The G.C. Huston Party Bus unloaded a rowdy bunch ready to take to the ice at the 16th annual Rotary Winterama February 10. What happens on the bus stays on the bus.

Hub Staff

The 16th annual Rotary Winterama is now in the books and raised funds toward programs supporting youth in Grey and Bruce counties. Saugeen Shores’ G.C. Huston Public School, Northport Elementary School and École Port Elgin Saugeen Central School all took part in winter inspired activities the week leading up to the 16th annual event held at the Plex in Port Elgin and the Shallow Lake Community Centre February 10. All funds are spent locally with 40 percent of the money raised going to schools and groups who participate in the winter festival; 30 percent going to breakfast programs at participating schools and the remaining 30 percent going to local Rotary Club youth projects.

The event is organized by the Rotary Clubs of Hepworth-Shallow Lake, Port Elgin, Southampton and Tara and at the time of publishing the total raised was not known.

Organizer and Rotarian Ron Moss said that the Rotary Clubs who worked together for the joint initiative had students involved in a colouring contest for Winterama as well as a naming contest for Winterama’s newest member, a bear mascot.

G.C. Huston Grade 8 student A.J. Joseph was the winner with her name “Bearama” the winning entry. Moss said that the final decision came down to two choices: “Bearama” and “Igloo”.

“We did it by voting by hands and it came down to two and we had to do that three separate times until we came down with a winner,” said Moss who said the finalists and winners win Ontario Parks prizes donated by sponsor Queen’s Bar & Grill. Moss said that school participation was again “pretty good”.

“We just had a bus load from G.C. Huston come in and there are a lot of kids and all morning the kids have been trickling in and registering,” he said.

Inside the Plex Winterama participants had an opportunity to skate with a few Saugeen Shores Winterhawks, participate in sumo wrestling, and check out the colouring contest winners that graced the walls of the Rotary Hall. Mascot colouring contest finalists were:

Northport Elementary School - Grade JK/SK, Carter Schmitt; Grade 1/2, Olivia Abbot; Grade 3/4, Abdulah Khan

École Port Elgin Saugeen Central School - Grade JK/SK, Evenlyn McCreath; Grade 1/2, Hallie Faust; Grade 3/4, Armeet Walia

G.C. Huston Public School - JK/SK, Reese M; Grade 1/2, Christy Dagher; Grade 3/4, Liam Burrows

Each winner received a coupon for a medium pizza from Boston Pizza in Port Elgin. The Overall winners for the mascot colouring contest were Olivia Abbot of Northport Elementary School and Armeet Walia of École Port Elgin Saugeen Central School.

While skating with the newly named Winterama Bear “Bearama” G.C. Huston’s Principal Dan Russell said that G.C. Huston had been celebrating and preparing for the upcoming event all week during recess and even had a fire called “Fireside Friday” February 9.

As in previous years, the ever-popular Party Bus brought students from G.C. Huston to the Plex on Saturday. “We put a sign-up list, a chart with 60 names and within two days it filled and we had to cap it so next year might have to do two party buses,” said Russell.

Newly named bear Bearama mascot of Rotary Winterama took to the ice at the Plex with the participants in the 16th annual Winterama, February 10.

G.C. Huston’s Grade 3 students Abby (left) Tarrace, and Piper skated together at the 16th annual Rotary Winterama.

First time skater Clara with mom Kim Mombourquette at the 16th annual Rotary Winterama February 10.

Sarah Mekky (left) and Stephanie Gomes of the Saugeen Shores Interact Club tested out the sumo suits, a new addition to Rotary Winterama.

Miriam Joudeh and her family on the ice at Rotary Winterama.

Bearama, Rotary Winterama’s newest member; and G.C. Huston Public School Principal Dan Russell.

Winterhawks Andy Fracz, Greg Thede, and Richard Harris were a few of the Winterhawks who joined the Winterma participants on the ice February 10.

Winterhawk goaltender Richard Harris proved that he could do the splits much to the admiration to the Winterama skaters.

The winners of the Rotary Winterama Colouring Contest were on display in the Rotary Hall at the Plex.

Below, accompanied by Principal Dan Russell, some G.C. Huston students arrived to the 16th annual Rotary Winterama on the infamous Party Bus.