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Free skating party to cap off Winter Games weekend

With Family Day falling on the final day of the 2020 Alberta Winter Games, Airdrie Pride Society (APS) and the 2020 Alberta Winter Games’ host society are encouraging the community to celebrate by checking out the Pride Family Skate Party at Nose Creek Regional Park.

Taking place Feb. 17 from 1 to 5 p.m., the event includes free skating on Nose Creek Pond, a bonfire, concession stand, music and more.

“For a lot of visiting families, whether their Games experience is ending or if they have some time before heading back home, we welcome them down to Nose Creek Park to join in on a leisurely afternoon,” said Shauna Quinn, executive chair of the Games’ host society.

APS president Kiersten Mohr said the organization’s board members were enthusiastic to be involved with the event.

“The idea actually came from the organizing committee for the 2020 Games,” she said. “They were looking for ways to make the event more inclusive and really engage and impact the entire community.

“They reached out to our board and we thought it was a fabulous idea, so we jumped on and started to help plan it.”

For those without skates or helmets, KidSport Alberta will be on-site renting out equipment for free.

Away from the pond, attendees can express their creativity with multiple colours of “snow paint.”

“It’s definitely a family event for everyone to come out and just have a good time together, and spend the afternoon together,” Mohr said.

The skating portion of the event will be weather-dependent, as the ice on Nose Creek Pond must be sufficiently frozen. As of Feb. 11, Airdrie’s seven-day forecast called for a high of -3 C and a low of -10 C on Family Day.

“The last we checked, the ice was good, so as long as it doesn’t warm up too much, we should be able to do the skating,” Mohr said.

While the 2020 Alberta Winter Games’ focus will be the 16 sporting competitions being held, Quinn said the three-day multi-sporting extravaganza will also include multiple cultural events for attendees to enjoy. Along with the Pride Family Skate Party, she highlighted Studio 52’s art pop-up gallery and sale at Bert Church LIVE Theatre and a history of sport exhibition at Nose Creek Valley Museum, Feb. 14 to 17 from 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Airdrie Public Library is also getting into the spirit of the Games, and held two presentations pertaining to sports – public health dietitian Kendra Chow spoke about proper nutrition for athletes Feb. 10, and on Feb. 11, Olympic luger Eric Pothier shared his experiences competing for Team Canada.

“There are lots of things for people to see Airdrie’s vibrance and cultural communities,” Quinn said. “Come support some of our community partners and experience the Games in a different way, if sport is not your thing.”

Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19

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