Mission Statement

The Temagami Winter Carnival Committee is committed to bringing together people of all ages, service clubs, and all nature of businesses in the Temagami area as a community with spirit.

History of the Temagami Winter Carnival

The First Annual Temagami Winter Carnival was held in 1958. The purpose of the Temagami Winter Carnival back then was primarily to promote the area as a winter hotspot. Long famed as a top summer resort destination, Temagami had as much to offer in the winter as it did in the summer. The Temagami Winter Carnival was the first of its kind in Ontario and attracted dignitaries and people such as hockey broadcaster Foster Hewitt and Canadian actor Lorne Green.

The events and festivities which made up the Temagami Winter Carnival in its earlier years included such things as a Parade, Skiing, Dog Team Races, Broomball Games, a Fishing Derby, Wood Cutting competitions, a Curling Bonspiel, Snow Shoe Races, a Beard Growing Contest, and the crowning of the Carnival Queen.

The Temagami Winter Carnival was held every year from 1958 to 1973.  After a 23-year hiatus the famous Temagami Winter Carnival was reborn in 1996. The old “Temagami Spirit” was recaptured and history repeated itself. Volunteers began construction of the Ice Palace, whiskers sprouted for the Beard Growing contest and potential Carnival Queens worked hard to sell their tickets.

Since the Carnival’s return in 1996, there have been new events added and new volunteer committee members. It has always been a fun filled weekend of events for adults and children of all ages. We now have the well-known Snowshoe baseball, Survivor Temagami style, and the great kiddy carnival, along with the “light up the night parade” and other events that draw a crowd.

The Winter Carnival funds that are raised are donated back to the Caribou Mountain Temagami Fire Tower Project. And each year something new is added to the tower area. The Temagami tower information can be found at www.temagami.ca