LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Ava Erasmus has gone Easter egg hunting since she was an infant.

Twins Mya, left and Aiden Donohue spent some time with the giant Easter bunny on-hand at the annual egg hunt at the campground playground site on April 6. - Andrew Livingstone/NNSL photo

And while the 10-year-old Bompas Elementary School student loves collecting eggs dispersed throughout the wooded campground area surrounding the playground site, it's not the most important or satisfying part of the annual egg hunt.

Erasmus prefers to give out her egg stash to other children who may have not been able to find as many as she did.

"I like to help out the kids who may not get as many eggs," she said minutes before the annual Easter egg hunt began.

This, said organizer Val Gendron, is indicative of the goals she had in mind when she organized the first Easter egg hunt 19 years ago. While visiting her mother in Williams Lake, B.C. almost two decades ago, Gendron came up with the idea.

"When my son was a baby and we went to visit my mom, they ran an Easter fun day, and I thought we should do something like that here," she said.

Nineteen years later, it's one of the most well-attended events in the community. Over 100 parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles and family friends shared in laughs, told stories, ate food and thawed after a long, cold winter. Youth in attendance played games, won prizes and participated in the highly-anticipated egg hunt all over the campground. Those who found a coloured chip were given a small prize and a book to take home.

Gendron said a big aspect of the event, organized by the Open Doors Society, is to help promote literacy among the younger members of the community.

And, of course, to get out and have lots of fun.

"It's been an annual family gathering for everyone to get out and enjoy the weather and reconnect with those they may not have seen over the winter," said Gendron.

Andrea Mitchell, program co-ordinator for Open Doors, said it's the first big event that kicks off the beginning of spring and the warmer weather ahead.

She said, "All of the families get to come out and see each other and it's a great opportunity."

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