By Kathy Rowe
Winterfest 2026 will likely be remembered as one of the snowiest and coldest Winterfests on record. Thankfully, the sun was shining, the wind was minimal, and the event was a great success.
I want to thank the Winterfest committee members, led by Jake Forsyth, who invested their time and energy, which resulted in a fun day for the community. CCRA is a proud partner with Winterfest each year and our financial support is key to the success of the event. The funding from sponsors and area community associations was hugely appreciated and we couldn’t have held the event without their generous support.
Big thanks to the students and Port Union Seniors volunteers. From the ticket sales, food servers and barbecue to the games and live entertainment, the volunteers were crucial to the success of Winterfest. Toon Goons, a new attraction this year, proved to be a popular feature. Attendees lined up for their chance to have their caricatures drawn and there were many smiling faces to be seen!
A special thanks to the talented performers who took to the stage. They also volunteered their time and we were so pleased to have them perform for our community. The vendors added great variety to the event and it was fun to have them take part. Families enjoyed the free apple cider provided by Councillor Neethan Shan and the free tasty hot chocolate provided by the Heather Lemieux Group. Thank you to the staff from the offices of MPP Vijay Thaningasalam and MP Gary Anandasangaree for being there to engage with residents.
Once again this year, CCRA displayed a terrific membership gift basket at our table. This incentive always helps to boost membership sales. All Centennial households that purchase a 2026 CCRA membership up until February 28 will be eligible to win the gift basket. The winner will be drawn on Tuesday, March 4 at our board meeting. Please join and good luck!
If you were unable to attend Winterfest this year, mark your calendar for the last Saturday in January next year when the event will return. Check out our colourful centre spread for photos of some of the Winterfest fun.
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