The Cumbrian Arms has been hosting a raucous British New Year’s Eve celebration for the last 23 years – and for 23 years, Cochranite Steve Danyluk is one of three people in town who haven’t missed one yet.
“If you haven’t experienced it, I can’t tell you about it – and if you have, I don’t have to tell you,” said Danyluk. “It’s the old and the new, the tradition and the new traditions … It’s bliss. Pure bliss.”
The cozy West Valley pub opened in 1993 and hosted its first British New Year’s Eve event that same year. The catch to the celebratory evening is this: instead of raising a glass at midnight Cochrane time, the flutes go up at 5 p.m. – to coincide with the changing of the calendar across the pond.
Danyluk, along with Martin Russell and Jerry Williams, have made it an annual tradition to kick up their heels at the hallowed barroom.
Although he’s Canadian, Danyluk said he loves the feeling of the British bash, when the pub gets packed with people he knows well – and others whom he only sees on the one special night.
“It’s the comfort of a neighbourhood pub, the faces that you see once a year,” he said from his stool at the bar, clutching a Cumbrian Arms happy hour mug circa 1993. “We all blend well together.”
Russell – another of the original three who hails from Britain – said he’s even brought his visiting English mom and brothers into the pub in the past to ring in the new year.
“It’s my local,” he said. “There’s so many Brits here – it’s just magic.”
Cochrane is known for its ample population of English ex-pats, including Jeremy Blunt, who originally hails from Hereford.
“It’s a great place to move to,” he said as he shared a sip with his father-in-law. “There’s a lot of English people in this town.”
“Brits want to reminisce,” said patron Harry Eaton with a laugh. “They want to celebrate early and often.”
And celebrate they did: the place was packed to standing room only by 4 p.m. – and by the time Danyluk bellowed out “One minute!” at 4:59 p.m. nearly everyone was on their feet, champagne in hand, readying for the annual countdown.
At 4:59:50, the whole place chimed out in unison, “Ten! Nine! Eight…” until the clock turned to 5 p.m. and cheers of “Happy New Year!” took over the crowd.
For the next 15 minutes or more, cheek kisses, heartfelt hugs, and clinks of cups permeated the pub, as patrons reminisced about the past and shared stories of what was to come in the future.
Between his own hugs and kisses, an emotional Danyluk took it all in with a full heart and a huge smile on his face – sure of at least one milestone he’s planning ahead for in 2017.
“Only 364 days 23 hours and 46 minutes left until the next one.”
