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”

Winter Carnival Thanks

Champlain Park Families celebrate winter with sleigh ride, outdoor activities on skating rink and SJAM ski trail, socializing with neighbours and enjoying musical entertainment in field house at Winter Carnival 2020!!!

Carol Arnason, Social Coordinator on the CPCA Executive reports a large turnout of neighbours and a very successful party on Saturday afternoon, January 25, 2020.
Continue reading “Winter Carnival Thanks”

Winter Carnival – Reminder

Just a reminder that the Winter Carnival is tomorrow (Saturday), from Noon to 3PM. Activities and other information at https://champlainpark.org/2020/01/22/winter-carnival-january-25-2/
[2016 Winter Carnival Chili]

In other news, the new Remic Winter Hill is ready. https://champlainpark.org/remic-winter-hill/ has the map. It’s a shallow slope that’s been cleared of trees for sliding down, in a safer location than the usual steeper slope between the parkway lanes.

Winter Carnival – January 25

Champlain Park Winter Carnival – January 25

Free admission, sleigh rides, entertainment, hot drinks!

When? Saturday, January 25, 2020, Noon to 3 p.m.
Where? Champlain Park field house, park, rink.

[Horse Drawn Sleigh from 2016 Carnival]

Volunteer Organizers Would be VERY GRATEFUL if Neighbours Contact them to Help with these Jobs:

Field house: Set up / Clean up, Ticket sales, contribute a slow cooker and be in the chili contest (great prizes for winners), provide baked goods (make or fake, we won’t tell), help in the kitchen and lunch counter.

Contact Event Organizer, Erin Topping, to help at erintopping@hotmail.com or 613-799-1770.

[2016 Winter Carnival Chili]

Outdoor rink and park: Organize outdoor games and fun on rink, assist seniors and children with boarding sleigh, help rink supervisor with shovelling.

Contact Rink Organizer, <redacted>.

[2016 Winter Carnival Hockey]

Carnival Highlights:

  • Free Sleigh Rides: 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
  • Free Entertainment: 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm (Entertainer Kristen Klein performing upbeat acoustic tunes)
  • Free Balloon animals with creator Jason Keats!
  • Free Coffee and Hot Chocolate until quantities run out! (Bridgehead – sponsor)
  • Chili Cook–off Contest with great prizes!
  • Lunch counter: Hot dogs, chili, baked goods for sale.

Spread the word! Bring friends and family to Champlain Park !

Snow, rain or shine this event will take place on the last Saturday in January.

Winter Carnival – January 25

The Champlain Park Winter Carnival is coming soon! Saturday January 25th, 12-3 pm at the Field House. Details to follow for fun filled activities, but currently we’re looking for volunteers for:

  • Making a Chili for the chili contest (great prizes for the winners)
  • Providing some baked goods (make or fake, we won’t tell)
  • Help with outdoor games and fun
  • Helping in the kitchen
  • Set up/clean up
  • Ticket sales

Volunteers can contact erintopping@hotmail.com or 613-799-1770 to help out.

Thanks, Erin

[Horse Drawn Sleigh from 2016 Carnival]

Christmas Tree Recycling

Once Christmas is done, you can bring your natural Christmas tree to the baseball diamond backstop fence for the winter carnival (wind break – stop that north wind, so prop them up against the north side fence) and February’s community bonfire (combustion!). But please make sure all decorations have been removed.

Of course, there’s also the usual City of Ottawa green bin / yard waste recycling program that takes them too (again, no decorations or plastic tree wrappers).

Winter Carnival Thanks

Thank you to Volunteers at Winter Carnival 2019

Many thanks to a huge team of neighbours who volunteered to put on a very successful party at Champlain Park Saturday afternoon, January 26, 2019. To quote Pontiac resident, Dan Wilcock: “For those who were not able to make it this afternoon, I can assure you that it was an incredible event, extremely well attended, and really highlighted the joys of being part of this community.”

We welcomed visits from our elected representatives in all three levels of government: Mayor Jim Watson, City Councillor Jeff Leiper, MP Catherine McKenna, and MPP Joel Harden.

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 Winter Carnival 2019.
  • Jim Kot had the rink in great shape. Dave Bolger set up and supervised outdoor activity.
  • Jason Keats, creator of balloon animals, kept the children amused.
  • Linda Landreville and Katie Bolger served food and drinks.
  • Jennie Hornosty and Louise Atkins organized ticket sales.
  • Champlain Park Community Association sponsored the free sleigh ride.
  • West Wellington Business Improvement Area sponsored free entertainment and prizes.
  • Bridgehead supplied free coffee and hot chocolate.
  • Chris and Sharon Kelly gave horse-drawn sleigh rides all afternoon.
  • Derek McKinley (Sing Song Partytime) provided musical entertainment for families.
  • Neighbours donated chilis and baked goods for the lunch counter.

Photos by John Arnason:

Great turnout of skaters on Champlain Park rink, and skiers on SJAM trail!

Continue reading “Winter Carnival Thanks”

Winter Carnival Tomorrow – Saturday January 26 – Reminder

Champlain Park Winter Carnival – January 26

Free admission, sleigh rides, entertainment, hot drinks!

When? Saturday, January 26, 2019, Noon to 3 p.m.
Where? Champlain Park field house, park, rink.

[Horse Drawn Sleigh from 2016 Carnival]

Carnival Highlights:

  • Free Sleigh Rides: 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
  • Free Entertainment: 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm (Sing Song Party Time with Children’s Entertainer, Derek McKinley)
  • Free Balloon animals with creator Jason Keats!
  • Free Coffee and Hot Chocolate until quantities run out! (Bridgehead – sponsor)
  • Chili Cook–off Contest with great prizes!
  • Lunch counter: Hot dogs, chili, baked goods for sale.

Details at https://champlainpark.org/2019/01/16/winter-carnival-january-26/