Winter festivals are being held in La Ronge, Stanley Mission and Sucker River. (submitted photo/Kennidy Proulx)

By Derek Cornet

community involvement

Three LLRIB winter festivals begin this month

Feb 12, 2020 | 2:35 PM

Three Lac La Ronge Indian Band communities are hosting annual winter festivals this month.

WinterFest20 starts in Sucker River today at 4 p.m. with a space dome and satellite presentation at 4 p.m. and a merchandise bingo at 6 p.m. Events will be held until Feb. 17 with Elders Day and Family Fun Night occurring Thursday. Kennidy Proulx is one of the coordinators for the festival and she said residents of Sucker River look forward to it every year.

“It’s important for us to host this every year just to get the community together to have the youth and the adults participate in things they’d like to do,” she said. “Everyone comes together and enjoys a week of fun we normally can’t get every day. It’s just to have a break from everyday life.”

Friday will include a Texas Hold ‘Em tournament and other events, while Saturday will be the Hector Ratt Memorial Fish Derby at Burgess Lake. Proulx noted there will be rides for anyone needing one and the derby will occur from noon to 4 p.m.

On Feb. 16, there will be a pancake breakfast followed by the Gloria Eninew 10^th Annual Memorial Broomball Tournament and a number of outdoor events. The last day of the festival will be Feb. 17 and there will be a Children’s Festival, Fourth Annual Emily Mckenzie Memorial Fish Derby and buckskin competitions. A community supper will also be held at the band hall.

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“People in the community really love the type of stuff we put on, especially Family Fun Night,” Proulx said.

Winter festivals attract residents of all ages. (submitted photo/Kennidy Proulx)

The 40^th Annual Stanley Mission Winter Festival begins Feb. 24 and runs until March 1. Some of the highlights include a Community Air Band Show on Feb. 25, followed by the Grand Ole Opry Show on Feb. 26. Stanley Mission Recreation Director Jimmy Charles said there will be cash prizes for both events.

Another important aspect of the festival is King and Queen Trapper events as the top prize is $2,000. Charles noted many people compete in those events with about 40 men and women doing so in 2019.

“It brings quite a bit of people together in the community,” he said. “They don’t really go for the money; they go for the friendships they build.”

Other events include a snowmobile parade, fireworks, a disco skate, jigging contest, youth talent show and more. Charles mentioned residents should look forward to an evening of various games on Feb. 27.

Lastly, the 2020 Lac La Ronge Winter Festival will occur Feb. 28 to March 8. Many of the events, including King and Queen Trapper competitions, will happen during the last two days.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno