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This article was published 22/02/2022 (1445 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The 53rd edition of Festival du Voyageur kicked off Friday — and volunteers helped make it possible.

“They are the backbone to our festivities,” says Dan Girard, volunteer co-ordinator for the winter carnival that celebrates French-Canadian, Métis and Indigenous cultures in Manitoba.

Daniel Labrie started volunteering at the festival in 2010, after retiring from a 37-year military career. Labrie was born and raised in Sherbrooke, Que., and the festival has been an important part of his life ever since he moved to Winnipeg with his wife and two sons in 1997.

“When we moved to Winnipeg, my kids were young, so we were always looking for things to do around the city,” says Labrie, 64. “In the summer, it was things like the fringe festival and Folklorama, and in winter, the big activity was Festival (du Voyageur). Listening to music, dancing, eating maple taffy and all the other stuff you get to do… was a nice break in the winter.”

During his first few years volunteering at the festival, Labrie helped out as a parking lot attendant. He has since gone on to volunteer in just about every role, including serving on the board of directors for six years.

His favourite job is assisting with the school program, which sees students visit the outdoor site at Fort Gibraltar during the day.

“Just helping the kids enjoy themselves (is) always nice,” he says.

As someone who didn’t grow up in Winnipeg, one of Labrie’s biggest highlights of volunteering has been meeting members of the French community.

“The French community in Winnipeg is a small community,” he says. “One way to get into the French community is to get involved with the French community… You get to know people and they get to know you.”

Like Labrie, Lorinda Maruca enjoys many aspects of the festival.

“I enjoy the atmosphere, I enjoy the friendships you make, I enjoy the music, the culture — everything,” says Maruca, 56, who has volunteered at the festival for 10 years.

“I love the ice sculptures. I love walking through Fort Gibraltar in the morning and getting to see the park when it’s quiet. And I also love seeing people laughing and having a great time.”

Maruca has volunteered in a variety of roles throughout the years. These days, the retiree can usually be found working the gate for staff, volunteers, vendors and performers.

Festival du Voyageur is one of the many ways Maruca is involved in the community. The TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival, Assiniboine Park Zoo and Never Alone Cancer Foundation are just a few of the other places where she volunteers.

She’s also volunteered with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers since 2006. One of her fondest Festival du Voyageur memories was when some of the Bombers players brought the Grey Cup to the 2020 festival, just a few months after winning the 2019 CFL championship.

“Combining my two favourite families together made me smile,” she says. “It was a perfect day all the way around.”

Girard says people volunteer at Festival du Voyageur for a variety of reasons. Many people, like Labrie and Maruca, enjoy it because it allows them to meet up with old friends while giving back to the community.

The festival, which runs until Feb. 27, is powered by more than 150 volunteers.

“We couldn’t do (it) to the magnitude that we do without volunteers,” Girard says.

If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com