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Main photo: Among those celebrating Huntsville Day were (from left) Town of Huntsville Manager of Arts, Culture and Heritage, Teri Souter, Deputy Mayor Karin Terziano, Lake of Bays Mayor Terry Glover, Mayor Scott Aitchison, Captain George Hunt (Huntsville’s namesake played by Muskoka Heritage Place Manager, Ron Gostlin), Councillors Jonathan Wiebe, Dione Schumacher and Brian Thompson, and Town of Huntsville CAO Denise Corry.<\/em><\/p>\n It was a day to celebrate all things Huntsville.<\/p>\n One hundred and thirty-three years ago, on March 25, 1886, Huntsville was incorporated as a village. Much has happened in the intervening decades and while many things have changed, there are still places around town that those early settlers might recognize.<\/p>\n Before settlers arrived here, though, indigenous peoples inhabited this place. Many Town-hosted events recognize that history with a land acknowledgement statement, and it was doubly important given the nature of the celebration. To begin the Huntsville Day festivities at Partners Hall on Monday, March 25, Councillor Jonathan Wiebe said:<\/p>\n “Long before today, as we gather here, there have been indigenous peoples who have been the stewards of this place. In particular we acknowledge the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, specifically the Ojibwe, Chippewa and Odawa peoples to recognize and deeply appreciate their historic connection to this place. We recognize the contributions that First Nations, M\u00e9tis, Inuit and other indigenous peoples have made, both in shaping and strengthening this community in particular and our province and country as a whole. As settlers, we are grateful for the opportunity to meet here and we thank all the generations of people who have taken care of this land for thousands of years.”<\/p>\n Mayor Scott Aitchison welcomed attendees, and said, “It’s very exciting to celebrate yet another year of what [former Huntsville mayor] H.E. Rice referred to as the uninterrupted progress of this beautiful town of ours called Huntsville… I hope everyone loves this town as much as I do. I think we are lucky to live here.”<\/p>\n\n\t\t