Stouffville's winter carnival on ice this year

YorkRegion.com
Jan. 14, 2015
Sandra Bolan

The annual Stouffville Winter Carnival at Cedar Beach has been cancelled this year.

“Fire and Ice, a free outdoor family event hosted by United Soils, is being held on Saturday, Jan. 24. As a result of this event, recent New Year’s Eve family celebrations in Memorial Park and the mayor’s family skate event on New Year’s Day, the town is not holding the winter carnival this year.

“We will be examining options for a town winter carnival for next year,” Ken Turriff, Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville spokesperson told The Sun-Tribune in an email.

Former Ward 2 councillor Phil Bannon created the winter carnival in 2003.

In its first year, the family-friendly February event drew about 500 people. But recently, it attracted between 2,500 and 3,000 people.

The carnival featured ice skating on Musselman’s Lake, ATV and hay rides, as well as indoor activities.

It was also a fundraiser for the Ballantrae Scouts.

“They make more money at this than they do combining all their fundraising efforts all year,” Bannon told The Sun-Tribune back in 2011.

The Scouts raised money through the sale of hot dogs, hot chocolate, chili and Beavertails.

Calls and emails to Bannon, current Ward 2 Councillor Maurice Smith, as well as Mayor Justin Altmann by the Sun-Tribune seeking comment on the event’s cancellation were all unanswered by press time.