We bundled up and braved the -20 temperatures for this festival and it was so worth it! The Flying Canoe Volant festival celebrates French-Canadian, First Nations and Métis cultures. This festival had all the makings of a great winter festival; more ice slides to play on, snow and ice sculptures to discover and maple taffy.

There were plenty of indoor activities to do while you warm up with a hot chocolate such as musicians and performers to watch and a dedicated craft zone for the kids.

The light walk along the ravine which had been advertised was what hooked us in to wanting to go explore this festival but an hour in we were yet to work out where to find it. Just as we were about to head back to the car, deciding that perhaps we needed to drive to get there, a group of people were pushing a giant canoe full of kids asked if the girls wanted to hop in and go for a ride! On exchange there is a mantra going around the exchange teachers of saying yes to every experience so of course we said yes and so the girls jump in and the rest of us join in running this giant canoe down the street.

When the canoe arrived at the end of the street we were so glad we joined in as it took us directly to the light walk by the ravine! The light walk was magical! Illuminated with fairy lights and light sculptures and occupied with wandering performers.

There were reconciliation teepees with stories and tea, tents with dancing and music and fire pits where we learnt how to cook bannock (which was like damper on a stick).

But my favourite thing was just to walk around and look at all the fairy lights and light sculptured everywhere, they really create that magical winter wonderland atmosphere!

Thanks for checking in! Elyse

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•