Winterfest organizer Andy Shelton is taking a break in 2014. He came before Greenwood city council on Monday night ; from the agenda it looked like he would be asking for the usual nod from City Hall to go ahead with the event. The agenda package even included a sample resolution to support the event with funding for trophy engraving, use of the Barbara Diane Colin Park, and two city employees and equipment for a day to help set up.
Instead Shelton announced that due to health reasons he is not able to put the event on this year.
“Sad to say we just can’t do it,” he told council. Fellow organizer Ron Sather accompanied Shelton to the meeting to deliver the bad news.
He said that any prizes would be given to the Recreation Commission for them to use on Family Day.
The weekend of Feb. 14-16 also conflicted this year with a scheduled mammogram clinic at McArthur Centre.
This would have been the 10th Winterfest for Greenwood organized by Shelton. The event also took a year off in 2010 during the Vancouver Olympics.
“We want to thank the people of Greenwood,” said Shelton. “This is their Winterfest, not mine, not Ron’s. It’s a volunteer city and we thank them for their support.”
Later during the meeting council discussed ways of getting the weekend- long event back on the tracks for 2014, but were unable to come up with an alternate willing to stand in for Shelton.
“We are probably going to have to bite the bullet,” said Mayor Nipper Kettle. “We are just going to have to let it slide this year.”