Mel Kuprowsky of Community Learning said he’ s proud to see what Family Fun Day has become. The free annual event is set to return bigger and better than ever later this month.
Mel Kuprowsky of Community Learning said he’ s proud to see what Family Fun Day has become.
The free annual event is set to return bigger and better than ever later this month. This year, the location had to change from Sir Winston Churchill Park to Beaver Lake Provincial Recreation Area in the area formerly known as Kinsman Park.
Kuprowksy said this was because they couldn’ t fit the number of people expected into the park anymore.
The event started as an initiative by the then-named Program for Adult Learning back in 2011 to give new immigrants using its services exposure to Canadian culture, especially in a harsh environment.
“Most of the people we worked with came from warm weather countries,” said Kuprowsky. “They often hibernated until spring, just going outside from home to work and back.”
He wanted to give the new immigrants a place where they can get outside, have a good time and get used to Canadian culture.
“We had a fire and hot dog roast, Tom’ s Pizza provided chili and other food products,” he said. “They learned snow shoeing, ice fishing, cross-country skiing and tobogganing. They made snow angels, took pictures and sent them home.”
Kuprowsky estimates the event had 25 people in its first year and that it kept growing until its fourth year, in 2014, when it occurred to him that this could be a good opportunity for the new immigrants to practice their English.
“That’ s when we opened it up to the public,” said Kuprowsky. “Four hundred people came out that year with sleigh rides, we had an ice wall where people painted on it, we had broomball.”
He added that they have added events, such as playing by local musicians and dancers. Kuprowsky says this is open for members of the public to play, especially if they speak different languages and reflect different cultures.
He estimated that the crowd size was 1,000 people last year.
Sponsors fund the event and ethnic societies such as Métis Nation and the Association Canadienne Francaise d’ Alberta have also come on board with the event.
The Family Fun Day is taking place on Feb. 19 from 11 a.m to 3 p.m.
