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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2011-01-26, Page 1414 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, Janu= 26, 2011 Carvers Tyler and Ted Hayes at a snow sculpture in 1986. Jonathan Lovie, 7 at the time, names the camival mascot, He Is shown here with Al Montag PR manager Kentucky Fried Chicken, the contest's sponsor. Snow and a penguin has been the theme for 25 years Grand Bend Winter Ar Carnival 2011 Feb 4-6 & Feb. 11-13 Lynda Hillman-Rapley Lakeshore Advance It is hard to believe Winter Carnival 2011 will be the 25th. That first carnival in 1986 was small. The committee had just been given approval from council with the promise of dollars in the 1987 budget. It was early November 1986 and vil- lage council heard their support was needed for the Grand Bend Chamber of Commerce to obtain backing from the ministry of tourism and recreation. Susan Dunn and Dave Sheppard approached council for support in Luvr— EST G.I.C. Rate 3.30' (KM. &pod! MY apply) EXETER 236.70 sc Gasseri K Eneide My Mod seamen yaw dssl iosste WE PAY CASH or EXCHANGE FOR NEW JEWELLERY tIt1 1L NTN0I01)001), WNW PLOWS, COW NB MEM RIM HO AP10RRMeNT WOMAN dollars and in kind stating if they were to come up with a winter event, it should begin with munici- pal support. In the planning was sno-pitch, an event still strong 25 years later. There were eight teas for snow sculpturing and the Colo- nial said they would steer a party at the public school. Sheppard asked that council match the busi- ness community with a $1,000 donation. He assured them this would not be an annual request. Sheppard told council they could not get government support with- out support from the lower tier. He told council he hoped to prove a winter event was possible and could stand on its own. And prove he did. There were three events that first year; a kids skating party at the Old Riverbend, a grudge match sno pitch event with 12 teams reg- istered, and a snow sculpture dis- play. The 1986 event was a prelude into what the locals and visitors could expect for the 1987 carnival. The enthusiasm was growing strong. By 1987 this committee had been planning for a year. There would also be a kids skating party and cross country ski-a-thon at the Pinery Park. The Legion planned a steak bbq followed by a sweetheart dance. And so it began. Snow boxes were created and the grounds outside the municipal building was the temporary haven for the snow sculptures. London- ers Tyler and Ted Hayes became winter carnival icons for the next decade. Winter's a beach The event was billed for Feb 14-15. Young Jonathan Lovie, son of Bob and Nancy -Rae would for- ever be the person who named the mascot. A contest sponsored by KFC was won by Lovie who came up with the name Benguin the Penguin. More than 3,000 people came to the Bend to see what this event was all about. There were snow -shoe tours and Carnival 1988 began with the threat of no snow. That could be a problem when the key to the week- end would be snow -sculptures. There would be sno-pitch, a dance, steak bbq and a parade. Snowshoe tours were again on the roster 'There was a carnival queen contest and a fashion show at the new Legion hall. 4,000 people. Kerrin Mehagen (Miss Finnegans) was crowned queen and runner up was Laurie Beth Reycraft whose mar- riage was top carnival news some years later. 15 girls competed. The Fashion show was a huge draw. began and the firemen's breakfast was in the early stages of being one of the most popular events for the carnival. TV actress Barbara Wheeldon and radio CKS1. personality Rich Grevin were the hosts of the the fashion show and opening ceremonies. Susan Dunn ran the sno pitch from both school and legion diamonds. Cocunt Bay began their Gong show. All the area licensed estab- lishments offered entertain- ment and a sled dog derby was supposed to be at the Pinery Park, but cancelled due to lack of snow. This happened a few times during those first years. Puzzlemania for kids and adults sponsored by the Book Store and later Saga Bound began and was a huge draw for many years to conte. Snow golf at Oakwood also began that year. 'they played with tennis balls. Sponsors for the 1909 event were Ellison Travel, Shur Gain, Pepsi, CKSI. 141 radio, KF(., Sch- neiders'lhe United Church lunch began and the firemen's breakfast was in the early stages of being one of the most popular events for the carnival. Orange brandy hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate shavings was the Carnival drink that year, 'there was also an art show and sale spon sored by 1 luron Country Playhouse featuring the works of local artists. Kathy Merrier (Miss Colonial) was crowned Ntiss Winter Carnival, Snow had to he trucked in from Exeter for snow sculptures. More than 200 children were at the school for the free activities. 1990 was tl wedding 10 1't'nllt'tn ber. People were asked to send their wedding proposed to CK'1'1' ANI Fox with the prize being a wedding ceremony on a 20 foot cake trade of snow and $2,0110 in gifts. Laurie Beth Reycraft and Scott Russell of i lamilton won,'Ihe Waiters Reece and kids talent show called Stars of '1'otnotrow began. Snopitch now had 26 teams and spectacular international snow sculptures were the nucleus behind the carnival, 'There were now 30 events and a $60,000 budget, 1991-1993- A children's village created of snow was at the Colo- nial parking lot and a chili cook off was a great event for businesses and those wanna' he cooks at home. A Monte Carlo night was added and lack ()I' snow became an annual issue. The sled dog races were a stiecess in 1991 and by 1991 there were 12,001) people coming to the Carnival, There were more than 40(1 for breakfast at the fire- men's breakfast who also do the skating party. In 1991 they served 50 dozen hot-dogs and gallons of hot chocolate at old riverbed. There were 260 to kids party at school, '1'otn McMillan became chair in 1993 followed by lone Musser the following year. In 1993 t► castle of snow surrounded by 20 sculpture's wets at the Colonial billed as the Children's Kartoon Village, 'this was sponsored by the (rand Bend Rotary Club, '!'here were now 200 volunteers. Wilt' 1990s were tntich of the stun' with lots to do and huge crowds. In 1996 was celebrated with a huge hirtltday early for Benguirt. A (let' ode of cat nivals, international snow sculptures, competitions, (aces, Sculpture Paul 1)awkins cre- ated et party of snow at the Rotary ('Whiten's Village and there would he cake, 'there would be more than 211,1)00 visitors to the events, For 1111' next 15 years there would be many new events ;trill Laurie and Scott Russell carne back to town to watch the 111111' (Inge on the snow cake ()film and Cutby 1luffnlan, another Vult'n • tint's spectacular. Night fireworks and Olympics were added tot!. mix and many of the evens old stay true today- 2F ye'ar's later, 11411 details of the I%'inter Carni- val 2011 will he inserted in the Lakeshore Advance February 2.