The evening of Saturday January 7, 2006 was another successful Winter Carnival night at Frank Ryan Park. 

Board members and volunteers were one again thrilled at the turnout of about 400 residents.  The enthusiasm was contagious. Kids and adults alike enjoyed the atmosphere and the weather conditions were great.

There were plenty of activities with event equipment provided by the City of Ottawa’s Parks and Recreation staff.  A slapshot speed gun and shot accuracy board all contributed to fun activities on the rink.

The Bonfire Lights the Sky at Frank Ryan Park Photo Courtesy of Steven Fouchard, The News	The Sleigh Ride was a Popular Attraction Photo Courtesy of Steven Fouchard, The News

Free hot chocolate, generously donated by Tim Horton’s on Richmond Road at Woodroffe Avenue and by Ron and Marlene Catterall, was enjoyed by many residents. Others enjoyed hot apple cider and baked goods donated by our volunteers.  Sundance Ranch provided the horsedrawn wagon that took enthusiastic riders around Henley, Rob Roy, Cresthill and Maplewood.

The Christmas tree bonfire started at 7:00 with the last embers extinguished at 9:45 PM.  About 90 trees were collected around the community to make this the highlight event of the Carnival.

At the January 9, 2006 meeting of the Board of Directors it was unanimously decided to hold next year’s Winter Carnival on Saturday January 6, 2007.   We’ll be asking for donations to help offset the cost of the sleighrides.  Priority will also be given to getting more volunteers to help and to have everything in place for the Carnival by our Annual General Meeting in November.

Congratulations and thanks to:

The City of Ottawa has donated a Red Oak tree to our community to celebrate Ottawa's 150^th Anniversary.  The tree was planted at the corner of Tavistock and Henley and joins the 200 saplings that were planted there by our Association over the last two years.