Hockey Day in Canada

All week the excitement had been rising. Along the river, rinks flooded to perfection by our local fire department had encouraged many to head out for free skating and pick-up hockey. On Tuesday, the CBC began moving in their equipment. By Friday everything was set for the big day. Stanley and all the other major Cups had arrived.


A huge tent was set up for a community breakfast.












Most of our downtown stores got into the action with window and storefront décor.



Today, Saturday, dawned bright and sunny. Despite the cold, the river area was bustling with activity amidst an air of festivity and fun. Thanks to Tim Horton's Hockey Day in Canada, we had yet another reason to enjoy our beautiful park area.

WINTERFEST

This past Saturday dawned bright and cheerful and a sense of expectation filled the air.


When we arrived, Lower Queens Park was bustling with Winterfest activities. Our firemen had created a huge rink in the field below the theatre.

Ice had been trucked in to produce a Luge run for tiny tots, and sculptors had had their fun creating various figures.







The Aerial Angels were performing their high flying acrobatics.





Watching the children playing and adults visiting as we wandered past the many activities made me once again delighted to live in this fair town.


Winter's cold cannot dampen our spirits. Stratford is a city whose citizens like to have fun!

PICTURE PERFECT

A late afternoon stroll in the brisk, cold air of the January deep freeze, brought us to a scene out of the past. Rinks of all sizes have popped up on the Avon.

Pickup games of hockey, children donning their skates for the first time, folks huddled in groups to talk, or helping to shovel.

This is community. This is Stratford!