If we’d tried to hold the Dunvegan Winter Carnival last Sunday instead of Saturday, we’d have been up a “soon-to-be-cancelled CBC TV series” without a paddle. Instead, we ended up with a day that, while on the cool side, was wind and snow-free. There was nothing, weather-wise, to discourage Carnival goers from attending the Buffet Breakfast at the Hall. The day was also a perfect backdrop for hours of outdoor fun, but more of that later.
First, let’s take a look at the breakfast stats. Event co-coordinator, Kim Raymond, tells me that DRA volunteers prepared and served a total of 150 meals this year. Now, this was down a touch from last year’s 200-breakfast record. But we must remember that the 2014 Carnival Buffet’s goal was raising funds to help the McKendrick family after their devastating barn fire. And this attracted concerned friends and acquaintances from far and wide.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of this year’s Breakfast was that there were no huge peaks and valleys of demand. As Vivian Franklin, the other half of the DRA’s event coordinating team, related to me in a recent e-mail, “the steady stream at the Hall allowed people to sit and chat… instead of a big crush where people felt they had to eat and run, so as to give another person a seat. Community Living certainly had a blast too.”
Before we move outside, I’d like to acknowledge the “inside” volunteers who made the Breakfast possible: Katherine MacDonald, Myrna Ladouceur, Marlie Tilker, Lynn MacGillivray, Jean Kaluta, Heather MacIntosh, Karine, Thomas and Brianna Speuhler, Heather Raymond, Partick Senn, Marcus Suter, Greg Byers, Dennis Ranger, Bob Linney, Linda Fraser, Nancy McKinnon, Michelle Hartrick, Eileen Franklin and Sandra MacPherson. Mark Franklin also deserves special recognition. Not only did he donate all the maple syrup for Saturday’s event, he also included enough of the maple magic for the DRA’s annual Taffy & Crokinole Party in early April. Kim told me she was amazed at how cooperative people were when it came to pre-cooking sausage, bacon and muffins. “The very first seven phone calls I made netted me my six sausage and bacon cooks, plus a seventh person to do a dozen muffins. In all, it took about ten minutes,’ said Kim. “It’s incredible the support we receive from the community.”
Each year’s outdoor carnival has a unique rhythm, as well. Last Saturday, the stream of parents and their young kids rose to a crescendo early. And, by mid-afternoon, the stream of newcomers had slowed to a trickle. Try as they might, Jim Tilker, Ben Williams, Sean Burgess and Andrew McCormick were unable to carve a skating rink out of the pond. And they tried in a number of different locations.
However, folks seemed content with sliding on the berm on the west side of the pond basin, searching for clues in the “Tropical Madness” scavenger hunt, hopping aboard Jake and Sam Wensik’s green and red horse-drawn sleigh for a ride through the forests and fields around the pond and working up a serious sweat (or “glow” in the case of the female players) on the Snolleyball pitch.
As for how many people turned out, I really don’t have a clue. I probably should have one of those hand counter gizmos, but I’m too lazy. The event doesn’t depend on a government grant that must, in turn, be supported by reams of attendance figures. So it is what it is.
If I were to guess, I’d say that well over one hundred people of all ages dropped by. At one point around the lunch hour, it was virtually impossible to find space in the house to enjoy Terry’s homemade victuals. In all, she went through over 156 home-baked butter rolls, eight gallons of Chicken Minestrone soup and three and a half gallons each of fresh-brewed coffee and hot chocolate with miniature marshmallows.
Unfortunately, I don’t have all the details yet on the 2015 Dunvegan Snolleyball Invitational tournament. However, it sure looked like the event drew more players than any previous year — one of whom amazed bystanders and competitors alike by playing with no coat, hat, gloves or mitts. The winning team, which I believe was from Dunvegan, won a gift basket of healthy snacks like Doritos, Cheezies and potato chips. The basket proved to be a very popular prize, so much so that next year the DRA might want to consider increasing its size. As Vivian Franklin told me, “the kids even had fun dividing the single bag of Doritos chips. They passed it around and around and each player took one chip until the bag was empty. Very diplomatic. So yes it was a hit!” Ben Williams organized the tournament and he did an excellent job.
As for the “Tropical Madness” scavenger hunt, there were fewer entries than in previous years. I suspect this is because we’re in one of those in-between troughs; the younger kids are too young and the older kids are too old. Nevertheless, a number of hearty souls did complete the search for clues. (I overheard that the “lemon” was a tough one to find.) Hunt organizer, Kim Raymond, reports that she is still trying to reach the winner of the giant tropical fruit basket.
Like the kick-off breakfast, the “winter” half of the day depends heavily on the good graces of volunteers. Terry has asked me to formally thank: Linda Burgess, Marlie Tilker, Ursula Sweitzer, Alyson Graham, Heather Raymond and Stephen Sundquist. “I couldn’t have managed without their help,” Terry told me when the dust settled.
I also wanted to add some names as well, including Jake, Sam and Peter Wensink, Jim Tilker, Todd Thorburn (it was my son-in-law’s first Carnival) and Norm MacLennan and his son John. These last two individuals made repeated trips to 19314 Dunvegan Road to keep the parking lots and roads back to the pond free of ice and snow. Just the day before Carnival, they even rushed over to pull my stranded tractor out of the bush. I’d been trying to pack the Scavenger Hunt trail and got royally stuck. No doubt I have missed the name of one or two volunteers and for this I apologize.
If you failed to make it out to this unique, low-key festival of family fun, it’s too bad. We’ll have to make even more of an effort to get you out and involved in the community next February.
Historical treasure trove lost
I’m saddened to report that reader Betty Bracken from Osgoode, Ontario (nee MacCrimmon of Dunvegan) lost her home to fire early last week. Betty has been very kindly collecting and feeding me information on life in Dunvegan in the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s. As many of my readers know, Betty’s 100 year-old mother, Roberta “Bertie” MacKinnon, and her 91 year-old aunt, Marjorie Kelly, reside in the Maxville Manor. While no one was injured in the fire — I understand that both Betty and her husband were out at the time — I hate to think how much precious history went up in smoke.
Calling all War Brides
A little while ago, I mentioned that the Glengarry Historical Society is organizing the first-ever Glengarry History Fair to be held in Alexandria on February 21, 2015. The aim of the History Fair is to get younger people involved in the rich history of the Glengarry area. Entrants are expected to research, produce and present a project of their choice, in any medium, as long the focus is Glengarry. There will be five age categories: grades 1-3, grades 4-6, grades 7-8, grades 9-12 and college/university. Prizes will be awarded to the top three projects in each category.
One of the reasons I mention the Glengarry History Fair is that Heather Raymond approached me at the Carnival on Saturday afternoon and asked for our help. She’s working on a project for the Fair that focuses on War Brides and the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders. She is trying to find women in the area who came to Canada as “war brides” after marrying a member of the SD&G Highlanders. If you meet Heather’s criteria — or know of someone who does — please contact her as soon as possible at 613-527- 2157. Thanks.
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