Lakeshore Advance, 2012-02-01, Page 15Page 2- The Lakeshore Advance, Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Back to the beghihiip- winter carnival 2011
Wow! 25 years for Grand
Bend Winter Carnival.
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 village council heard
their support was needed for
the Grand Bend Chamber of
Commerce to obtain backing
from the ministry of tour-
ism and recreation. Susan
Dunn and Dave Sheppard ap-
proached council for support
in dollars and in kind stating
if they were to come up with
a winter event, it should begin
with municipal support. in
the planning was sno-pitch,
an event still strong 25 years
later. There were eight teas
for snow sculpturing and the
Colonial said they would steer
a party at the public school.
Sheppard asked that council
match the business communi-
ty with a $ 1 ,(XX) donation. He
assured them this would not
be an annual request. Shep-
pard told council they could
not get government support
without support frim 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 withl2 teams regis-
tered, and a snow sculpture
display. The 1986 event was
a prelude into what the locals
and visitors could expect for
the 1987 carnival. The enthu-
siasm 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 Pin-
ery Park. Thc Legion planned
a steak bbq followed by a
sweetheart dance. And so
it began. Snow boxes were
created and the grounds out-
side the municipal building
was the tcmpxorary haven for
the snow sculptures. Lon-
doners 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 Jona-
than Lovie, son of Bob and
Nancy -Rae would forever be
thc person who named the
mascot. A contest sponsored
by KFC was won by Lovie
who come up with the name
Benguin the Penguin. More
than 3,(X0() 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 weekend would he 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 peo-
ple. Kcrrin Mehagen (Miss
Finnegans) was crowned
queen and runner up was Lau-
rie 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 pxopular events
for the carnival. '1'V actress
Barbara Wheeldon and ra-
dio CKSI. personality Rich
Grevin were the hosts of the
the fashion show and open-
ing ceremonies. Susan Dunn
ran the sno pitch from both
school and legion diamonds.
Cocunt Bay begun their Gong
show. All the area licensed es -
•
to
2011 WINTER CARNIVAL. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Saturday,. ebru 5th
11:00 am - Sno-Golf at Oakwood Resort
At Oakwood we golf all year round! Have some fun on our specially
designed winter course and let us supply the club and ball.
Enjoy a round of golf followed by a bowl of chili and Hot chocolate
$15/person
12:00 pm - Children's Talent Show in the Oakwood Clubhouse
Under 17 - Sing, dance, play - bring your ideas to win prizes!
Free admission
Saturday, Fcbruary_12th
Valentine's Dinner and Live Entertainment
Delicious Buffet in the Oak Dining Room (reservations recommended)
8:30 pm - Live Entertainment, Phil Sloan, in the Clubhouse
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Valentine's Dinner in the Clubhouse
Bring your sweetheart to Oakwood for a romantic dinner
•
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7b register for any of the above events, please call 519-238-7325
Oakwood
fii•,4,0. (H4t. til era<t:rtott'n,rrr (:r•rarl'
Box 400, Grand Bend, Ont. NOM iTO
Local Direct Line: (519) 2311-7325
Toll Free: 1-500.387-2324
www.oakwoodinnresort.com
tablishments offered entertain-
ment and a sled dog derby
was supposed to be at the Pin-
ery 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 come.
Snow golf at Oakwood also
began that year. They played
with tennis halls. Sponsors
for the 1989 event were Elli-
son Travel, Shur Gain, Pepsi,
CKSI. 141 radio, KFC, Sch-
neiders The United Church
lunch began and the fire-
men'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 shav-
ings was the Carnival drink
that year. There was also an
art show and sale sponsored
by Huron Country Playhouse
featuring the works of local
artists. Kathy Merner (Miss
Colonial) was crowned Miss
Winter ('arnival. Snow had
to to trucked in from Exeter
for snow sculptures. More
than 20) children were at the
school for the free activities.
1990 was a wedding to re-
member. People were asked to
send their wedding proposal to
C'KTY AM Fox with the prize
being a wedding ceremony on
a 20 foot cake made of snow
and $2,00() in gifts. Laurie
Neth Reycrafi and Scott Rus-
sell of Hamilton won. The
Waiters Race and kids talent
show called Stars of Tomor-
row began. Snopitch now
had 26 teams and spectacular
international snow sculptures
were the nucleus behind the
carnival. 'There were now 30
events and a $6(1,(1(X) budget.
1991-1993- A children's vil-
lage created of snow was at
the Colonial parking lot and
a chili cook off was a great
event for businesses and those
warns' be corks at home. A
Monte Carlo night was add-
ed and luck of snow became
an annual issue. The sled
dog races were a success in
1991 and by 1991 there were
12,101 people coating to the
Carnival. 'There were more
than 4(8) for breakfast at
the firemen's breakfast who
also do the skating party. In
1991 they served 50 dozen
hot-dogs and gallons of hot
chocolate at old riverbed.
There were 260 to kids party
at school. Tom McMillan be-
came chair in 1993 followed
by John Musser the following
year. In 1993 a castle of snow
surrounded by 20 sculptures
was at the Colonial billed as
the Children's Kartoon Vil-
lage. This was sponsored by
the Grand Bend Rotary Club.
There were now 200 volun-
teers. The 1990s were much
of the stone with lots to do and
huge crowds. In 1996 was cel-
ebrated with a huge birthday
party for Benguin. A decade of
carnivals, international snow
sculptures, competitions,
races. Sculpture Paul Dawk-
ins created a party of snow
at the Rotary Children's Vil-
lage and there would be coke.
There would be more than
20,000 visitors to the events.
For the next 15 years there
would be many new events
and Laurie and Scott Russell
came hack to town to watch
the marriage on the snow
cake of 'Pint and Cathy Hoff-
man, another Valentines spec-
tacular. Night fireworks and
Olympics were added to the
mix and many of the events
of old—stay ante today -25 -
years later.
raffloy":3,641Ww"wirahlegTon Branch 49$
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EVERY FRIDAY
MEAT DRAWS
17 Draws 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Sat. February 5th
5 - 7 pm
SPAGHETTI
DINNER
Donations Accepted.
For details call:
519-238-2120
Sunday, February 6th
YOUTH DARTS
Fro Admission
Registration:
10 - 10:45 a.m.
Play at 11:00 a.m.
Ages: 9 - 18
Contact:
Bob Chapdelalne
(519) 238-2275
EVERY TUESDAY
BINGO
7:00 pm
Sat. February 12th 3 - 7 pm
VALENTINES DAY ENTERTAINMENT
"THE PERSUADERS"
STEAK B.B.Q.
Upstairs 5 - 7 p.m.
*12.00 per person
k t: :1I 1
Sunday, February 13th
Veterans' Memorlal
MIXED
DOUBLES DART
TOURNAMENT
Registration: 10 - 10:30 a.m,
Play at 11:00 an,
Contact: Bob Chapdelalne
(519) 238.2275
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3 17
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