Spring-like weather welcomes winter fest

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Family and community participation was the focus of the annual Winter Fest Carnival held in mid-March at Cold Lake First Nation.

Teamed up with spring-like weather and enthusiastic participation, the three-day carnival held March 15-17 featured two evening dances, a bingo, a fancy horse parade with driving competition, a Sunday afternoon talent show and hand game and crib tournaments.

"Last year we had individual competitions in the various events," said winter fest coordinator Rick Janvier, a member of the recreation committee. "This year we're trying to get family participation. I always try to stress that."

The Chief and Council Challenge Cup competition was designed to get surrounding communities involved as well.

The hand game and crib tournaments were hosted in the band's recently completed multipurpose centre, which was designed for small group meetings and local functions.

A driving competition was added this year to the fancy horse parade. It was held in the chuckwagon and chariot race track facility built last year. Drivers and teams had to drive through an obstacle course that tested agility, ability and accuracy. Each of the 16 entries had to stop and start, fan and back up to a makeshift dock a make a figure eight.

Cold Lake recreation director Allan Jackknife said the obstacle course was "something new. It's never been tried around this area before."

Based on the 100-point marking system, the teams belonging to Bob Hyburg, Bruse Saint and Celestine Grandbois finished first ($300), second ($200) and third ($100) respectively. They all received trophies.

In a separate fancy harness competition offering equal prize money and trophies, first was awarded to Art Bowers, second went to Hyburg and third went to Saint.

Teams gathered at the community complex for the six-team member timed events which, again based on a point system, saw adults and children participate in snowshoe, potato sack and egg races, log sawing, tug-of-war and tea making.

As in previous years the Sunday afternoon talent show was a big attraction both locally and with surrounding communities. Usually held over two days, it was downscaled to allow everyone a chance to participate in other events. Emceed by August Collins, vocal, instrumental, dance and novelty competitions like moose calling and laughing attracted many entries and many more music lovers who came to watch and listen.

Band Councillor Bernice Martial, who is involved with both the recreation committee and the winterfest committee, commended coordinators and volunteers for a job well done.

Efforts will now be concentrated on the chuck wagon and chariot races Cold Lake will be hosting in May.