First-time cross-country skiers took on the hill in the Henry Heeney Memorial Park as the snow started on Saturday afternoon, partaking in one of a handful of free activities made available to the community as part of Danford Lake’s winter carnival.
In what was a first for the annual event, Katelyn Bertrand of Campbell’s Bay taught kids and adults alike how to cross-country ski. She was there with an organization called Ski at School which provides free access to skis, boots, poles and instruction all over the Outaouais region.
“The Pontiac is one of the most impoverished regions in Quebec,” Bertrand said. “This organization is about making cross-country skiing more accessible and bringing it to the Pontiac.”
Isabelle Cardinal, the director general of the municipality and one of the Danford Lake Recreation Association (DLRA) members, said that it’s good for them to have access to free activities.
Other highlights from the event’s daytime activities included a magician, face-painting, and a euchre tournament at Bethany Hall – something for all ages.
“For a small recreation association putting this carnival together, it’s pretty neat that everything is free,” Cardinal said.
Later in the evening, the band Midnight Ramblers performed and the DLRA held its annual box social.
Lifelong Danford Lake community member Angela Giroux said not too many people know about the box social tradition, which involves participants preparing decorated boxes filled with special treats, home cooked meals, and drinks they then auction off and share with the highest bidder.
“Years ago, there wasn’t a lot of social activity because people lived on farms that were all spread out,” Giroux said. “Women would make the meals for the box and the rule was that you had to sit with the person that brought it. Lots of connections were made those nights.”
Sidney Squitti, the secretary and treasurer for the DLRA, explained that the box social is one of their biggest fundraisers.
“If a box has a theme, people will decorate their boxes or baskets differently with things in the basket that are reflective of that theme,” Squitti said. “Sometimes people put pizzas or even Kentucky Fried Chicken.”
This year, the box social raised $2,300 and the 50/50 draw and raffle for a basket of cheer raised $700 for the DLRA.
