This Family Day weekend in St. Paul offers something for everyone, whether it’s skating, swimming, snowmobile riding or free fishing.
The Lakeland Cross-Country Ski Club is hosting a Family Fun Ski Day on Sunday, Feb. 20, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Cooknell’s trail site. A bonfire, hot chocolate and snacks will be available on the afternoon, with the club’s president, Pierre Lamoureux, adding that ski hosts will be available to meet people every hour on the hour, at 2, 3 and 4 p.m. at the trail head to lead tours. “Nordic skiing lends itself so well as a family activity,” he said, explaining why he encouraged people to come out as a family group. “There’s nothing healthier than for moms, dads and kids to play in the snow.”
On the same day, the Trailblazers Snowmobile Club will be holding its annual snowmobile rally to raise funds for the club, such as its trail system and equipment. Last year, patchy snow cover led to the event being cancelled, but this year, a few good dumps of snow have made for much better riding.
Danny Blain, who handles public relations for the club, noted the trails had already been groomed and extra snow now would create “really good” riding conditions. “So many of us are doing the snow dance,” he said. Myrnam has a snowmobile rally on the Saturday as well, giving people the opportunity to take in two solid days of snowmobiling on Feb. 19 and 20.
“We’re extremely family-oriented, this club,” he said, of the purpose of having the event on the Family Day weekend. His own four-year-old son comes with him and has a blast on snowmobiling treks. On top of it, any children under the age of 12 that come out to the rally are guaranteed to go home with one of the door prizes up for offer. “We do that to encourage people to get out as a family.”
Registration for the 100 km ride starts at Lac Bellevue Hall from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. There will be a mid-trail lunch at the club’s Three Mile Cabin, with coffee, juice, hot chocolate and a warm meal all offered alongside outdoor and indoor fires. If people need to warm up and get some food and drinks, they can do that and then “suit back up and head out from there,” said Blain. Dinner, cash prizes, door prizes and drinks wrap up the evening, starting at 5 p.m. at Lac Bellevue Hall. As of last Wednesday, 45 per cent of the advance tickets had sold out, said Blain, adding that people can also get tickets to ride on the day of the event, although they won’t be able to join the dinner.
Meanwhile, the Town of St. Paul is also doing its bit to add some recreational options to people’s weekends.
The St. Paul Aquatic Centre will be open for public swimming on the Monday, with Scott Walker, recreation director for the town, noting, “Usually we’ve been closed on Family Day.” The pool will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Family Day Monday, with the lane swim running from 11 p.m. to 12 p.m., and public swimming from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
There will be extra public skating hours offered at the Clancy Richard Arena during the long weekend. On most weekends, the arena throws its doors open to the public for an hour on Friday, starting at 5:30 p.m., and on Saturday, starting at 12:30 p.m., but the town will also offer a Sunday skate from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the Family Day weekend.
If that doesn’t tickle a skater’s fancy, the Town of St. Paul will also be trying to ensure the outdoor skating rinks are cleared off for the weekend, said Walker.
To take advantage of the free fishing weekend from Feb. 19 to 21, the recreation board had been kicking around the idea of clearing St. Paul’s fish pond for skating on the Saturday and Sunday, followed by family fishing on Monday, said Walker.
“Unfortunately it’s not going to happen this year.” A few weeks ago, when crews went to check the ice, they discovered “five inches of floodwater,” due to the insulating layer of snow on the pond.
“I’m really disappointed,” Walker said, adding he was still hoping the event would take flight next year. By clearing the pond off this December and keeping the snow off the ice, the pond should be in good shape for fishing and skating by the following February, weather permitting, noted Walker. Offering sleigh rides and a bonfire, or any other activities that other groups want to stage, could also create more entertainment for the day, he speculated.
“We need to think outside of the box and come up with some ideas,” he said, adding he felt the location and idea was a good place to start to make the Family Day weekend one to remember.
