Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to announce the commencement of the winter festival Snowman Mania in Wasaga Beach located in my riding of Simcoe—Grey. Snowman Mania is celebrating its eighth year.
The festival started off as a snowman building competition and has grown over the last number of years to a four day winter extravaganza in February of each year.
This year the volunteer committee has put together a polar bear dip, which I am hoping my colleagues will participate in, a ball hockey tournament, a demolition derby and numerous other things and, of course, a snowman building competition.
I would like to thank the Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce, the town of Wasaga Beach and all the local volunteers, including the 2013 committee of Doug McCullough, Ross and Mary Anne Gough, Peter Wilson, Ehab Masad, Tanya Snell and Rotary Club president Todd Young, for their outstanding service, their generosity of spirit and all their volunteer efforts to make this great event happen every year.
Canadians should be proud of their winter heritage. I am exceptionally proud of these volunteers in my riding who make things happen so that Canadians can enjoy the winter.