CALEB NICKERSON
FORT COULONGE
March 15-18, 2018
The parking lot at the Centre de Loisir des Draveurs in Fort Coulonge was packed over the weekend as a group of local volunteers put on the annual Winter Carnival.
Volunteer Lucille Belair explained that the event was a long-standing tradition in the area, but had stopped for almost 20 years.
“It’s just a bunch of volunteers that got together six years ago and revived it,” she said, explaining that the money raised goes towards the local arena. “That’s what we’re trying to do and of course revive the carnival and have something to do in town.”
The cast behind the scenes changes from year to year, but the event is extremely popular, typically grossing roughly $10,000, with a record $18,039 raised in 2014.
Events kicked off on Thursday night with the annual gala, where the crowd said goodbye to the 2017 Carnival Queen, Rhiana Gervais, and welcomed the 2018 nominees. This year’s nominees included Gabrielle Paquin, Victoria Larivière, Ève Laroche, Angélique Pilon-Desrocher and Émilie Ladouceur.

Ladouceur ended up getting crowned on Friday night, though Belair explained that the decision is made by random draw.
The hockey tournament also kicked off on Friday with a party with DJ Zabber capping off the night.
On Saturday the hockey continued and there were plenty of fun and games for the youngsters.
There was a St. Patrick’s Day party in the upstairs hall, with a car rally kicking off in the morning.
Mascots from shows and movies were there to greet the children, as well as face painting and a magician.
On Sunday, there was more hockey and public skating to round out the weekend.
Along with Belair, the 2018 committee was made up of Mélanie Ladouceur, Paul Boisvert, Julie Fortin-Delorme, Élise Jolin, Mélanie Romain, Stéphane Béland and Line Giguère, with Luc Sicard and Sam Frost running the car rally.
As well, Kim Lévesque headed up childrens’ games, Willy Ladouceur and his team handled food and Mélanie Soucie was in charge of the 50/50.