All together now – smile
It took a bit of effort to get everyone looking in one direction and smiling at the Embrun Winter Carnival’s Optimist Brunch at the community centre on Sun., Jan. 21. In front, at left, is current Optimist Club President Annick Turpin.    Vetter photo

Candice Vetter
Villager Staff
EMBRUN – The first weekend of the Embrun Carnival got off to a great start. There was plenty of participation among competitors in the many tournaments, and lots of visitors to the carnival.

Noémie Pépin, Chloé Pépin and Joshua McCorkell were some of the many young skaters who took to the ice in the Embrun Arena during the first weekend of the Embrun Carnival, which includes free public skating. Vetter photo

Several tournaments began last week, including hockey, bean bag baseball, pool, darts and whist. This upcoming weekend will feature the end of the tournaments, with most finals on Sat., Jan. 27 or Sun., Jan. 28. This week and on the weekend there will also be ongoing free public skating, children’s games and activities, dinner, dancing, pub night, and on Sunday, the firefighters’ brunch and closing of the carnival.

Sophie Bourbonnais, Micheline Benoit and Carolle Bourbonnais sold raffle tickets for a $1,000 cash prize, which will be drawn at the annual Salon de la Femme, put on by Friends for Life. The trade show will display vendors of products for women, a fashion show, contests and entertainment on April 28 at the Embrun Community Centre. Vetter photo

Over 40 volunteers with the Embrun Optimist Club fed an exceptional brunch to about 300 people last Sunday and more are expected for the closing brunch on Jan. 28.

The carnival is a cooperative venture of the Embrun Community Association, Embrun Optimist Club, Embrun Firefighters, Junior B Hockey, Knights of Columbus, Tuque de Broue, Etienne Brule Brewery, Cassel Brewery, Hotel du Village, several other businesses and sponsors, and hundreds of volunteers.