The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Eric Robinson yesterday encouraged all Manitobans to take advantage of the fun and excitement at the many winter festivals supported by the province. "Winter lasts at least one-third of the year in Manitoba," said Robinson. "That's too long to stay indoors. People need to get outside and experience the healthy forms of fun that our winter festivals offer." The minister noted that in the 2004-05 fiscal year, the province provided $175,000 for community festivals, with $49,000 designated for the province's winter festivals. "A variety of festivals are scheduled throughout the province which have activities that will appeal to all ages and we are pleased to be able to support them," said Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Oscar Lathlin, who spoke in The Pas on behalf of Robinson. "For example, the 58th Trappers Festival in The Pas features competitions in the traditional ways of life for trappers from the North like snowshoeing, sled dog races, canoe packing, bannock making and axe throwing. It gets people outside and moving, reminding us of the simple pleasures of life and the healthy and robust lifestyle of the past that people needed to survive." Lathlin also announced $20,000 in support of this year's event, which is underway in The Pas. The Community Festivals Support Program provides support to community festivals which are recognized as being signature annual events in their communities. The winter festivals currently supported include the Trappers Festival in The Pas, Canadian Power Toboggan Championships in Beausejour, Beaver Days in Falcon Lake, Churchill Aurora Winterfest, Snow Lake Winter Hoot, Brochet Caribou Festival, Wabowden Winter Festival, Lockport Children's Winter Festival, Festival Manipogo in St. Laurent, Grand Marais Winter Family Festival and the Thunder and Ice Winter Festival in Shoal Lake.
