Winter Festival 2017 – Great Fun In The Snow!!

Everyone who participated had a great time at the Winter Festival on February 18th & 19th. A big melt the week before caused the ditch behind the marina to overflow, causing water to pour into the marina and ruining the ice and stopping us from curling, but that didn’t stop the fun! (Photo slide show at the bottom of this post)

Firewood on Hwy 53 poster — Thanks Firewood on Highway 53 for donating the wood for the bonfire!

A number of people made the short walk out to join Gary & Chris for the ice fishing experience, and lots of hockey fans laced up their skates for the pond hockey game. It was also entertaining watching the “skiers” on the 2×4 skis in the Family Fun Fest on he beach!

The bonfire burned strong Saturday from noon until about 10PM, and Sunday from 11 until about 5PM. Thanks to Firewood on Highway 53 for donating a truckload of firewood for the bonfire! The fire kept many people warm and cooked many many hot dogs and marshmallows over the two days!

The chili cookoff was an excellent get-together on Sunday, with 7 or 8 pots of chili brought down, and almost all of it disappearing before the end of the afternoon. Congratulations to Joni O for winning the chili cookoff!

Thanks to everyone who came out and took part in the weekend, and special thanks to everyone who pitched in to make the Winter Festival happen!

Chrystal & Jay Anderson: PA system
Gary & Chris Barrett: ice fishing experience
Kim Barrett: Birch Bay Beaver tails; organizing committee
Britney DeVries: organizing committee, grocery shopping, chili cook-off, Family Fun Fest
George DeVries: PA system management and event set up
Wayne Galenzoski: Ice preparation
Marc Andre Guibault (St. Cyr guest): Saturday music
Garfield Jones: firewood procurement
Riley Milford: Pond hockey, ice preparation
Teresa Milford: Pond hockey; organizing committee, ice preparation
Derrick Mitchinson: Organizing committee; firewood; promotion
Lisa Nimchuk: organizing committee, grocery shopping, chili cook-off, Family Fun Fest
Joni Olson: poster
Gerald Ouellet: ice preparation
Annette St. Cyr: Organizing committee; curling; ice preparation, generator.
Giles St. Cyr: lights &decorative lighting for evening skate
Doug Winters: Ice preparation
Tom Woroniuk: ice preparation

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February 12, 2017February 14, 2017

Family Day Weekend Winter Festival 2017

Winter festival poster

Saturday, February 18th

12 – 9 PM Winter Festival Bonfire

Drop by to warm up and socialize at the fire pit in the marina all day Saturday and Sunday. Special thanks to Firewood on Highway 53 for donating a truckload of cut, split, and dried pine to keep the fire going!

12-4 PM Ice Fishing Experience

Try your luck (or skill!) in catching some fish! A warm tent, pre-drilled holes, rods, reels lines, hooks, underwater cameras, and coaching from an experienced ice fisherman provided. The tents will be a short walk outside the marina, just look for the burgundy coloured tents beside a white Jeep. Of course, ice fishing is weather permitting.

1:00 PM Family Fun Fest

Meet at the donut with your family group especially including children. You will receive a list of activities for your group to complete. You will go off and complete each task and take photos of your success, then return to the donut when you have completed the activities.

7:00 PM Evening Skate and Hot Dog Roast

Bring your skates for a nice evening skate with lights, music, and a fire in the fire pit! On Saturday, hot dogs and hot chocolate will be provided, but you’ll have to cook your dog on the fire yourself! No hockey sticks or nets, please.

Sunday, February 19th

12 – 9 PM Winter Festival Bonfire

11:00 AM Pond Hockey

Come and enjoy a traditional Canadian pond hockey game, all ages and skill levels welcome! Bring your skates and stick, everyone who shows up will be divided into two teams, then it’s “game on”!

12:00 PM Chili Cook-Off Winter Edition

Make a batch of your best chili and bring it to the Marina in a slow cooker (generator power and serving spoons will be provided). At lunch time, everyone come and sample as many of the chili dishes as you like, buns, bowls, and spoons provided. Vote for your favorite by dropping a loonie in the numbered jar! (Proceeds from the loonie votes will go back to the Community Association).

To help with planning, if you know that you are going to bring a pot of chili, please let organizers know by email or on Facebook.