Gravenhurst Winter Carnival, Muskoka

THE CELEBRATION OF WINTER - WITH SKOKIE THE OTTER

MUSKOKA AS WALDEN

HOMEGROWN FROM THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, WAS THE IDEA TO CREATE A WINTER SONG TO BE GIVEN TO THE BRAVE FOLKS, WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER TO REJUVENATE THE ANNUAL FEBRUARY CARNIVAL, THAT WAS ORIGINALLY LAUNCHED IN THE WINTER OF 1971 FOR THE THREE MAJOR TOWNS OF MUSKOKA. IT WAS ON THE 22ND AND 23RD OF JANUARY, 1971, THAT SKOKIE, THE MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL MASCOT, MADE HIS FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO LAUNCH WHAT BECAME A LONG-TIME SEASONAL TRADITION.

A COMMITTEE IN GRAVENHURST, BEGAN MODESTLY, AND WITH DETERMINATION SEVERAL YEARS AGO, TO RE-CREATE THE WINTER CARNIVAL IN THIS TOWN, AFTER A LONG HIATUS. NOW KNOWN AS THE GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL, SCHEDULED FOR THE LAST WEEKEND OF FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, SKOKIE IS STILL THE EVENT MASCOT. SO WHEN I SUGGESTED, DURING THE CHRISTMAS LULL, HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW, THAT THE BOYS PUT TOGETHER A SONG ABOUT THE WINTER CARNIVAL, THEY, AS USUAL, THOUGHT OLD DAD WAS HITTING THE SAUCE. BUT I WAS UNRELENTING (AS I'M KNOWN TO GET) THAT THE GROUP THEY PERFORM WITH, KNOWN AS "PRESSURE POINT," WAS PERFECT FOR THE JOB. AT CHRISTMAS, THE LOCAL RADIO STATION PLAYS THE SONG "I GOT SOCKS," OVER AND OVER, AND WITH LEAD SINGER DANI O'CONNOR GETTING A LOT OF RECOGNITION THESE DAYS, IT SEEMED THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO TRY SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT……A SONG ABOUT A CARNIVAL AND AN OLD BUT ENDURING OTTER. SO BY GOLLY, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID. AND OLD DAD IS PROUD OF THEM FOR GIVING IT A SHOT.

AS THE GRAVENHURST COMMITTEE IS WORKING HARD TO BRING THIS WINTER TRADITION BACK, IT WAS ONLY FAIR THAT THE GROUP OFFER THEIR CREATIVE ENTERPRISE AS A SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR THE CAUSE……..TO GET THIS COMMUNITY IN GEAR, TO HAVE SOME WINTER FUN FOR A CHANGE.

THE GROUP IS MADE UP OF DANI O'CONNOR, AARON BINDER, ANDREW CURRIE, ROBERT CURRIE, WITH VOCAL SUPPORT FROM RAY PARSONS, AND JON O'CONNOR. IT WILL BE OFFICIALLY RELEASED ONLINE BY THIS EVENING, AND I WILL PROVIDE A LINK TO THE YOU-TUBE SITE. IT'S A CATCHY LITTLE SONG, AND WE ALL HOPE IT WILL ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO COME OUT AND PLAY WITH SKOKIE…….STILL PRETTY FRISKY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ABOUNDING, IN THE MIDST OF A GREAT SEASON IN MUSKOKA. COME OUT AN SEE FOR YOURSELF.