Spring is in the air in Fort Smith and the community welcomed the new season with its popular Wood Buffalo Frolics event.

"We just look forward to celebrating community, coming together, enjoying each other's company, watching each other laugh and have a good time, and welcome the spring and summer because our winters are long," said Dana Fergusson, the community's mayor. "It's healthy to get together and smile and laugh and enjoy our community and its greatness. It's a good positivity boost for us."

This year's frolics took place from March 13-16. The schedule was packed with fun events for people of all ages, including a youth talent show, a kids carnival, snowboarding and outdoor games for children and adults.

It also included the first Joel Tetso Memorial Hockey Tournament, which commemorates one of the victims of last year's tragic Northwestern Air Lease plane crash just outside the community. There were eight teams in the tournament bracket: two from Deline, one from Yellowknife, one from Hay River, and four from Fort Smith. One of the Fort Smith teams emerged victorious, and ended up giving their prize money to the Deline teams to help cover travel costs. 

While the hockey tournament was one of the highlights of the event, some of the youngsters were preoccupied with sweet treats. 

"The kids loved the sugar shack," Fergusson said. "They put the maple syrup over the snow and it was it was just a fan favourite, like always."

Organizers also crowned frolics royalty, with Kiera Wetmore being named queen for the second year in a row, Starly Kushnirak took the title of princess, and Oltin Cumming became prince.

Overall, everyone seemed to have a great time, according to the mayor. 

"The feedback I've gotten from everyone who's attended or participated was overwhelmingly positive." she said. 

This year's frolics also provided a boost for Fort Smith's economy, as visitors filled hotel rooms, restaurant tables and the aisles of local shops. 

"There was a lot of people travelling here that weekend," Fergusson said. "I'm sure everyone felt it. I know that all the restaurants felt it, gas stations, grocery stores, shops. These kinds of events can make a significant impact in our local economy."

The event also held special significance for Fergusson. As an active community member, she has been involved in previous frolics, but this was her first year participating in the event as the town's mayor. 

"It was really special, and I think it made people feel really engaged that the mayor's here, she cares, and she's involved in this," she said.