聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 It was a day filled with fun, friends, and French as Canadian Parents for French (CPF) 鈥� Wawota hosted their annual Festival esprit d鈥檋iver (Winter Spirit Festival on Saturday), Feb. 27.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The event began with registration for the winter Triathlon, which included human dogsled races, team cross country ski, and human curling. As the Triathlon wrapped up those participating made their way into the school for lunch and to enjoy both the indoor and other outdoor activities planned for the day.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 On display in the gym at Wawota Parkland School was the quilt, which students picked out patches during the first Winter Spirit Festival and helped tie off at last year鈥檚 festival with the help of Barb Dennis.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 There were also a graffiti wall where youth could colour a skyline of Paris and a Selfie Booth where kids could dress up and take selfies. A craft centre could also be found in the gym, while another fun draw inside included the snowball fight arena.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 With face painting and a French reading nook available, families had many options of what they could participate in.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Lunch was hosted by the Wawota Arts Appreciation Group.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Bilingual Bingo was hosted at 1 p.m. following lunch.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e had lots of businesses and individuals in the community who support what we do and donated prizes again this year for our Bingo,鈥� Monique Myers, one of the organizers, explained.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 An annual favourite is the maple taffy winter treat made on snow, a uniquely Quebec treat.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 At 2:30 p.m. a new idea came to fruition with Wawota鈥檚 Got Talent.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e had performers lined up to come here, but when other communities cancelled we decided we couldn鈥檛 afford to bring them out here by ourselves,鈥� Myers said. 鈥淪o we thought about what else we could do. So, we have three judges that will view the show and pick a winner.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Outside during the day youth found different dioramas they could take pictures in, while Dennis Weatherald donated a plastic 1,000 gallon water tank to the festivities. The tank was cracked, so it was turned into an igloo. Youth could decorate the inside and use it as a warm up station out of the wind, although overall the weather made for a beautiful day.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t鈥檚 meant to be fun for all ages,鈥� Myers stated. Which was seen as grandparents, parents, and youth enjoyed the festivities.
