The Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival in The Pas, Manitoba, is putting out a call for volunteers to help plan its 80th Anniversary celebration set for February 17 to 21, 2027.
Organizers are looking for residents 18 and older to join the Board of Directors and bring fresh ideas for the milestone year. The 2026 board is already full, but the group wants to hear from people interested in shaping future festivals.
The festival relies on around 200 volunteers each year. Anyone wanting to get involved can stop by the basement of the Kinsmen Centre at 324 Ross Avenue in The Pas. The organization held its most recent Annual General Meeting on May 5, 2026, and typically holds one each spring.
The festival started in 1916 as The Pas Dog Derby and is one of Canada’s oldest winter festivals. It was revived in 1948 and has kept going ever since, celebrating pioneer skills like dog sledding, bannock baking, tea boiling, and muskrat skinning.
The event is a community effort supported by local groups and sponsors. Lorie Stevenson serves as the 2026 Board Chair. The festival’s website has more details on how to get involved at www.trappersfestival.ca/get-involved.
