Category: Community Events

Barbecue & Picnic in the Park – Thanks

via Laurie…

Yesterday was a banner day in Champlain Park. The sun was out, there was a light breeze, delicious BBQ, salads and yummy desserts.

[Panorama of the 2025 Picnic and BBQ, looking towards field house]

Thank you to all who came out and ate, played games, met old and new fellow “Champlainers”. Thanks to all who brought food – most appreciated. It had all the ingredients of creating community.

[Line-up for the food truck at the 2025 Picnic and BBQ]

When I thanked Nick and Joanne I was remiss in not acknowledging others who dug in from 2 pm until the end putting up bunting, helping serve food, getting the games areas organized, etc.

[Ping Pong behind the field house at the 2025 Picnic and BBQ]

Board members Richard Lochead for selling memberships, Shelagh Jane for many things including providing that great bell. Alex Smith for his height in helping on bunting and much more.

[Dessert table unveiled, at the 2025 Picnic and BBQ]

Boa for her wonderful tattoos. There was a boy named Thomas who lent a great hand as well. Elaine Hoskins for helping out with many things. John Geddes for table prep and heavy lifting. Erin Topping looking for neighbourhood volunteers to help folks out.

[Tug of War at the 2025 Picnic and BBQ]

Plus the strong contingent from Daniel Avenue: Jeanette Rule, Dennis Van Staalduinen, Liane Luton, Kelly and Will Egan.

If I have missed anyone I apologize as there were many who pitched in throughout the day.

Thank you seems too little – but thanks anyway for taking part in a wonderful event.

We hope to do it next year – WITH A LOT MORE VOLUNTEERS.

Lastly congratulations to Clearview Avenue the 2025 tug-of-war champs. We’ll see you on the rope next year.

Barbecue & Picnic in the Park – Reminder

Picnic BBQ day is here!!!

3-7 pm in Champlain Park.
BBQ serving just after 4:30.

Hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs and sausages. All free (while supplies last).

If you can please bring a salad or dessert to share that would be fantastic. Also a chair and blanket to eat on. Bring balls, frisbees, etc. We have tug-of-war, spoon races, three-legged races, bocci, badminton and a Picasso chalk drawing contest.

See ya at the park!

[DreamStudio.ai Community picnic in the park, with a food truck]

Barbecue & Picnic in the Park – June 7

FREE burgers, hot dogs from the grill, group games + your salads & desserts

The Champlain Park Community Association has something special for you deserving souls this year.  We’re hosting a community-wide BBQ and picnic at the park on Saturday, June 7, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

[DreamStudio.ai Community picnic in the park, with a food truck]

It’s for everyone and all FREE.

The association has arranged a provider to grill up hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages and veggie burgers. (An assortment of drinks is being worked on too.)

We’re also asking picnickers to bring a salad or dessert dish to share with others.

But, hang on now — it’s not all about free food!

We’re hoping to arrange a number of timeless games, like a group tug-of-war, three-legged races and egg-on-spoon sprints.

We’ll need help, of course. Anyone able to volunteer time, ideas and organization is asked to email lauriefagan59@gmail.com

As many of you know, Champlain Park has undergone a good deal of change in the last decade, with many new homes and young families now part of the fabric of the community. This is a great opportunity to spend some relaxing time with your neighbours, in a venue we can all walk to.

It is another reason, too, to become a member of the association, now amidst its annual sign-up drive.

The rain date is Sunday, June 8 – please check our website if conditions look a little iffy.

We hope to see you there!

Garage Sale – June 7

The 2025 Kitchissipi Ward-wide Yard Sale is scheduled to happen on Saturday, June 7, starting at 8AM (usually ending around 1pm but it can go longer). Rain date is June 8.

Our city councillor Jeff Leiper is hosting a map of sale locations. Write to him if you want to be added, but it’s not necessary.

Here’s a possibly useful 2017 article about preparing for a garage sale in the Kitchissippi Times.

For late breaking news and posts about the garage sale, see https://champlainpark.org/category/community-news/garage-sale/

Spring Cleanup 2025 – May 3

Time to limber up and to get ready to stoop, scoop, lunge and squat our way to a cleaner community!

It’s a great way to get some exercise and help make our neighbourhood beautiful at the same time.

When: Saturday May 3rd (new date because of rain on April 26th)

Where: meet outside the Champlain Park fieldhouse at 10am and pick up a garbage bag and gloves. We’ll also provide snacks to tide you over! Children should be accompanied by an adult.

What: Choose a part of the neighbourhood and pick up any garbage you see and make our neighbourhood clean and beautiful. Dispose of the garbage bag with your normal household garbage/recycling/composting.

[A group of children. who are spring cleaning a river, depositing river debris (old tires, plastic wrappers) into an anthropomorphic recycling bin with a big smile. - generated by DreamStudio.ai]

Games Night – February 13

Come and join us for a fun community Game Night! Spend time with friends and neighbours and play games at the Field House on Thursday February 13 from 7-9 pm. See the original post for details.

One of the volunteers is coming out early to shovel the path to the door, so games night is still on despite the snow storm!

Last month, I tried my hand at Rummikub, a game strangely similar to the Harry card game my late aunt played. Though with different starting rules: Harry requires you to draw cards until you can make a first move (you may end up with a huge hand full of cards), Rummikub has you draw one tile per turn when you can’t make a starting move.

[Rummikub game box]

[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).

– Alex

Winter Carnival – January 25

Winter Carnival 2025 on Saturday, January 25, 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, a raffle, and Merry Dairy unveiling of its new KSWT themed ice cream! 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 or 613-799-1770.

Rink will be operating as per normal. As an indoor event, organizers urge everyone to follow public health guidelines.
Continue reading “Winter Carnival – January 25” →

Games Night – January 9

Come and join us for a fun community Game Night! Spend time with friends and neighbours and play games at the Field House on Thursday January 9 from 7-9 pm. See the original post for details.

[20241212 Playing Spirit Island at the Champlain Park field house games night]
Playing Spirit Island at the Champlain Park field house games night, December 2024.
I had asked which game was most complex in the stack of available games, and this one came out on top. So our table tried playing it. I’m still not sure about how the combat system works.