Category: Community Events

Many Thanks to Volunteers at CPCA Winter Carnival 2023!!

Thank you to a huge team of residents who volunteered to put on a very successful party at Champlain Park Saturday afternoon, January 21, 2023!! For those who were not able to make it on Saturday, it was an incredible post pandemic quarantine event, extremely well attended, and really highlighted the joys of being part of this community in winter: City park with outdoor skating rink, field house and NCC Kichi Sibi Winter ski trail, all located on our doorstep. We welcomed visits from our elected representatives: Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Councillor Jeff Leiper, and MPP Joel Harden along with Constable Darren Joseph, our community police officer.

Congratulations and special thanks from the Champlain Park Community to the following enthusiastic volunteers who made it a memorable fun event:

  • Erin Topping and Kelly Archer were the awesome organizers of volunteers, activities, ticket sales, lunch counter at Winter Carnival 2023.
  • Wellington West Business Improvement Area sponsored the sleigh ride by providers, Chris and Sharon Kelly.
  • CPCA Board members Nick Xenos, Lynne Bankier, and Liz Gyaloky coordinated insurance coverage and park permits.
  • CPCA Board member Kris Phillips organized the presentation of Champlain Park Community’s $500 donation to Kichi Sibi Winter Trail Groomer Dave Adams by CPCA Treasurer Dave Harding. The display of new grooming equipment and information booth at entrance to ski trail was an exciting new attraction.
  • Paul O’Blenes, outdoor rink manager, had the ice in great shape. Aimee Ferron extended the supervision hours of change rooms for the event.
  • Bridgehead supplied free coffee and hot chocolate.
  • Linda Landreville, Katie and Olivia Bolger and Connor Bryant served food and drinks.
  • Derek McKinley (Sing Song Party Time) provided musical entertainment for families.
  • Neighbours donated chilis and baked goods for the lunch counter and pitched in to help clean up.

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

Continue reading “Many Thanks to Volunteers at CPCA Winter Carnival 2023!!” →

Winter Carnival – January 21

Winter Carnival 2023 on Saturday, January 21, at Champlain Park and Fieldhouse, noon to 3pm

It’s back…with hot chili, cool music, and fun sleigh rides! Everyone is welcome to attend the Carnival, whatever the weather. Among the activities:

  • 12:30-2:30: horse drawn sleigh rides
    and outdoor games in the park
  • 2-3 pm: music in the Field house with children’s entertainer Derek McKinley.

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.

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 or 613-799-1770.

Thank you to the Wellington West Business Improvement Area for sponsoring the sleigh ride.
Continue reading “Winter Carnival – January 21” →

Community Sleigh Ride Cancelled!

Some bad news – the sleigh ride is cancelled!

Jim got a call from sleigh-owner regarding the sleigh ride tomorrow. As feared he is not comfortable coming downtown with his horse rig with the imminent snow storm tomorrow evening. This happened twice before. He was most apologetic, and he looks forward to the winter carnival date, but will not be coming tomorrow.

Community Sleigh Ride – December 22 Reminder

Sorry, but due to bad weather, the sleigh ride has been cancelled.

The Sleigh Ride takes off December 22, with horses, sing-along!

Thursday, December 22nd, 2022 at 6:00PM

[Sleigh ride horses stopped outside Santa's house, photo by Joyce Mortimer, December 2019]

The annual horse-drawn sleigh ride is back and arrives just before Christmas, a lovely start to the school holidays. Special thanks to Jim Cocks, volunteer organizer, and to the Wellington West BIA for sponsoring the ride. The sleigh ride will wind through the neighbourhood and there will, of course, be a sing-along of holiday carols. Feel free to bring bells or other instruments. There is a rumour Santa may stop by. Best be there to find out!

The sleigh will be available for several rides and will start at the front of the fieldhouse at 140 Cowley at 6pm. To ensure everyone can ride the sleigh and manage overcrowding and safety issues, the first sleigh ride will prioritize young children, their caregivers, seniors and anyone needing assistance. Then there will be the main sleigh ride through the neighbourhood and of course all interested are encouraged to walk behind the sleigh and sing holiday carols. The sleigh will continue to be available for several more rides to accommodate all. Poor weather sometimes cancels the sleigh, so best to check the website for last-minute updates.

Hot chocolate will be served inside and outside at the Fieldhouse. Feel free to bring Christmas cookies or snacks. If you’re able to volunteer to help with the sleigh ride or Fieldhouse set up, clean up, hot chocolate, please contact Jim Cocks at jim.co@sympatico.ca.

