42nd Annual Eskasoni Winter Carnival

This year Eskasoni celebrated its 42nd Annual Winter Carnival title Keltaqamiktik (Frozen Ground) on February 18-22, 2015. This year’s winter carnival held many events from Waltes, Winter carnival bedrace, Eskasoni Idol, princess pageant crowning night and something new called the Eskabaloney Best Dish contest.

The Eskasoni Winter Carnival is run by the Winter Carnival Committee and hosted by the Eskasoni Holy Family Parish as part of their main fundraiser to help pay for the expenses of maintaining the church. It has become a tradition for the Parish Priest to officially open up the winter carnival and it has been the role of the parish priest to write clues for the scavenger hunt.

This year the priest was more than willing to give the responsibility to the winter carnival committee to write the clues. This year the clues were written in Mi’kmaq to promote the language and to make the clues a little tougher. It wasn’t till the second last day when Dave Simon found the scavenger hunt item which was a wooden cross and took home 250 dollars.

The title of the Mi’kmaw traditional dice game of waltes went to Jermaine Doucette with a respected 2nd place to Kimberly Marshall.

The winter carnival ice fishing derby was sponsored by the Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission. First place went to Eric Morris, second to Alexander Francis and third to Miah Francis. They all won some cash.

The always popular Mini Princess and Prince pageant was held at the Sarah Denny Cultural Center. The 2015 Winners are, ages 1-3 Queen Marlena Christmas Paul, ages 4-6 Queen Aveda Googoo, ages 7-9 Queen Randence Young, ages 10-14 Queen JAZZY Paul, and one prince King Cole Stevens.

The winter carnival bed race was back again for its second year and this year it had three entries. They included last year’s winner, the Firemen along with the Super Heroes and Blurr two. The goal of the bed race was for teams to first of all make a bed with wheels. Then race that bed the fastest to the finish line.
The bed race attracted many on lookers as the teams raced from the community hall to the local school. This year the race wasn’t even close as the Firemen took home the title, with Blurr two coming in second and the Super Heroes literally had to carry their bed to the finish line when their super hero bed broke down.

The winter carnival committee also tried a few new events, the Eskabaloney Best Dish Contest and Eskasoni Cake Boss. The Eskabaloney had seven dishes and Madeleine (Sugar) Poulette took home the title of Mrs. Eskabaloney 2015. She made Bologna wrapped in Tea Biscuit. Very delicious!!

The Eskasoni Cake Boss best cake decoration went to Sonya Sylliboy.

The 11th annual Eskasoni Idol has always been a big attraction. This year the Eskasoni Idol had over 20 contestants seeking the title of this year’s 2015 Eskasoni Idol. This year’s idol had many new faces and a few who have been close previous years. But it was a newcomer who took this year’s Eskasoni Idol by the name of Promise Sylliboy and took home 350 dollars.

Of course the biggest and best part of the 42 years of Winter Carnival magic is the princess pageant and the traditional ball night where a new queen will be crowned. This year Keltaqamiktik 2015 Winter Carnival had 20 princesses and were showcased and celebrated throughout five day event.

This year the title of Keltaqamiktik Queen 2014 went to Kalolin Johnson followed by 1st Runner-up Shereeve Gould, Second runner-up Cameron Sock and Third runner-up, Lindsay Prosper. Miss Friendship went to Precious Young and Miss Talent went to Jasmine Stevens.

This year they added a new title called the Judges Award. This was for the most outstanding Princess who grew more confident throughout the month long pageant rehearsals. This year’s Judges Award went to Kady Poulette.

Winter Carnival Organizer and Parish Chair, Walter Denny wanted to personally thank all those who have dedicated their time to volunteer every year for the winter carnival, “I just wanted to take the time to thank all the women who help prepare these beautiful young ladies for the 2015 Keltaqimiktik Winter Carnival Princess Pageant. On behalf the Holy Family Parish, Fr. Martin MacDougall, and the Carnival Committee, I want to Thank all the parents and guardians, all the Princesses, all the Sponsors, Chief Leroy and Council members, Lexis Stevens and her crew: Kimberly A. Marshall, Mary Victoria Bernard, Arlene Sylliboy, Arlene Stevens, Andelee, Jessie, Kerri San and all the previous Princesses and Queen’s, Rosie, Natalie & Roxanne- door , Geordy aq Nilan, Uggy aq Patrick Cruze, Kenny Sylliboy-darts, Tom Johnson and Fisheries staff for Ice fishing, Starr for bed races, Starr aq Sherise – scavenger Hunt, Diddley, Lauren, Menia – fun day, Duma – Teeny Booper dance, Teedaze, Shauna, Tiannie, Katrin – Mini Pageant, Eldon – Poker, Fred Sylliboy – Atv Poker Run, Trading Post, Ben’s and staff- tickets, Joe Moose – Poker, Joanne – Waltes, Robert San & Tom – Technical support, PR George & Jeannine – Photos and promotion, and my family ( my mom, Annie, Dion, Shelly aq Leroy) for helping me with the Carnival. I want to thank everyone who came out and supported the winter carnival. ( over $11,000.00 came in) I also want to Thank the families who lost their loved ones during the Carnival and allowing us to continue. May they rest in peace and God Bless, Eskasoni!! Kesaluloq!!” – Walter Denny, Parish Chair, Holy Family Parish.

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