Kids, parents and grandparents packed the Sunshine Coast Arena Jan. 1 to take part in the first Polar Bear Play Day. The event featured skating, ice painting, music, games, crafts, demonstrations and information on the Coast's abundant winter recreation opportunities.
"We're very, very pleased with how this event went for its first time," said Nancy Cottingham Powell, who helped organize the festivities with arena programmer Tom Poulton.
The scene inside the arena was reminiscent of skating on a frozen pond with potted evergreens and a snow pile surrounding the rink. The lights were turned down low and bands played live music while parents helped children steady their feet and clowns encouraged everyone to make their mark in the ice painting corner.
The day on the ice was split up between free skates and demonstrations by tyke hockey, the Sunshine Coast Skating Club, Pacific Blades Speed Skating Club and Alpha Adventures.
Upstairs were information tables on speed skating, the Tetrahedron Ski Club, Sunshine Coast Minor Hockey, the Sunshine Coast Skating Club, Alpha Adventures and the Sunshine Coast Lacrosse Association.
"We wanted this to be a celebration of winter. We often hunker down in our homes during the winter, but we wanted to let people know there is lots to do on the Coast during the winter time," said Cottingham Powell.
Hundreds of people of all ages came to the Polar Bear Play Day and many left with a new understanding of winter recreation and what the arena has to offer.
"I'd say it was a great success," said Cottingham Powell.
This first Polar Bear Play Day presented some challenges as well.
"It was a very busy day for the arena staff, and the concession stand was overwhelmed at times. As a programmer at the arena, you can always do better next year. You evaluate the first year and carry on and hopefully make it a better event the next year," said Poulton.
And next year should be bigger and better with a First Night component, said Cottingham Powell.
"We want to have a First Night component at the Seaside Centre next year and we'll definitely have the ice painting challenge again. We want to marry all the elements we had this year into a bigger winter festival celebration," she said.
