January 24, 2013

MANITOBA'S WINTER FESTIVALS OFFER OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES TO EXPLORE MANITOBA'S DIVERSE CULTURE

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Communities Across Province Hosting Events that Celebrate the Season: Marcelino

Manitobans are encouraged to head out to one of the many festivals being held this winter to check out the different entertainment opportunities offered across the province, Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Flor Marcelino said today.
“The province proudly supports a number of winter festivals that provide Manitoba families the opportunity to explore the beauty and wonder of the winter season across the province,” said Marcelino.  “From celebrating our history at Festival du Voyageur to listening to great music at the Brandon Jazz Festival, these festivals offer something for everyone.”
This year, the province is providing more than $426,000 in grants through a number of programs to support winter festivals across the province including:

• the Lieutenant Governor’s Winter Festival from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 in Brandon;
• the New Music Festival from Jan. 28 to Feb. 2 in Winnipeg;
• Blizzard Fest from Feb. 8 to 9 in Carman;
• theGrand Marais Family Festival from Feb. 8 to 10;
• theNorthern Manitoba Trappers Festival from Feb. 13 to 17 in The Pas;
• Festival du Voyageur from Feb. 15 to 24 in Winnipeg;
• Aurora Winterfest from March 15 to 24 in Churchill;
• theBrandon Jazz Festival from March 14 to 16;
• Cormorant Aboriginal Days from March 13 to 16;
• Festival Manipogo de Saint-Laurent from March 7 to 10;
• Freeze Frame, the International Film Festival for Kids of All Ages from March 2 to 10 in Winnipeg; and
• theLundar Winter Carnival from March 15 to 17.

“We know that festivals in rural and northern communities are a key to bringing friends and families together to celebrate and share experiences,” said Marcelino.  “We’re proud to provide these kinds of grant opportunities to support the work of people in rural areas and the north.”

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Winter's Humour

Winter, winter, winter. Some people love to hate it. Many of us use it to break the ice in conversation and sometimes in the process it cracks our frozen lips.
Old man winter I wonder why they call winter old man. Only man doesn't have the bite and sting of winter. This is a young man with all his ozones in tact. When he gets you boy, he gets you good.

This young man's kisses burn you and make you weep. Even grown men's eyes water to his stinging touch. Young man winter must be one of those newer varieties of sex because he does not discriminate. He makes a play for anyone who is foolish enough not to keep themselves covered properly.

A few days ago it was 45 to 50 degrees below and I had to walk 15 minutes in the cold facing the wind. It was bitterly cold with the wind in my face but I loved it, I relished in it and loved the feel of the skin as it got so cold that I began to feel a sensation like needles sticking me in the face. I saw wow; I am getting a free acupuncture. I reduced my pace so that I can enjoy it even more.
Growing up in the tropics all we had was boring rain and sun, mud and water, mosquitoes and flies and creepy crawlies all year round. That drove me to pieces. There was no relief until I came to North America and now the season changes and as soon as you begin to get tired of one season the next season slip away except young man winter always tries to get a little more overstaying his welcome
Yeah winter is great. It gives you that fresh, crisp feeling of a frozen lettuce and somehow people look younger in the winter then when summer comes and you thaw all the wrinkles appear like magic. This is another great reason to like winter. It keeps you younger looking. But when you get into the homes with all their artificial heats your can turn on you again. It can take on the appearance of a reptile with huge scales. That can be quite a scary picture. I am sure you've seen it and you know what I mean. We all have seen this animal and it's not nice. We wonder where did it come from, where did my fresh young skin disappear to. Oh the joys of winter.

Remember yesterday I talked about the little girl in the cold. Well this morning I ran into her and boy did she look different. She wore a scarf, a sensible pair of mitts, nice boots and she pulled her hoodie over her head. She looked like someone experiencing winter. I was quite pleased to see her and I smiled and told her she did good. She looked at me as if she did not understand what I was saying, of course I was wearing my red mask over my face and I must have looked quite scary to the child.

It was pretty cold today too. It was close to 45 degrees and I am proud to say that I walked to work. I walked for about one hour in that weather. Tough eh.