By Craig Westcott/March 3, 2023
The verdict is in, and this year's Frosty festival has been deemed to have made a big comeback from the Covid-19 years when events were pared back drastically or, as in 2022, called off completely.
Recreation and Community Safety chairperson Chelsea Lane told her fellow councillors at last week's public meeting that the festival, which started February 8 and wound-up last night, March 2, with a Battle of the Brains at the Reid Community Centre, was a roaring success.
Lane made the remark during the course of a discussion about releasing the second and final installment of some $10,000 in operating funds which the City gives the festival every year as part of a Memorandum of Understanding to help the independent, non-profit board organize the winter festival.
"So many people were there having a great time with smiles on their faces," said Lane. "I attended almost every event and enjoyed every minute of it, as did my colleagues."
Lane's co-chairperson, councillor Bill Antle seconded her sentiments.
"We'd like to pass along our thanks and congratulations to everyone involved in making the Frosty Festival a huge success," Antle said, who cited the festival's board members, volunteers, and City staff. "The events were all well received and attended by city residents and people from neighboring communities."
Mayor Dave Aker pointed out that some of the stormy weather in February extended the duration of the festival as some of its 60 or so events had to be rescheduled.
"It's a fantastic group of volunteers," Aker said. "Thankfully we've weathered the Covid storm – Covid has not disappeared, but we didn't see a lot of sickness in the province or in the community over the last two or three weeks – and it's nice to have that break."
Aker noted that earlier in the meeting, a proclamation was signed recognizing Heritage Week and there was a fair bit of discussion about heritage and historical places in Mount Pearl. "Part of heritage too is your culture," he pointed out. "And I would note that Heritage Canada is always a big contributor to what we call the extravaganza portion of the Frosty Festival. This is the place to be in the month of February."
Councillor Isabella Fry was impressed by the high attendance at this year's events.
"We're so fortunate to have our volunteers and all those who organize it," Fry said. "We're also fortunate to have such a deep sense of community in Mount Pearl, and events like the Frosty Festival serve as one of the main sources of the spirit that we all enjoy. So, thank you to everybody who came together to make the Frosty Festival happen."
Councillor Mark Rice made a similar observation and complimented the board members and everyone else who made the festival so well organized. "And it's such a huge event," he said. "They were looking for something like 500 volunteers, so that will tell you the capacity and the involvement and how much time and work goes into it. So, a big congratulations to everybody."
Mayor Aker added that while Frosty Festival Inc., is an independent body, the group and the City share a memorandum of understanding and the two entities work well together.
“And I have to say, our staff, especially those in the community development department, as well as in the public works department, worked hand over fist to get certain facilities ready, whether they be indoors or outdoors,” Aker said. “The parade was immensely well attended, the park was manicured, we had an event outside here at City Hall and that whole landscape had to be transformed with musical stages and an ice an carving and fire pits, and the like. There were a lot of events big and small, but I can tell you, and it may have been mentioned before, but the mental health and wellbeing of our residents is not measured in purely the number of centimetres of snow we plow, and things like that. This (the festival) is community services, and we get it for a good bang for the buck. But those in-kind services come from the cooperation of our staff."
Aker asked chief administrative officer Dana Spurrell to convey the thanks of council and residents to the staff of all the City's departments, who each contributed to the success of the festival.
"So well done everybody," said the mayor.
