One of the attractions at the 2024 Crysler Winter Carnival was the outdoor bumper cars on Saturday. As the winter sun begins to set, Annie Theoret and Barbara Paulin go for a spin in the back parking area of the Crysler Community Centre.   Thompson Goddard Photo

CRYSLER – There was plenty to see and do during the 58th Carnaval d’hiver de Crysler Winter Carnival held between Feb. 13 and 18. The theme of carnival weekend was Lumberjack and the popular North vs South Challenge was held this year, with South or Red team (residents living south of the Nation River) winning the challenge by accumulating more points than the North or Blue team (residents living north of the Nation River).

Following a euchre evening on Feb. 13 and a winter carnival bingo on Valentine’s Day, a Ladies Night with a 1920s theme featured 10 vendors, live jazz music from Terry Owen of Crysler and a fitness show courtesy of Lil Pole Fitness of Cornwall. People, many in roaring 20’s attire, were able to enjoy an evening of socializing, shopping and enjoying a bite to eat from a buffet table.

Friday night at the carnival featured a French-Canadian Dinner which saw over 260 people enjoy tourtière (meat pie), ragoût de pattes de cochon (pork stew) and for dessert pouding chomeur (poor man’s pudding). Following dinner people were able to enjoy French-Canadian singing and square dancing with Louis Racine & Les Pourquoi Pas.

Carnival Saturday featured story-telling and crafts as well as the Little Lumberjack Outdoor Adventures for youngsters, a lunch with cupcake decorating, public skating, and snow hill adventures.

The Little Lumberjack Outdoor Adventures featured children visiting nine stations which included enjoying some indoor games and outdoor bumper cars as well as visiting the Crysler fire station. At 5 p.m. the annual 24-hour Tony’s Rockathon began, which was a fundraiser for the ODR, with a successful dance featuring The County Lads in the evening. During the dance a pancake toss was held, an inflatable allowed for an axe throwing contest and a photo booth was available to use.

A Lumberjack Breakfast, Snowmobile Show (which featured 25 sleds), as well as the North vs South adult and youth games were held on Sunday. A Spaghetti Supper ended the carnival, with the fireworks display rescheduled to Sat., Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. due to weather conditions.

The popular North vs South Challenge was held this year, with South (or Red) team (residents living south of the Nation River) winning the challenge by accumulating more points than the North (or Blue) team (residents living north of the Nation River).

People were able to gain points for their team in a variety of ways including participation in the carnival or home decoration. Students from l’École élémentaire catholique Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire in Crysler were able to participate by colouring a provided picture in either red or blue which was displayed at the Crysler Community Centre.

Thanks to the work of committee workers Barbara Paulin, Veronique Landry, Erin Clark, Martine Quesnel, Alison McDonald, Sheryl Johnston, Laura Woods, Jeanne Herfkens, Dana Crosbie, Emilie Bedbrook, Christine Lalonde, Annie Theoret and Marie-Claude MacGregor the 2024 Carnaval d’hiver de Crysler Winter Carnival 2024 successfully provided residents and guests with a jam-packed weekend of fun and entertainment. Committee Chair Barbara Paulin wished to thank the committee members for their dedicated, collaborative and hard work. She expressed a note of thanks to all those who volunteered, to the carnival sponsors and to the community for their support.