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The Kestrel Lake Winter Carnival

A Every February, the small town of Kestrel Lake, Manitoba, holds a winter carnival that is now known across the region. It began in 1962, when the town's volunteer firefighters needed money for a new fire truck. They cleared the snow from the frozen lake, sold hot chocolate for ten cents a cup and organized a skating race for children. The event lasted just one afternoon and raised $340. That was not enough for a truck, but people enjoyed the day so much that the firefighters decided to hold it again the next year. Within ten years, it had grown into a full weekend with a parade down Main Street.

B Today, the carnival runs from Friday to Sunday on the second weekend of February. The most popular event is the snow sculpture contest, where teams have two days to turn large blocks of packed snow into animals, buildings and cartoon characters. Every team gets the same amount of snow, and visitors vote for the winners. Visitors can also skate on a two-kilometre trail through the spruce forest, lit at night by hundreds of lanterns. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, the curling club serves a pancake breakfast, and horses from a nearby farm pull sleighs along the shore. The weekend ends on Sunday evening with fireworks over the lake.

C The carnival is still run entirely by volunteers. A committee of twelve people starts planning each September, and about 300 residents help during the weekend, from selling tickets to directing traffic. Volunteers range in age from twelve to eighty-five, and some families have helped for three generations. The organizers say the hardest part is the weather, which nobody can control. In 2016, a sudden warm spell melted the ice on the lake only days before the carnival. The skating races were cancelled, and the snow sculpture contest was moved into the hockey arena, where teams worked with snow brought in by truck. Since then, the committee has always prepared a backup plan.

D The carnival now attracts around 8,000 visitors, nearly four times the town's population. The town's two motels are usually full months ahead, so many families rent out spare rooms to guests. Local restaurants say carnival weekend is their busiest time of the year. Money raised still goes to local causes; last year it helped pay for a new roof for the public library. The carnival has also appeared on provincial television several times. Most events are free, although sleigh rides cost $5. Visitors are asked to park at the high school on the edge of town and take the free shuttle bus, which runs to the lakeshore every twenty minutes. Organizers also remind everyone to dress warmly, as temperatures can fall below −30°C.

Should Northgate Centre open on holidays?

Riverbend city council will vote on March 3 on a question that has divided shoppers, workers and business owners: should large stores, including the Northgate Centre mall, be allowed to open on public holidays?

Under the city's current rules, stores larger than 500 square metres must close on eight public holidays a year, including Family Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Small shops, pharmacies and gas stations may open. The rule has been in place for more than thirty years, and council has turned down two earlier requests to change it.

Denise Carter, general manager of Northgate Centre, has asked council to remove the rule. "On holidays, our parking lot is empty, but people are still shopping. They're just doing it on their phones," she said. "Every holiday we're closed, that money goes to online companies, not to Riverbend." Carter added that many residents work long hours during the week and see a holiday as their only chance to shop with their families. She stressed that no employee would be forced to work. "We would ask for volunteers first."

Tomasz Nowak, who has worked at a shoe store in the mall for twelve years, is not convinced. "On paper, it's voluntary," he said. "But if you're new, or you want more hours next month, you don't say no to your manager." For Nowak, holidays are one of the few times retail workers can be sure of a day with their families. "Everyone else gets Thanksgiving dinner. Why shouldn't we?" He also pointed out that many of his coworkers have young children and would struggle to find childcare on a holiday.

Farah Siddiqui, who owns a gift shop downtown, says the question is more complicated than it looks. Right now, holidays are some of her busiest days, because hers is one of the few stores open. "If the mall opens, I'll lose those customers," she admitted. At the same time, she understands why shoppers want more choice, and she does not want to be seen as standing in the way of change. "I honestly don't know which way I'd vote," she said.

Councillor Amrit Brar hopes to find a middle ground. Her proposal would let large stores open on four holidays, including Family Day and the August long weekend, but keep them closed on Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Thanksgiving. Staff who work on a holiday would earn double pay, and any worker could refuse a holiday shift without losing future hours. "Shoppers get more options, and workers get real protection," Brar said.

Not every shopper is waiting eagerly for the vote. Glen Fraser, a retired teacher who was shopping at Northgate on a recent Saturday, laughed when asked about it. "I can shop the other 357 days of the year. I think the stores can survive a day off, and so can we."

Residents can share their views at a public meeting at City Hall on February 24, before council makes its final decision.