Welcoming 2020 with a bang at Eastlink Park

As 2019 came to an end, there were plenty of festivities and fun happening at Eastlink Park for the New Years’ Eve celebration. Skiing, tubing, snowboarding, and free hot dogs and hot chocolate were available for those who came out to end 2019 and bring in 2020 with an amazing fireworks display provided by the Whitecourt Fire Department. 

With a perfect winter day and evening weather-wise, the hill was packed, and the fire pits were blazing while families talked with friends and neighbours. Children enjoyed sitting around the fire with a hot dog and hot chocolate which was handed out by town councillors and Eastlink Board members and volunteers.

Jessica Leis, Marketing Manager for Eastlink Park, said it was an “overwhelming success this year.” She estimates there were approximately 2,000 plus in attendance and 400 hot dogs eaten which makes this a more significant celebration than in 2018 where she speculates there were roughly 1,500 people. Leis also observed the lineup to be at least one hour long at times between 4 and 5 o’clock with a continual steady line of people coming out to enjoy all the ski hill activities.

Eastlink Park Board member Derek Schlosser was excited to talk about how the ski hill is in the process of expanding to quadruple by the fall of 2020. Merv Hilland, also an Eastlink Board member and ski instructor mentioned four towers are to be installed and re-engineering of the bottom trails with a new T-bar which will be like an “Eastlink Park 2.0 when completed.” The focus now is to have a top-of-the-line ski hill with 90 tubes, equipment, and ski instructors. Hilland also mentioned that Eastlink Park is looking for a volunteer to co-ordinate and establish a ski club for children and teenagers to learn skills, compete, and have fun. Ski instructor volunteers are also welcome.