Winter Pleasures 2024: a look back at a successful edition!

Last weekend, Winter Pleasures was held at Goyette-Hill Park. Once again this year, a great program of outdoor activities made it possible for everyone to enjoy the cold season!

A first disco night!

Friday evening, February 9, was a disco night, a new activity in the Winter Pleasures program. Initially intended to take place on ice skates at the Goyette-Hill park rink, the mild weather required the activity to be modified.

No skating rink… no problem! A dance floor was set up on the concrete slab of the future basketball court, and around 50 people danced in their winter boots on Friday! Two colorful performers animated the evening to the rhythm of the greatest disco hits played by the DJ set up in front of the dance floor. There was also a bar serving beer, and self-service coffee and hot chocolate. A whole group even set up a zone to play hockey right next to the dance floor, in the snow!

Earlier in the week, an intergenerational activity was also organized with FADOQ members and the Sutton School daycare, so that children and seniors could work together to make colorful, glow-in-the-dark bracelets that were distributed to participants at the disco night, much to their delight.

A successful winter fest!

The following day, Saturday February 10, the Winter Fest was held at Goyette-Hill Park. Although the weather melted much of the snow, it was still a day full of activities! With the exception of the skating rink and ice trail, which were closed, all other planned activities were maintained!

Starting at 10 a.m., a wide range of activities took place for Sutton residents of all ages. Around 300 people turned out to enjoy the program on this spring-like day.

There were plenty of opportunities to get moving, right from the start: Mélissa, from Coop Gym Santé Sutton, got the event started with a festive fitness workout. Afterwards, participants could dance in the park using headphones and join in a silent disco music, or race around the park on the snow scooters provided, or have fun on the outdoor miniputt course.

The atmosphere in the park was warm and energetic, thanks to a DJ who got all generations up and dancing. A picnic area with fireplaces was set up so that participants could sit down and enjoy a stick of taffy on snow or a poutine, as well as hot chocolate, coffee, mulled wine or beer. CAB Sutton was also on hand to serve up a delicious and much appreciated homemade soup.

In the afternoon, an introduction to snowskate workshop took place on the park hill. The youngsters were able to practise this sport under the guidance of on-site instructors: they tried their hand at going down the hill or sliding on the specially installed modules. This activity, new to the Winter Pleasures program, was a great success, given the line-up!

Near the chalet, CAB Sutton hosted a winter craft and festive face-painting workshop, and a colorful bracelet-making station was available to visitors. Desjardins was also on site with a game designed to introduce children to the value of money. The Recreation, Community Life and Culture Department held public consultations on both family satisfaction with Sutton’s recreational offering and the update of the Cultural Policy.

Winners of the Golden Snowflake draw announced!

At 1:30 p.m., Mayor Robert Benoît addressed the participants, thanking them for attending the event, and announcing the winners of the draw among those who took part in the Golden Snowflake Adventure Course, which took place in Sutton between November 29 and February 4. The following prizes were awarded as part of the draw, presented by Sutton Tourism:

• In 1st place, the Glaçons d’or team, with Marie-Claude Pion-Chevalier, wins a $50 gift certificate to Vert Partout;
• In 2nd place, the GoMos team, with Marie-Josée Gonthier, wins a $40 gift certificate to Snoböl;
• In 3rd place, the Les Lutins team, with Julie Boisvert, wins a $30 gift certificate to Chocolaterie Belge Muriel.

The Town of Sutton and the Corporation de développement économique de Sutton (CDES) would like to thank everyone who came out to enjoy the activities organized as part of Winter Pleasures, and look forward to seeing you next year!

Thanks to our event partners!

The Town of Sutton and the CDES would like to thank for their support the Fondation Boulanger-Bédard, Kubota, Huttopia, the Caisse populaire Desjardins as well as the MNA for Brome-Missisquoi and Minister responsible for Sport, Recreation and the Outdoors, Isabelle Charest, and the MNA for Brome-Missisquoi and Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Honourable Pascale St-Onge.

And finally, thanks to PENS, Plein Air Sutton, CAB and COOP Gym Santé Sutton for their contribution to the success of Winter Pleasures activities!!