Did you know that our host town had a dramatic and daring bank robbery, featuring
a "human bomb", that took place on May 10, 1973? On that date, an unknown man entered the Canadian
Imperial Bank of Commerce heavily armed and wearing explosives connected to wires and a clothespin
detonator which he held in his mouth. After robbing the bank, the robber exited the building with
$100,000 in duffel bags. A police sniper, positioned across the street, shot him causing the dynamite
to explode. The robber was killed. Most of the windows of the shops on Main Street were shattered and
paper money rained down from the sky. The event was broadcast live from the radio station across
the street. The suspect was never identified and he is buried in the local cemetery in an unmarked grave.
Although this robbery isn't featured on our custom-designed Kenora walking tour, our self-guided
walking tour kit, designed and tested by Louise Moore, one of our club members, will take you past
19 murals that showcase the proud and very interesting history of our host town. Some of the murals
celebrate the Kenora "Rat Portage" hockey team that won the Stanley Cup in 1907.
Other murals showcase Kenora's Canadian troops departing for WW I, the town's logging history,
the Kenora-area First Nations, hunting and trapping and many other scenes from Kenora's past.
The walking tour will take just over an hour and has an optional half hour extended walk to see
"Huskie the Muskie" at the entrance to the town. No sign-up is required. You can do this on your own,
whenever you want. The "Murals and Muskies" walking tour kit will be available at our Rendezvous
Registration desk in the lobby.
So take a break from our formal Rendezvous activities, put on your walking shoes, grab your
camera and sun glasses and explore the unique history of Kenora at your own pace.
Our "Murals and Muskies" tour is sure to add yet another unique dimension to your 2012 Northern
Lights Rendezvous experience.
