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1981 Snowarama raised record $10,664 for Barriere Lions Club

The North Thompson Review and Bulletin reported in their Wednesday, Feb. 4, 1981 issue that “it was ideal conditions” when North Barriere Lake played host the Barriere’s Fourth Annual Snowarama, noting “it was the most successful so far”.
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Ted Smith presents Frank Wiseman with the Gilbert Smith Trophy for highest monies pledged.

The North Thompson Review and Bulletin reported in their Wednesday, Feb. 4, 1981 issue that “it was ideal conditions” when North Barriere Lake played host the Barriere’s Fourth Annual Snowarama, noting “it was the most successful so far”.

Frank Wiseman won the Gilbert Smith Trophy for the Top Money Maker, bringing in a staggering sum of $2,357, $230 ahead of the second place finisher for monies raised, being Sue Meger who romped home with $2,127 in pledges raised.

The third place money raiser was Wink Ewashina pulling in $1,806, which was considerably more than the previous year’s money makers.

Audrey Sutherland came in fourth with $850 in pledges.

It was reported that a total of 17 Snowarama participants had secured money and pledges to a total of $10,664 which was a record figure for the event.

Also the fact that there were fewer entrants in this year’s race compared to the previous year was touted as a testament to the efforts of the participants.

Lions Club Snowarama committee chairman, Jim McCoy, who organized the event was more than happy with the results with money raised going towards the Lions’ Crippled Children’s fund.

Barriere Snowmobile Club president, Robert Cline, said that without local support the project could not have been the success that it was, and that he was proud of all the club members who participated. He also thanked the local ambulance crew consisting of Ron Cooper, Jim Morgan and Harvey Bloomfield.

Wink Ewashina had put together a dance on Jan. 24, 1981, to also raise funds for the Crippled Children, and the event raised $600.

Ewashina thanked his wife Shelley, “and all the rest of the guys and girls who helped make my dance a success”.

He also thanked Doug Cooper who had let Ewashina ride his Motoski in the Snowarama where he raised the $1,806.

North Thompson Review and Bulletin editor, Michael Gardner, wrote the following in his editorial of Feb. 4, 1981.

“They say that sentimentality comes easy, but caring is hard because it involves doing. If such is the case, then the 17 entries in Barriere’s fourth Snowarama have amply proven themselves as people who care.”

He also wrote, “They surely did an excellent job, but the responsibility for the organization of a successful Snowarama rests on far more than a mere 17 sets of shoulders. As always, the Barriere Lions Club and the Barriere Snowmobilers were in the thick of things organizing the trophies and prizes, preparing the circuit, supplying the officials and providing the kitchen and so on. With even the weather cooperating the whole event went off without a hitch. This in itself is surely a testament to the selfless dedication and organizational skills of these people, particularly Jim McCoy, the Lions Snowarama Committee Chairman.

“And then there are the Barriere townspeople themselves, the ones who make the pledges and ante-up those staggering sums of cash. What can we say about ourselves? We all have to work for a living here in Barriere, in other words we make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Is this the secret of our successful community here in Barriere?”

Gardner finished his editorial by writing, “I now realize that the world is full of two kinds of people, the givers and the takers. The takers eat well - but we in Barriere - well we sleep well!”