“The gym is packed, the pool is packed – everything is packed. It’s unbelievable.”
Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin was speaking of the crowds that came out for the annual Family New Year’s Eve celebration at the Innisfil Recreation Complex – a free family event organized by I.C.E. Corp., the volunteer-led Innisfil Community Events corporation.
There was free skating on both ice rinks, free swimming in the pool and activities in the YMCA gym; free hot dogs and bags of chips; free pizza courtesy of Domino’s and 2-4-1 Pizza – and fireworks to wrap up the evening.
There were even free bags of onions, courtesy of Horodynsky Farms, for every family to take home.
Mayor Dollin was asked about her resolutions for the New Year.
“I haven’t thought of it yet – beyond balance,” she said. “I don’t quite know what that means yet, but I just know that I have to find it in my life.”
MP for Barrie-Innisfil John Brassard was also present at the community event. “One of my goals this year is to connect the cross-cultural communities (in Innisfil and Barrie) so they engage, both with each other and with the existing community,” Brassard said.
“I’m in a unique position to do it, to be able to bring these communities together. There’s just so much opportunity,” he said. “Locally, what my priority is, is to bring all these communities together so that this cross-cultural connection can take place. I have a platform, as federal Member of Parliament, that most people don’t have.”
Brassard added, “My other goal is to get in better shape.”
Provincial Member of Parliament Andrea Khanjin also shared her goals for the New Year. “I have so many,” Khanjin said – but her top priority? “As the MPP for Barrie-Innisfil, my resolution is to keep the character of the riding, while the area is growing. If you don’t know where you come from, you don’t know where you are going.”
Gord Wauchope, a founder and long-time volunteer with I.C.E. Corp. was asked about the organization’s direction in 2020.
“The big thing with I.C.E. Corp this year is we’re really doing a lot with the food bank at the Innisfil Community Church. There are a lot of people in need this year,” Wauchope said.
There are plans to re-envision the popular Ribfest held in June, as a more multi-cultural, family-friendly event. And the annual Polar Bear Dip in Lake Simcoe, coming up on Feb. 22 at Innisfil Beach Park, will be raising money for local charitable causes.
The evening ended with fireworks at 7:15 p.m., and the promise of better things to come in 2020.
