Activities begin on Thursday, Feb. 5 with tobogganing in King George Park beginning at 6:30 p.m. Helmets are recommended to ensure the trip down the slope is a safe one. Bring your favourite toboggan or ride an inner tube provided by Sports & Recreation to barrel down the hill. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served around a campfire to keep everyone warm.

Later that evening at Victoria Hall, a Speakeasy Casino has been organized for Westmounters 18 years and over, opening its doors at 8 p.m. Step back in time to the Roaring Twenties, with performances by Team Burlesque, a trio of showgirls entertaining the crowd with vaudeville and boas in the style of the era. Tickets are $15, on sale at Victoria Hall starting Monday, Jan. 24 at 4 p.m. and during regular office hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) after that date. The entrance fee includes gaming chips for blackjack, Texas Hold’em, poker and roulette, as well as snacks. Great prizes to be to be won.

On Friday evening, Feb. 6, Westmounters of all ages are invited to Victoria Hall for the 5:30 p.m. launching of the Westmount of the Stars on its inaugural voyage into outer space. Included in the $10 ticket ($5 for kids 12 years and under) is dinner, dancing, face painting and contests. There will be prizes for best costume for those who dare to boldly go…… Ticket sales begin Jan. 26 at 4 p.m. at Victoria Hall.

And for those who embrace winter, a day of ‘Frosty Fun’ will take place on Saturday, Feb. 7 in Westmount Park (main field) and the Arena starting at 10 a.m. Come out and enjoy the enthusiasm of our brand-new termite hockey tournament, with first-year hockey players taking to the ice, or the grace and skill of the senior figure skating programme, whose members have put together a spectacular show. You can also relax on a horse-drawn sleigh ride through Westmount Park or try some maple taffy at the sugar shack after your free hot dog lunch. There will be races and contests for the energetic members of the crowd throughout the day.

More details on all three days of Winter Carnival activities are available on the City’s Web site at www.westmount.org

The success of these festivities is greatly due to the involvement of our staff. Westmount is blessed with dedicated municipal employees. Of course, we could not offer so many different events without Westmount’s most precious asset: our volunteers. We have hundreds of dynamic volunteers whose talent, enthusiasm and experience are vital in providing safe and successful events. Through the Community Events Advisory committee, volunteers work hard with Council and staff to organize events that we can all be proud of. It is their participation and their sense of community that makes Westmount what it is today. Thank you, one and all!



• Nicole Forbes is the Commissioner of Recreation and Community Events