Manitobans Benefit from Winter Wonderland

Two Manitoba charities received a boost today from the Canad Inns Winter Wonderland show.

An increase in attendance drove a larger donation to two Manitoba charities from the second year of the Canad Inns Winter Wonderland, Manitobas largest drive through holiday light display, event organizers announced today.

Paid attendance of 23,000 vehicles through the 45-day show resulted today in organizers turning over $23,000 to two community organizations: the Fire Fighters Burn Fund and the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

The community continues to respond to the show, and were obviously pleased to make this cheque presentation on behalf of our patrons," said Red River Exhibition Park CEO Paul Robson. We believe this show is a significant contribution to enjoying the holiday season in Manitoba and we hope Manitobans will continue to make it a family holiday tradition."

This was the second year for the show at Red River Exhibition Park, which is presented by the Red River Exhibition Association and the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. Canad Inns Winter Wonderland ran from November 23 to January 6. The 23,000 vehicles and 150 tour buses brought an estimated 109,000 people through the display.

Were proud to sponsor this show and what it does for Manitoba," said Leo Ledohowski, CEO of Canad Inns, title sponsor of the show. The addition of the Torch Run as a beneficiary broadens the base of support we are providing the community."

Innovative attractions of this sort serve to make Winnipeg unique and enhance the quality of life here," said incoming Winnipeg Chamber chair Robert Kreis. Building on our strengths as a Winter City and enhancing our enjoyment of the holiday season continues to light us up."

In its inaugural year, Winter Wonderland provided a $20,000 donation to the Fire Fighters Burn Fund in support of the SAFE Baby program. The donation this year will be divided equally between the two groups with the Burn Funds portion again going to the SAFE Baby program and the Torch Run putting its share towards Special Olympics.

Were grateful to Winter Wonderland for including us as a beneficiary of this years show," said Torch Run chair Blair McCorrister. These funds will be a welcome addition to our support for Special Olympic programs in Manitoba."

Our SAFE Baby program had a huge boost as a result of the contribution last year and will be enhanced again from the donation this year," said Burn Fund representative Norm Daly.

The Winter Wonderland show took first place in the Business Central category of the 2001 Winnipeg In Lights Contest sponsored by Take Pride Winnipeg. The show partnered with the City of Winnipeg in the National Winter Lights Celebration competition for the Best Lit Community. A partnership was also developed with the Festival of Lights Parade with the festivals signature float becoming part of the Winter Wonderland show.

Other sponsors of the show included Canada Safeway, Air Canada, Manitoba Hydro, Manitoba Blue Cross, Coca-Cola, Red River Co-op, Home Depot, Nestle Ice Cream, Battlefield Equipment, Monarch Industries, Global TV, the Winnipeg Sun and CJOB.

We thank all our partners, sponsors and all involved in helping us make this show a growing community success. It adds to the year round activities at Red River Exhibition Park and helps support our other community benefits and programs," said Robson.