Winter Carnival – January 24

Winter Carnival 2026 on Saturday, January 24, at Champlain Park and Fieldhouse, noon to 3pm

It’s back…with hot chili, cool music, a bon fire, the Kichi Sibi Winter Trail team, and fun sleigh rides! Everyone is welcome to attend the Carnival, whatever the weather. Among the activities:

  • 12-3: bonfire and food in the fieldhouse.
  • 1-3: horse drawn sleigh rides and outdoor games in the park (children must be supervised by adults).
  • 1:30-3 pm: music in the Field house with locally based Jazz, David Constant and friends.

Admission, sleigh rides, hot chocolate and coffee are FREE.

Food and Beverages: There will be a Chili cookoff, baked goodies, juice, hotdogs and more for sale in the Fieldhouse kitchen. Please bring a little cash. Debit/credit machines are NOT available.

The Kichi Sibi Winter Trail team will be out for the fun including a display with snowmobiles and grooming equipment. More info about the trail can be found at www.wintertrail.ca

Volunteers make it happen! We need help with setup and cleanup, lunch counter, ticket sales, and donations of baked goods. Call out for chefs to bring their best chili dish of course! Please contact Erin and Kelly for more info at erintopping@hotmail.com.

Rink will be operating as per normal. The outdoor obstacle course popular with children and youth will be running again this year as well for the duration of the carnival. As an indoor event, organizers urge everyone to follow public health guidelines.

[Sleigh Ride at 2023 Winter Carnival]
Sleigh with Winter Carnival 2023 visitors on the former Pontiac Street Christmas Tree crossing. Photo by AGMS.

The Future of Churchill Alternative School

Churchill Alternative School is undergoing big changes in September and the parents are asking residents in Champlain Park for their support.

[Churchill Alternative School, from Apple Maps street view]

The Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) is phasing out the Alternative program and will not be accepting any JK students this fall at Churchill. The board also states that dual track programs like French Immersion and English With Core French will not be offered.
The school council asked the board to reconsider and offer French Immersion.

Parents are also concerned that given all the changes, Churchill school could close in the future.

There are of course broader concerns about the impact all this could have on neighbouring schools in this area – especially those that are at capacity.

Enclosed are letters from both the OCDSB and the Churchill school council explaining each’s position.
Alternative Letter to Parents December 2025.pdf
Churchill Request for Support Letter 202601.pdf

Here is the link to sign the school council’s petition: https://savechurchill.com/

If you want to offer help to the council, contact Amanda at: churchillschoolnews@gmail.com

Games Night Reminder – January 8

Just a reminder that it’s time for fun and board games at the Field House, starting this year on Thursday January 8 from 7-9 pm and continuing on the second Thursdays of each month. Bring your own game or try someone else’s favourite. See the original post for details.

[Huge Rummikub tile collection]
One unlucky player in our Rummikub game couldn’t make a starting move (lay down 30 points of tiles) for maybe a dozen turns! They collected this pile of tiles which still wouldn’t build up to 30 (3 different colours of the same number or 3 of the same colour in a number sequence).

[Rummikub game box]

Christmas Tree Recycling

Recycle your Christmas Tree at the Champlain Park Baseball Diamond, anytime in January!!

It’s now time to collect trees in our neighbourhood at the park, as I am reminded by the appearance of the now traditional Kìchì Sìbì Winter Trail / Facebook post:

Now accepting Xmas trees. Drop off at Remic Rapids parking lot ONLY. Please remove all tinsel and other foreign objects. (But don’t rush it! Enjoy your tree as long as you can.)

The ones dropped off at the park will get used, though we’ll divert some for decorations for the Winter Carnival and rink windbreaks.

[Christmas Trees Recycled around the Rink, January 2024]

Yoga Classes Starting – January 5+

[Yoga Example]
Champlain Park has several openings for yoga at the field house starting next week.

  • We now have one spot on Monday at 7:30 if someone wants it.
  • 3 spots left on Wednesday at 6:00.
  • 2 spots left on Wednesday at 7:30.

It’s a ten week session, you must have purchased your current Champlain Park Community Association membership 2025-26. The cost will be determined once I have final numbers.

If you’re interested please send me an email indicating which time you want. Please sign up if you’re sure you can take part. It’s a hassle chasing down folks who sign up, change their mind and don’t let me know.

Thanks
lauriefagan59@gmail.com

Please see the general Yoga Page for more details.

Also posted at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChamplainPark/posts/2317450048738072/

The Rink is Open!

Paul B. writes in the Champlain Park Outdoor Rink Facebook group for rink notifications:

The rink is open today. Please be careful as the edges are rough, some soft spots etc. Much of the outer skating surface remains closed until we can recover what we lost.

Thanks to all the hard working volunteers. We are still in need Supervisor volunteers – please email me at oblenesp@gmail.com if you can help out.

Changeroom hours:
Mon-Fri 6-9 PM
Saturday 10 AM – 2 PM
Sunday 12-4 PM

[Champlain Park Rink freshly flooded on Febrary 2, 2024]
Photo by Derek F, 2024.

See our rink page for more background info on how to use the rink and volunteer opportunities. Contact the rink people at ChamplainParkRink@gmail.com or use the Facebook group if you have questions.

Re: Gift Cards for Daybreak Housing Residents

I apologize for the confusion over the gift cards for Daybreak Housing.

I would prefer if you folks purchased them yourselves and drop them off at my house (or I could pick them up at yours) contact me directly. If you really can’t get out I could purchase them for you with an e-transfer.

The deadline is next Thursday December 18.

Again my apologies – doing too many things. Thank you so much for your generosity.

Laurie

I am a bit late but I seeking your help in buying $25.00 Shoppers Drug Mart or Rexall gift cards for the residents of Daybreak Housing (One of the 5 houses is just on the edge of our community).

Daybreak is for the homeless, refugees, former inmates, addicts and those escaping domestic violence.

Personal hygiene products are expensive so this helps a great deal.

You can get a tax receipt from Daybreak if you wish.

Please DM me or send me an email at: lauriefagan59@gmail.com if you can help.

I am on the board of directors and you can check out Daybreak at:
https://www.daybreakhousing.org/

Thanks so much in advance.

Laurie Fagan

[Examples of Shoppers Drug Mart and Rexall gift cards for 2025 Daybreak Housing fundraiser]