It is a cold, crisp day here in this beautiful city of Stratford. It is Jan. 30, Hockey Day, and how wonderful to see so many people out enjoying this day of skating on the outdoor rinks and all the many other activities going on around the Avon River.

As I walk along the river path with my oldest daughter, I am taken back in thought of a few weeks earlier when the rinks were first appearing on the Avon River. I had the great joy to have had the chance to lace up and skate with my 10-year-old granddaughter.

Every rink that day had been taken up with hockey lovers, so I got the shovel out of my car trunk and together we took turns shoveling, and before you knew it we had our own little rink.

We took many pictures for our memory album for years down the road, and knowing Mother Nature and her mood swings, I also had a feeling she would throw mild, rainy weather and expose the river water once again.

She had, and I thought for sure Hockey Day would have been cancelled, at least on the river anyway; but she came through in time, and I for one felt like a child just to be a little part of the winter fun.

Those who know me know I am a winter lover. I have enjoyed many cold walks around the river over the years, and also cross country skiing. I have to say for most of my time my walks are very quiet. There are times all I hear are some ducks and geese that seem to gather in the open waters down past the bridge.

There have been a few winters where two or three shoveled rinks would be made for the outdoor lover, but Mother Nature wouldn’t allow them around for long.

I can’t begin to find the right words to say how wonderful and how moving it’s been for me to see so many families out on the river. Even before Hockey Day I witnesses so many parents with their children, some playing hockey, others skating.

I want Mayor Dan Mathieson to know this is what brought families out, families together – families having good clean fun. To see the very young to the old enjoying what Canada has had for years, good old skating down on the pond, lakes and rivers.

My letter is in hope that Stratford can find it in the budget to keep the river a place for families to enjoy their hockey games, or for people like me, to skate down on the river like the good old days.

Dale Carr
Stratford