ATHABASCA - Just over 100 kilometres apart both Calling Lake and Boyle hosted their first-ever New Year’s Eve community events Dec. 31.
For Calling Lake, located 59 kilometers north of Athabasca, the celebration was organized by the Bigstone Cree Nation council members Loretta Gladue and Lillian Anderson.
Held at the Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17 hall, over 250 people took part in the free supper and dance with live entertainment from local band Nite Rain, jigging demonstrations, games and a ton of door prizes.
Initially Anderson was nervous that the event might not attract people but in the end members from Wabasca, Sandy Lake, Edmonton and Athabasca joined in.
“I’m very pleased with the turn out,” Anderson said. “Just the joy of seeing people having fun, dancing and laughing, that was the reward for me.”
After the dinner the tables were pushed back, and two groups of jiggers put on a demonstration. The younger dancers, Athena Lewis, Mila Benson, Okanees Johnson, Kelsy Dequiane and Kassi Auger, danced to Red River Jig. The older Jiggers, Marissa Gladue, Norman Cardinal, Meeka Benson and Ramira Benson, performed to Drops of Brandy.
Gary Laboucan and Millie Cardinal won the adult jigging challenge and Mabel Cardinal won the musical chairs. Lena Young and Cheryl Uchytil both demonstrated prowess in high heels tying for who could walk the straightest line over 12 feet in high heels.
Laboucan won again for the Freeze Dance competition; his counterpart for the ladies was winner Rose Anderson. Laboucan’s luck continued when he won the 50/50, the proceeds of which are going to Treaty Days being held in August.
Danica Gladue won the grand prize of a TV and Irving Beaver of Sandy Lake won a nine-piece stainless steel set of pots for the second grand prize. Fifty smaller door prizes were also handed out.
Anderson thanked her husband, Lance Bouchard, for helping her organize and run the event which had most people staying until 1 a.m.
“Everyone stayed until the end,” Anderson said. “Next year we will have to hold it in a bigger venue.”
In Boyle, 103 kilometers southeast of Calling Lake, the Boyle Betterment Committee also hosted the first community dance.
Previously Boyle has had a fireworks display, the last one in 2014, but this is the first community event to be held on New Year’s Eve.
Over 170 people attended at the community centre featuring music, a photo booth and child friendly activities and a concession.
Boyle School’s senior boys basketball team ran the concession to help raise money to cover expenses for road games and members of the Boyle Youth Centre held the 50/50.
Kelsey McQuinn and Jayden Sloat brought their children, ten-year-old Calee and six-year-old Jack, to the party.
McQuinn noted both her children were there for the dancing.
“It’s fun to do requests,” Calee said breathless from spinning around the dance floor.
Jack agreed making requests was the best part of the night for him.
“I like changing the songs,” he concurred before darting off to keep dancing. “Because the songs sound good.”
Their father enjoyed the community coming together for the event.
“It turned out good,” Sloat said. “There’s a lot of really nice people here.”
Village of Boyle Coun. Shelby Kiteley attended the event and was happy with how it turned out.
“It’s a great turnout,” she said. “When it’s the first time you worry no one will show up but it turned out great.”
Committee member Lindy Johnson was also pleased with how well the event was attended.
“It is everything we imagined it to be,” Johnson stated. “It exceeded our expectations.”
Johnson also noted how involved DJ Benita Pederson was with the children.
“Our DJ is so good with the kids,” she said. “Coming down off the stage and showing them different dances.”
Pederson and Lang-Wells also offered a discounted rate for the first-time event which Johnson said allowed the event to run.
Fireworks set off near the Millview Rec Centre finished off the evening at 10 p.m.
