Third annual Polar Beach Party
Beaming faces despite no sunbeams
André Boudreau, program coordinator of TBL’S Recreation and Community Services, was excited that almost 1,000 people attended this year’s Polar Beach Party on Saturday afternoon at Douglass Beach considering the colder temperatures and no sunshine. They were active and taking full advantage of their crown jewel: the lake!
The mood was festive with lots of activities including the colourful inflatable apparatus that children love to play on. Mostly the event was an opportunity to discover the outdoor possibilities that the winter lake has to offer, activities that from babies to grandparents can participate in together. Scotyz was set up at the cantine with hot dogs and goodies while the Bank of Montreal served hot chocolate at their kiosk. Olaf could be seen greeting and entertaining everyone. But the big attraction was the lake. Of course, the long lasting deep freezes gave people the confidence that the ice was strong enough to navigate on
with skating, curling, ball hockey, snow biking, kick sledding, snow kite flying, shoeing, and ice fishing in the distance. The activity was infectious; the joyfulness that outdoor winter activity offers was palpable. Friends gathered around the fireside telling stories, catching up. With the parking lot too full to accommodate all that joined in the fun, the Lavignes served as taxi service from the town center to Douglass Beach.
The town made available kick sleds for everyone to try. Even the mayor and Councillor Ron Myles gave it a try and were surprised at how easily it is to navigate through the snow and along the ice. The mayor wants everyone to know that it has purchased seven kick sleds and are available by the hour for rent.
All in attendance would agree that the event was a huge success.
Left, From skating to curling and kickboarding, to pushing babies in strollers, and walking dogs, Brome Lake was littered with people in motion during the third annual Polar Beach Party last weekend.
This is the second time in a couple of months that Olaf has come to TBL. Here he is seen at the annual TBL Polar Beach Party held at Douglass Beach last Saturday afternoon.