posted December 5, 2007

Opening Day Party December 15, 2007

Singing Christmas carols by the campfire

Parks and outdoor skating rinks are great places for friends and neighbours to meet and have fun, but every once in a while the weather puts a damper on things. On Saturday December 15, park recreation staff together with CELOS organized a party to celebrate the start of the rink season at Campbell. A sound system was set up. Recreation staffers prepared a beautiful fire. Food and hot chocolate were laid out on a picnic table. Rental skates were brought over from Dufferin park so that people who didn't have their own skates could join in. In short, everything was in place for a great party. Unfortunately, the weather didn't co-operate.

When the event started at 3pm, park staff were still cleaning snow off the ice rink. It was colder than usual and the snow didn't let up. Bad weather or not, a few people did come out. The mood was festive and more than a few people said they had a good time. A small group of park neighbours from a local community group called DIG IN came over to sing Christmas carols by the campfire. Other people soon joined in including a park neighbour who went home and came back with his guitar. Even some of the teenagers who were too shy to sing by the campfire were overheard singing carols in the rinkhouse. One group of boys took advantage of the checker tables in the changeroom to play a game. A steady stream of skaters and other neighbours stopped by the campfire for a hot dog or a cup of hot chocolate. Some children even used the playground slide despite the snow and cold.