Focusing on the pillars of Active Living, Indoor Fun, Outdoor Fun, and Special Events, Taste of Winter has been developed to motivate residents to travel past their front door and participate in activities that will capture the heart, mind, and body. The majority of activities are offered for free, and many also feature accessible options to assist in participation.
“It is important that our residents feel there are options for active living, outdoor and indoor fun, and entertaining events happening in the winter,” says CBRM Recreation Program Coordinator Joe Costello. “We’ve designed Taste of Winter with accessibility in mind while also looking at a diverse set of activities and neighbourhoods as possible.”
Taste of Winter kicked off during the February long weekend, after a week of snowstorms, with events in Louisbourg, Glace Bay, Sydney, and North Sydney. The festivities continue into March with the annual Louisbourg Slush Run & Walk scheduled for Saturday, with registration taking place at 9am at George D Lewis School. Later that day, CBRM Recreation will host a SNOW DAY on the Sydney Waterfront. Residents are encouraged to bring gloves and help build snowmen and snow sculptures on the waterfront from 12-2pm. Sydney Credit Union will be on hand with hot chocolate and Highland Gold Maple will be making fresh maple taffy.
On March 11th, CBRM Transit and Ski Ben Eoin will have the SKI BUS on a route through Cape Breton University, Sydney Waterfront District, and Sydney River heading out to the ski hill. Pre-registration is required by emailing recreation@cbrm.ns.ca as limited seating is available, and all passengers will receive a coupon for a day pass and rental for only $22. To ensure safety of all passengers, no ski equipment is permitted on the bus.
The SKI BUS is also a great way to make it to the hill for The White Out Banked Slalom snowboard competition. Presented by CBRM Recreation, Ollie Around, and Ski Ben Eoin, the competition will see participants in one on one races down the mountain for a prize purse exceeding $2,000. The Makin’ Waves Music Festival Stage will make a return at this event, with performances by Quake Matthews, Jofo, and Fire Valley Fire. Registration for competitors is $30, or $10 for Ski Ben Eoin season pass holders. Attendance for the event is free.
Highlighting the rest of the schedule of Taste of Winter are a Taste of Winter Dessert Trail, a Snowman Selfie contest, wagon rides through Wentworth Park and Colliery Lands Park, Seniors Socials in Louisbourg and Sydney Mines, Taste of Winter Craft at Mayflower Mall, Lunchtime Snowshoeing on Greenlink Trail, Universal Picture’s SING at Centre 200, a Youth in Music Songwriters Circle at Mayflower Mall, Bowling at Strand Lanes in Sydney Mines, and a 7+ Learn to Curl session at Sydney Curling Club. Visit cbrm.ns.ca for more information.
