Show support

If the results of last week’s web poll accurately reflect current sentiments, a majority of people (albeit a narrow one) don’t miss a winter carnival here in Fort Frances.
The local BIA organized the inaugural “Festival of Frost” here back in late November to tie in with the annual Santa Claus parade and it seemed to be successful—at least in terms of foot traffic along Scott Street for much of the day.
But a full-blown winter carnival hasn’t been held here for years—and that seems to be the trend in most communities right across the region these days.
It’s a shame. After all, we’re stuck with winter for a good five months (and some years even longer) so we might as well embrace it. Equally important, any and every opportunity to fuel community spirit should not be passed up.
The crux of the problem is volunteers. As we’ve seen with Canada Day celebrations and even the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship, not to mention those that have fallen by the wayside here, it takes plenty of helping hands to stage a successful event.
And when one does get off the ground, the challenge is bringing in new blood on a regular basis so the initial organizers do not get burned out.
Last but not least, nothing is more frustrating to volunteers than putting so much time and effort into planning an event only to have sparse attendance.
Hopefully that’s not the case this Saturday when the Friends of the Museum host “Snoasis 2” at the Lions Park from noon-2 p.m. Granted, it won’t appeal to everyone but the planned activities certainly are geared for families with children—with outdoor games, snowshoeing, free hotdogs, and the building some sort of ice structure out of frozen two-litre milk/juice cartons (depending on how many are brought to the site).
As well, a toonie skate and toonie swim are planned at the Memorial Sports Centre while the Fort Frances Public Library will host a special “Storytime,” complete with hot cocoa and cookies.
Let’s show support to those involved in putting together “Snoasis 2.” With its relatively short time frame, it’s clearly not an ambitious undertaking. But if successful, it has the potential to blossom into much more in the years ahead.
It’s a small start to perhaps reviving a winter carnival here—but it is a start. And that’s what counts.