The dumping of snow might have held off until most activities were wrapped up, but the 11th SnOasis, held on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre, Rainy Lake Square, Fort Frances Museum and Cultural Centre and Memorial Sports Centre still brought plenty of winter-y fun to local families who turned out to take in one of the many different events on offer. Volunteers helped out with all sorts of different activities or games for visiting families, and members of emergency services like the OPP, Fort Frances Fire Department and Rainy River District Paramedic Services were on hand to give out tours of their vehicles, or special gifts for curious youth.
Darcy Jones of the Anishinaabemoda – Waking Up Ojibwe program led SnOasis attendees through a handful of special Anishinaabemowin games, helping them to learn a few words in the language while also having some fun and snacks like cedar tea.Capping off a day of winter-themed activities, and coinciding with the snowstorm that swept through town on Saturday, families could head out to the 52 Canadians Arena at the Memorial Sports Centre for a free SnOasis family skate.Debbie Hebert, Cassandra Jackson and Timea Enge led some youth through traditional Metis jigging in the Fort Frances Museum and Cultural Centre during SnOasis activities last weekend. The museum also played host to face painting and some cold weather snacks.Always a hit during SnOasis, plenty of visitors made time to cook up some bannock on a stick at the Rainy Lake Square, visitors were also treated to barbecued hot dogs courtesy of the Fort Frances Kiwanis club.Murphy Sobkowicz let loose a frosty toss at the Rainy Lake Square during SnOasis activities held on Saturday afternoon. Other activities on offer at the Square were glacier golf, ice bowling, coloured sidewalk chalk and snow painting, and visitors could even hunt through some snow for coins to exchange for fun prizes.Anouk Barron went indoor ice fishing at the Fort Frances Library Technology Centre on Saturday morning, hoping to land 10 papery fish to turn in for a special prize as part of the library’s SnOasis STEM-focused programming.
