Innisfil warms up with Winterfest
By Chris Simon

Hundreds of people gathered for Winterfest, which took place at locations throughout Innisfil over the weekend. The events included a parachute dive, Polar Bear Dip, skating at the Innisfil Recreation Complex and the Mayor's Tyke Challenge hockey tournament. The tournament was won by the Red Devils team.

Conor Firmani is just learning how to skate.

After only two times on the ice, the three-year-old has already started using a balancing apparatus, along with his mother Sharon, for support. Wearing a black helmet and tiny skates, he is already starting to resemble his older brother, said Sharon.

In many ways, this past weekend was a family affair for the Firmani's. While Conor and Sharon were skating upon the ice at the Innisfil Recreation Centre Friday evening, Conor's older brother was participating in the annual Mayor's Tyke Challenge outdoor hockey tournament, which began Saturday morning. Both events were part of Winterfest celebrations, which took place at locations across the town last weekend.

"Our older son does the mayor's cup," said Sharon, holding Conor. "We came out to this rink on New Year's and he enjoyed it, so we wanted to come back today. We enjoy skating."

The three day winter festival - which is run by the Innisfil Community Events Corporation - included the skate and hockey tournament, a kids' fishing derby, a comedy and musical entertainment night and the annual Polar Bear Dip.

Members of Skydive Toronto even dropped onto the ice near the shores of Innisfil Beach Park, shortly before over 20 people took the dip Sunday afternoon.

About 170 people also attended a pancake breakfast at the Lions Hall, said organizer Gord Wauchope.

"It was a free weekend for everyone for fishing," he said. "The hockey tournament has been great ... it's a pretty good weekend. The weather's cooperated; there's been no grooves for us like there have been in other years."

Wauchope says the event was generally successful. However, organizers had hoped for better attendance at the entertainment night. They were also forced to cancel the radar run because of the unpredictable weather this winter.

"The dance was not as great as we anticipated, but it was well attended," he said. "The people like to get out and do something. It's February and everybody's looking forward to spring. It breaks up the winter."

Next year, ICECORP members hope Winterfest will feature several new events, such as a turkey slide and other events within the park.

"We're going to try some different things," he said. "We'll try and get some councillors involved in (the turkey slide). It's a lot of fun. Winterfest is hard to run because the weather has to cooperate. It's touch and go."

Proceeds from Winterfest will be donated to the recreation complex, said Wauchope.

Photos by Chris Simon