Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette - Christmas Wishes 2021

— Happy Holidays —

Holiday lights, strung intricately around one another, often shine as hopeful metaphors: anticipation of eager fingers fumbling under Christmas trees, heavy spoonfuls of turkey, and enthusiastically sung carols. But, the holidays bring challenges too. We may desperately miss loved ones, spend the time alone, or not have enough to give. We all need and want differently at this time. As such, entering into a holiday season opens our eyes to others.

It’s been nearly two years living through a pandemic—a reality that is significantly easier to write than believe. When the World Health Organization announced a global pandemic on March 11 many of us began recording the events, professionally or otherwise. How would we make sense of times that felt so unreal? At the Valley Gazette, we continued to cover local community stories— although some looked different from usual.

Many events were virtual, like the Seniors’ Centre Without Walls activity program by Barry’s Bay & Area Senior Citizens Home Support Services. Some featured contactless drive-throughs like the Combermere Recreation Committee hunters’ supper. Council meetings glitched with audio technical difficulties on Zoom and YouTube. Most of us got better with technology than we had been. Times changed, but we managed to work through those changes. And many events that were closed last year are now back in action. As the County of Renfrew continues to expand and the unemployment rate drops, may we be able to carry the lessons we’ve learned into 2022.

Thank you to all of our readers, supporters, and advertisers for your continued contribution and dedication to this paper. We would be nowhere without you—thank you so much. It’s always a pleasure to work with you and see your smiling faces in the office and at events.

However you celebrate your holidays and whatever they mean to you, may your days be as bright as they can be. We at the Valley Gazette wish you warmth on a snow-sprinkled eve, overflowing marshmallows with cocoa, and at least one sparkling smile to enter into 2022.

Thank you, from us all.

- Sarah Crookall

Twas the Night Before Christmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

“Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!

On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my hand, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!

Warren, Megan, William & Edward Heubner, and Joe Bratley

In this the most joyous of seasons let us reflect on those family and friends who are spending their first Christmas in Heaven.

Cecil Sullivan

Gordon Pra�

Nelson Mayhew

Patricia Knight

John Willmer

Theresa Marsey

Ronald Coulas

Cassie Madigan

Jerome Golka

Elizabeth Stoppa

Wilfred Prince

Kirwin Woodhouse

Robert Lisk

David Douthwright

Elsie McLean

Maria Maslak

Jacob Ritchie

Monica Burchat

Charlo�e Lehovitch

Florence Rumleskie

Clayton Barber

Jacqueline Bouchard

Catherine Perrier

Herbert Bellisle

Julia Lorbetskie

Josephine Lentz

Robert Goldie

Frank Klygo

Cecil Hare

Loyde Clement

Joan Lambert

Ernest Perrier

C

MaryAnn McRae

Jaroslav Trochimowski

Aaron Marquardt

Melissa Stoppa

Phelanda Hall

Doris Hudder

Robin McLean

Ammon McCaffrey

Frederick Day

Peter Aleck

John “Jack” Golka

Gary Medwid

Aniela Cy�o

Glen Michaelis

Ambrose “AJ” Stoppa

Gilbert Junior Rumleskie

May Doherty

John Ackney

Mary Lorbetskie

Kevin Taylor

Teresa Voldock

Rachel Jones

Beryl Maika

William Adams

Isiah Biernaskie

Chris�na Czerwinski

Charles Sharp

Andrew Lorbetskie

Yvonne Mahon

Danny Lorbetskie

Eleanore Quesnelle

Johanna Yandernoll

Ambrose Blank

Barry Easton

Royden Genrick

Isadore Peplinskie

Michael Verch

Morris Towns

Sheila Mason

Glen Schu�

Charlie McGuey

Peter Ostrowercha

Annie Bro�on

Garry Stamplecoskie

Glenn Guest

Sam Behm

Eleanor Burgess

Elizabeth Namiesniowski

James Chartrand

Kevin Cowan

Anthony Burant

Raymond Drystek

Peter Rumleskie

Evelyn Vlasic

Diana Kidd

“Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus”

DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.

Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’ Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

VIRGINIA O’HANLON.

115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET.

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Christmas joy spans the decades

GAYLE DAVIS Freelance

The longer we live, the more memories we accumulate. Lloyd and Muriel Churchill of Bancroft shared fond memories of Christmases past that fill the heart with wonder and joy.

Originally from Nova Scotia, Lloyd Churchill moved to Ontario in the late 50s. Lloyd recalled his first Christmas in Bancroft. “At that time, most of the young men were going to Ontario for work. I came to Ontario … and never went back.”

Arriving in October, Lloyd found work at the Big A Electrical Company in Belleville, and boarded in a little town close by with the Smith family ‘for a couple of weeks’, until he found his own place. “That ended up lasting four years!” said Lloyd with a chuckle. Lloyd recalls that the first Christmas here was the first and only time in his life that he had ever felt homesick.

