Wasn't that a Weekend, Prince Rupert!!!

The Prince Rupert Court House lawn is lit up for the Christmas season
with the lights coming on Friday night at the start of Winterfest

There may be a few cases of the 'Rupert Flu' found around town today, as folks look to catch a breath from three days of activities that kept everyone in motion at a dizzying pace.

From the Downtown core and a Santa Parade, to a range of activities held around the city and on to the Courthouse Lawn for the lighting of the lights, there was much to do for this entry into the holiday season.

You could add in the parade of vessels of the sail past, or the stage of the Lester Centre for another spectacular performance of the talented students of Charles Hays Secondary and there was something for everyone over the course of some remarkable days for Prince Rupert.

And oh, wait, did we mention a little festival called Hometown Hockey?

The Rogers Caravan of celebration of our game could not have picked a better date to come check out the Northwest than this past weekend, with thousands of Rupertites and visitors to town taking in the many, many exhibits and live entertainment offered to the community.

Sunday bought television viewers from across the Nation in for a look in to see how Prince Rupert and area not only celebrates hockey, but how the community spirit pulls off so much, for so many.

And all of it met with the approval of the Weather Gods, who provided postcard  perfect weather through the weekend, a winter wonderland splashed in Sunshine in the Day and brisk but still comfortable temperatures in the night.

Congratulations are in order for those of the Special Events Society for their tireless work to put together Winterfest, without their work, there would not be near as much to take part in as we head to the holiday season.

It's a remarkable achievement that they pull off each year,  and just one of four festivals that they put on for the community.

In this instance, bringing together the range of community events planned as part of Winterfest; putting in long hours of preparation for what must seem like a whirlwind of activity for less than 48 hours.

Sharing in the success are the many groups and organizations that put on the events of the weekend, far too many to list here, but easily found from the schedule of events from Friday and Saturday.

The kudos continue for Alison O'Toole and her drama program at Charles Hays, which year after year after year puts some remarkable talent on the stage for the start of the Winterfest period, this year's Freaky Friday presentation just another sample of what the talented youth of the city have to offer.

The Civic Centre was the home for the week for Rogers
Hometown Hockey which brought in the crowds by the thousands
over the course of Saturday and Sunday

And of course there will be thanks to Rogers for bringing their big show to town! The amount of work that must go into putting the Hometown Hockey project together, then taking it down for the trip to the next town is something to marvel at, the hosts ability to tell the story of Prince Rupert something that makes for  some of the best advertising for the North Coast that one can get.

Along with the professionals of the Rogers festival, the local Hometown Hockey organizing committee that pulled it all together around town deserves some well earned shout outs as well.

From the days of summer when sworn to secrecy to the final push of the last few day to put it all together, the did a very good job and perhaps are worthy of a day of 'Rupert Flu' to recover from it all as well.

To get an idea as to the flurry of activity that this weekend brought, we direct you to the Facbeook page of Phuong Nguyen, the local photographer who with his key eye for detail, chronicles much of what happens around Prince Rupert.

His archive of photos from the Weekend will give you as good a record of the last 72 hours as you may wish to have!

Mr. Nguyen will be celebrated by Prince Rupert City Council tonight, with a special presentation to be made to him by the Mayor and Council members in recognition of his remarkable civic spirit.

It will serve as recognition for his love of community and an honour that is fully deserved!

For more items of note on community events on the North Coast see our archive page here.

To return to the most recent blog posting of the day, click here.