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West Nipissing's Rock n' Ribs draws 6,000

Despite the exhaustion from fighting the blaze over two days and right up to the morning of the festival, volunteer firefighters were on hand and all smiles as they volunteered their services to tend bar, offer first aid and entertain kids with the new fire truck.

Mix people who love music, with people who love food and you've got the perfect recipe for a successful event.

Over 6,000 people attended Rock ‘N’ Ribs 2016 at the picturesque West Nipissing Minnehaha Bay Marina on Saturday July 16th.

The festival had a special meaning for a town that had just endured a massive downtown fire two days previous.

"Despite the exhaustion from fighting the blaze over two days and right up to the morning of the festival, volunteer firefighters were on hand and all smiles as they volunteered their services to tend bar, offer first aid and entertain kids with the new fire truck," said Marc Roberge, Marketing Manage.

"They even had a team, made up of Pascal Morin and Marcel Bergeron, competing in the local rib competition."

Seven teams competed for a chance to hoist the Rock ‘N’ Ribs 2016 Local Ribber Trophy.

"The judging team, made up of 2015 RNR Winners Denis Allard & Guilles Tessier as well as Roger Guillemette, Pierre Lafond of Lafond’s Towing & Recovery, Horace Rhéaume and Sturgeon Falls native and UFC Bantamweight Mitch Gagnon, raved about the local submissions stating they could easily go head to head with the pros. In the end, winners had to be declared and 2016 honours went to 3rd place Big Nickel Auto BBQ Bros (Frank & Pierre St-Georges), 2nd place Second Hand Smoke (Swampthang Derrick O'Brien ) and 1st place Rib'd For Your Pleasure (Ryan Speck, Rob Kienapple, Peter Lajeunesse)," stated Roberge.

Nearly 30 vendors from West Nipissing and North Bay were on hand to show off their wares, services and provide information.

"The musical lineup on the main stage was solid from beginning to end. Performers Janie Pépin, Julie Ann Bertram, Justin Beauchamp, Taylor Kirkwood, Brain Flower, JW Stevens and Roadhouse, all local or with local ties, had people rocking, dancing and singing along all afternoon demonstrating incredible stage presence and calibre. Of course, fan favourite and unofficial Rock ‘N’ Ribs musical ambassador Carl Dixon and bandmates kicked it up a notch to start up the evening’s headline entertainment and had everyone in a feel-good party mood by the time local country outlaw Cory Marquardt hit the stage and put on one of his best performances to date, even offering up a few rock covers including Sex Is On Fire and Holy Diver. By the time four- time JUNO nominated Jonas & The Massive Attraction hit the stage, they delivered an arena sized rock show that simply blew the crowd away and earned them a whole lot of new fans." 

At the end of the day, the volunteer organized not-for-profit West Nipissing Rock ‘N’ Ribs Music and Rib Festival, along with Josée Éthier Aubin, will have deposited $4,000 for the victims of the fire of July 14th. Another $1,000 was donated to the West Nipissing Firefighters on behalf of Sweet Smoke BBQ and Smokehouse Bandits. In addition, Rock ‘N’ Ribs is also donating $4,000 to the West Nipissing Firefighters ($3,000 towards equipment/Christmas Toy Drive, $1,000 to host a volunteer appreciation supper) as well as $1,000 to Nipissing First Nation Little NHL.

In total, Rock ‘N’ Ribs and friends will have given $10,000 back to the community and over $1,500 in cash and prizes.


Jeff Turl

About the Author: Jeff Turl

Jeff is a veteran of the news biz. He's spent a lengthy career in TV, radio, print and online, covering both news and sports. He enjoys free time riding motorcycles and spoiling grandchildren.
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