Emo club’s ice show a real ‘treat’

Lollipops, gumdrops, and popcorn were just a few of the “treats” that performed in the Emo Figure Skating Club’s year-end ice show “Candyland” on Saturday evening.
Nearly 30 skaters performed routines to songs such as “Candy Man,” “Yummy Yummy,” and “Sugar Pie.”
There were solo performances from the senior skaters—Madison Boisvert, Dana Drennan, Kennedy Latimer, and Kelsey Jonassen—while the MiniBlades, Canskate, and Junior groups skated in small groups.
Junior skaters Jade Carlson and Courtney Morken also offered up a duet while guest pairs skaters, Sophie Potvin-Begin and Michael Nelson from the Border Skating Club, gave an excellent performance.
“It went wonderful. The kids skated very well,” enthused EFSC coach Gerry-Lynn Cousineau.
“Everyone seemed to enjoy it,” echoed EFSC president Jodi Boisvert, adding a very large crowd on hand at the Emo-La Vallee Community Centre.
“They just kept coming in—we had a hard time starting on time,” she noted. “So I think the attendance was up, which was good. . . .
“Saturday seems to be easier for people to attend.”
Boisvert also noted the club had more skaters in the show than last year.
“I think it almost doubled,” she remarked. “So that makes it more fun and easier to do a show when you have a few more skaters to work with.”
She added the year overall also was “very good.”
“We had the largest number of participants at our regional competition this year,” Boisvert said. “And we had a large number of Canskate skaters compete . . . and they all did wonderfully.”
Since the closure of the Fort Frances Bingo Hall late last year, Boisvert indicated more effort was put into fundraising throughout the season.
“We had a very supportive group of parents who all chipped it to help,” she stressed, noting local businesses, especially Cloverleaf, also were supportive.
As well, Boisvert said there was an excellent board to work with and that Cousineau was a great coach.
“Not only do the kids learn how to skate, they love to skate. She makes it so much fun,” Boisvert enthused.
She hopes many of the skaters will return next season—and that many new ones join the EFSC.
They’ve already decided the theme for next year’s ice show, which will be “Las Vegas.”
“Canada has found a decline overall in the Canskate program and they are trying to push all clubs to try and get a larger enrolment,” noted Boisvert. “But, of course, it’s not always a cheap sport to participate in.”
She said the Emo club hasn’t had to raise its fees yet, but if they do next year, they intend to keep the increase as minimal as possible.
A power-skating program taught by Cousineau is in the works to start out the season, and those interested in joining the EFSC should watch for registration in September.
Meanwhile, the annual general meeting of the EFSC board will be held May 8 at 6:30 p.m. upstairs at the Emo-La Vallee Community Centre.
“We always encourage new members to attend because a club can’t run without the support from its volunteers,” Boisvert stressed.
While her position and that of treasurer will remain the same for another year, other roles on the board will be open.
Anyone with questions can contact Boisvert at 852-1320.