All-time high for Winter Wonderland

Karonhiaráhstha’s Winter Wonderland has broken fundraising records once again, with the 10th edition of the event raising more than $260,000.

The event is named after Karonhiaráhstha Sky Junie Delisle, the infant daughter of Carla Skye and Iohahiio Delisle who passed away in St. Martin during a vacation.

Following that tragic event, the two co-founded the Winter Wonderland in her memory.

This year, the Kateri Memorial Foundation (KMF) event raised $260,796.18 through tree ticket and half-and-half sales, after expenses. Last year’s Wonderland, also record breaking at the time, raised almost $200,000.

The half-and-half alone raised $66,250 – $19,000 more than the 2023 half-and-half, which had sold out.

“We could not have done this without our sponsors, volunteers, the Delisle and Skye families, and of course all of our loyal customers,” said the KMF in a written statement announcing the total raised.

In a previous interview with The Eastern Door, Skye said that the Playground Poker complex venue exceeded her expectations in terms of how many people were going to attend, particularly from surrounding communities.

Indeed, the venue, which replaced the Knights of Columbus Hall following its temporary closing, was very close to Chateauguay and was easily accessible from Highway 138.

The ease of access helped raise the most money ever for the event, as more people than ever bought tickets trying to win one of the 21 trees displayed by businesses, families, and community organizations – and the plethora of gifts underneath them.

The money raised will continue to go to many charities and initiatives in the community.

Much of the money will continue to go to Karonhiaráhstha’s Memorial Scholarship program, which aims to support community students who pursue higher education.

Money will also go towards supporting causes benefitting parental bereavement, addiction, and CPR training.

The KMF is also giving $20,000 to the Orville Standup Memorial Food Basket, up from the $10,000 given to the Food Basket last year.

“I would like to say niawenhkó:wa to the KMF organizers for yet again donating to the food basket, $20,000 will help us out in a big way, especially during the holiday season as we are giving out 100+ Christmas baskets, gifts for the children and other goodies to the clients on our list,” said Food Basket coordinator Cory Rice. “I feel really grateful to everyone involved.”

In addition, the KMF will be giving money raised by the Winter Wonderland to Kanien’kéha language causes in the community.

A bi-annual grant of $1,000 will be given to first and second-year students currently enrolled at the Kanien’kéha Ratiwennahní:rats immersion program.

Additionally, the KMF will be giving $20,000 to the Sharing Our Storiesproject.

“I think it’s amazing that the KMF is supporting Sharing Our Stories,” said Steve Bonspiel, who launched the project in 2022. The editor and publisher of The Eastern Door said that as more and more local organizations recognize its value for the community, the better it can accomplish its historical and cultural preservation goals.

“Donations like this go a long way to supporting our mandate and what we’re trying to do, but it’s also supporting our team,” said Bonspiel. “We exist for the community, we work for the community, and it’s going back to the community.”

[email protected]