To accommodate COVID considerations, please note these proposed precautions:

  • Ottawa public health guidelines will be followed. Ottawa public health recommends wearing a mask in crowded and indoor spaces. To note the ride is outdoors with an open sleigh and the Fieldhouse will be open for refreshments.
  • Several tours of the neighbourhood are planned to avoid overcrowding and there is a limit to the sleigh capacity: first tour would prioritize young children, their caregivers, seniors and anyone needing assistance, second tour open to all, third and/or a subsequent tour could be for only masked participants if there is a demand (to ensure choice for those being more cautious).

Happy holidays.

Community Sleigh Ride – December 22

Sorry, but due to bad weather, the sleigh ride has been cancelled.

The Sleigh Ride takes off December 22, with horses, sing-along!

Thursday, December 22nd, 2022 at 6:00PM

[Sleigh ride horses stopped outside Santa's house, photo by Joyce Mortimer, December 2019]

The annual horse-drawn sleigh ride is back and arrives just before Christmas, a lovely start to the school holidays. Special thanks to Jim Cocks, volunteer organizer, and to the Wellington West BIA for sponsoring the ride. The sleigh ride will wind through the neighbourhood and there will, of course, be a sing-along of holiday carols. Feel free to bring bells or other instruments. There is a rumour Santa may stop by. Best be there to find out!

The sleigh will be available for several rides and will start at the front of the fieldhouse at 140 Cowley at 6pm. To ensure everyone can ride the sleigh and manage overcrowding and safety issues, the first sleigh ride will prioritize young children, their caregivers, and seniors. Then there will be several more rides to accommodate all. Feel free to walk behind the sleigh. Details on the route and exact times will be posted on the website closer to the date. Poor weather sometimes cancels the sleigh, so best to check the website for last-minute updates.

Hot chocolate will be served at the Fieldhouse. Feel free to bring Christmas cookies or snacks. If you’re able to volunteer to help with the sleigh ride or Fieldhouse set up, clean up, hot chocolate, please contact Jim Cocks at jim.co@sympatico.ca.

To accommodate COVID considerations, please note these proposed precautions:

  • Ottawa public health guidelines will be followed. Ottawa public health recommends wearing a mask in crowded and indoor spaces. To note the ride is outdoors with an open sleigh and the Fieldhouse will be open for refreshments.
  • Several tours of the neighbourhood are planned to avoid overcrowding: first tour would prioritize small children, second tour open to all, third and/or a subsequent tour could be for only masked participants if there is a demand (to ensure choice for those being more cautious).

Happy holidays.

Craft Show – November 26

Champlain Park Craft Show returns!

Saturday, Nov. 26 at the Fieldhouse, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lovely Selection Of Jewelry, Ceramics, Paintings, Knitting, Soaps, Body Lotions, Cards, Preserved Flowers, Vintage Xmas Decor, Cashmere Scarves, Baking, Artisan Woodworking, AND Much, much more…

[Craft Show - Honeycomb Shelf]  [Craft Show - Jewellry]  [Craft Show - Ornaments]

For more information, contact Laurie Fagan at lauriefagan59@gmail.com or 613-728-1945.

(As this is an indoor event, and given changing safety conditions, the organizers strongly urge everyone to wear a mask and follow other guidelines from public health authorities.)

Halloween Fun Run Wrap-up

A big thank-you to all of the runners and their supporters who came out yesterday to the 9th Annual Champlain Park Dress-up Fun Run.

[2022 Fun Run Starters, photo by John Arnason]

Thanks to their generosity, we managed to raise $710 for the Kichi Sibi https://www.wintertrail.ca/ winter trail. The weather also cooperated to make it one of the driest and most pleasant in memory.

[2022 Fun Run Runners, photo by John Arnason]

Thanks to all of our volunteers including the CPCA for sponsoring the event with prizes and snacks.

Pete Laughton (Event Organizer)

Byron Path Pumpkin Parade

One way of many for getting rid of your pumpkin is to put it on the Byron pathway. As described in https://allevents.in/mobile/amp-event.php?event_id=200023501679326:

Byron Path Pumpkin Parade
Tue Nov 01 2022 at 06:00 pm

On November 1st, bring your Halloween pumpkins to the Byron Linear Tramway Park (along the pathway between Island Park Drive and Granville Avenue). Come back between 6 and 10 p.m. to walk a path of glowing pumpkins. Candles will be provided, but extra tea lights always appreciated.

Big thanks to event sponsors: Wellington West BIA, Wellington Village Community Association, and the Wellington Street West Giant Tiger.

Everyone is welcome! Please help spread the word.