. Cozy fires warmed the stone fireplaces on cool nights, and the Sunday evening singalongs were held in the lounge. The hotel came to life each day with the delightful aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon, amid the sounds of shuffleboard matches, ping pong games, and children’s laughter. Each summer, Davis and his wife, Irene, sat at the same table near the kitchen doors, as they could keep an eye on everything from this vantage point. Two familiar faces, Bert Bruckland and Albert Desmasdon, greeted visitors each summer on the Ojibway dock, and each summer fishing guides took guests to the hidden shoals and back bays, preparing the same shore lunch of fish, fresh-picked berries, home fries and baked beans. See You on the Dock The Ojibway dock was central to summer life. The dock marked the start and end of summer holidays for hotel guests and islanders alike. The dock was perfect for swimming, Davis and the Pointe au Baril Islanders’ Association shared the responsibility of managing the Ojibway, including organizing the annual regatta which still takes place today. It was not uncommon for the guests of the Ojibway to spend every day of a vacation on the water with a fishing guide. Fishing prizes were coveted – a trophy for the week’s biggest catch sat proudly on the winner’s table in the dining room. Albert Desmasdon managed the boat and hardware repair shops at Ojibway dock from 1923 to the late 1960s. He later founded Desmasdon’s Boat Works Limited in Pointe au Baril with his sons. Continues on page 12 Source: Ojibway Historical Preservation Society Source: Ojibway Historical Preservation Society Source: Ojibway Historical Preservation Society
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