The Celtic music group Irish Tree – Mike Labonté, Olivier Leclerc and Frédéric Drouin – provided toe-tapping entertainment during the Holiday Happy Hour. (Photo by Shirley Nadeau) COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS HAMPER CAMPAIGN
VEQ holds Holiday Happy Hour at Morrin Centre
Submitted by Shirley Nadeau, chair of the CCHC organizing committee
One of the most anticipated events of the pre-Christ- mas season – the Voice of English-speaking Québec Holiday Happy Hour – was held at the Morrin Centre to support the 30th annual Quebec City Community Christmas Hamper Campaign (CCHC) on Dec. 3.
Nearly 150 people gathered for a delightful, delicious cinq- à-sept in College Hall of the historic building, all looking forward to meeting and greeting their friends and neighbours to wish them the best for the holiday season.
“I’ve never seen so many people here as I have this year,” said attendee Sharon MacLeod. “It’s amazing! It’s a delight to walk around and see people I haven’t seen in a while, even years!”
CBC Radio, one of the major sponsors of the event, was present, interviewing people about their favourite memories of past years, what they are looking forward to in the new year and what the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign means to them.
Toe-tapping entertainment was provided by the Celtic music trio Irish Tree – Mike Labonté, Frédéric Drouin and Olivier Leclerc – courtesy of CBC Radio.
Santa Claus (Paul Williamson), with his naturally white beard and hair, took some time to enjoy the event before hitching up his reindeer to help deliver hampers in Quebec City on Dec. 20. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., and a member of the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve, Williamson is in his third year as the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign’s Santa.
VEQ administrative assistant Maria Hoyt was happy to report on Dec. 8 that the final count from the event was $548.05 from the sale of raffle tickets and $829.24 at the bar for a grand total of $1,377.29 – another successful event for the Community Christmas Hamper Campaign!
Thank you to everyone who has helped this campaign, which this year will distribute hampers to some 250 house- holds in need. We are almost halfway to our $50,000 goal to help purchase the fresh fruit, meats, vegetables and dairy products that are included in each set of hamper boxes. It’s not too late to contribute! Please help put us over the top before the end of December.