His first Christmas in Ontario brought an unexpected surprise. Lloyd explained, “One Monday morning, just before Christmas, I found a Christmas card on my desk. I couldn’t believe it when I looked inside. I had $350 in my hand, and I had only been there three months!”

Muriel continued, “He had no money for Christmas [gifts] and then this happened. So, he went out and bought his ‘adopted family’ Christmas gifts. Pretty neat!”

After their marriage back home in 1961, the young couple lived in Belleville and Trenton. In 1973, the Churchills moved to Bancroft

with their daughter Kim and son Kristopher. As well as owning a local grocery store, Lloyd served the Bancroft community in many capacities. Starting with a term as councillor in 1983, Lloyd eventually became the longest standing mayor of Bancroft, to date.

“We’ve always had a very merry, happy Christmas,” said Lloyd. Over the years the celebration has moved between the Churchill home and, in recent years, daughter Kim Bishop’s home or cottage, to accommodate their expanding family.

“Last Christmas was somewhat different [with COVID]; we celebrated in the garage!” Lloyd shared. Kim’s husband Brian cleaned out their large 2-car garage and then he and Kim decorated it to look like a Christmas scene. The whole family was able to be together while being ‘COVID safe’, Kim pointed out. “It worked out quite well,” recalled Lloyd.

Lloyd recalled that when he was part of a church youth group in Nova Scotia, they not only decorated the church for Christmas but also put on a Christmas concert on Christmas Eve. Afterward, the youth piled into vehicles and went through the town singing Christmas carols at each house. In a Nova Scotia tradition, they carried shopping bags or pillow cases with them and, after singing, would ask the families, “[do you have] anything for Santa?” The families would hand out Christmas treats at each house. Lloyd remarked, “I could hardly wait to get the concert over with so we could get our goodies; it was almost as good as Halloween!”

Wishing you all a joyous holiday season and a happy and healthy new year.

From the St. Francis Memorial Hospital Board, Staff and Auxiliary

Trimmed with our Thanks

We are so grateful for the support and generosity of our kind donors, not only at Christmas, but throughout the entire year. Thank you for recognizing the importance of local healthcare and for making an impact on the excellent care we all receive, close to home. Special thanks to all who have made a donation to our Tree of Lights Christmas Campaign. Together we will help our Hospital with the purchase of critical medical equipment for the medical unit this year!

Every family has their favourite traditions, and the Churchill family is no different. Every Christmas the family would attend a Christmas Eve concert at St. Paul’s United Church together, which Lloyd beautifully and lovingly decorated for many years. When Kim and Kristopher got older, the whole family would head over the Bancroft Legion following the concert to help serve the annual community Christmas Dinner, before heading home. Lloyd recalled his most favourite part of the Christmas concert. “[Some years later,] our grandson, Adam, who has a wonderful voice, sang ‘O Holy Night’. I don’t think anybody ever heard it sung better than he did. It brought tears to the eyes. That was always a meaningful thing for me,” shared Lloyd.

Muriel’s favourite memory was of Lloyd reading ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ to the family on Christmas Eve, a tradition that began when 2-year-old Kim received the book as a gift. Over 50 years later, Kim shared, “When Dad reads the story now, he is reading it to four generations of our family. That’s my favourite part of Christmas.”

Lloyd joked, “That book is becoming more tattered than I am!”

Muriel continued, “I always have a piece of mince pie for breakfast on Christmas morning,” to which Lloyd replied, “Mince pie is good at any time!”

With kitchen duties shared by all, the holiday feast is a happy occasion. Most of the family members, except for Lloyd, contribute a dish for the dinner table and

Kim prepares the main meal. Lloyd prefers decorating the house inside and out, and wrapping everyone’s Christmas gifts. “God made 2 kinds of people,” stated Lloyd with a twinkle in his eye, “Ones that cook the food and ones that eat the food. I do the latter!”

“Christmas means ‘family’ to me. It’s the most important thing to me. I just like the spirit. It’s a big time for family, but the spirit that’s part of the atmosphere at Christmas – it’s too bad it can’t remain all year long,” concluded Lloyd.

“I’m 85-years-old, and I’ve never had a bad Christmas!” Lloyd summed up.

Well, that about says it all – the beauty and spirit of Christmas and the blessing of family. Who could ask for more? Merry Christmas Churchill family!

Lloyd and Muriel Churchill at their residence in Bancroft.

Warm memories of family Christmas at the farm

GAYLE DAVIS Freelance

Born in Boulter in January of 1936, Eleanor Kuno was one of three children in the Kuno family. Their large family farm in the Boulter area took many hours of labourintensive work to keep it running. Eleanor’s mother, Edna, added to the family income by teaching school in both Belle Rapids and Letterkenney, leaving home early Monday morning and returning Friday evening. That left Eleanor’s father, Alfred, to run the farm and perform household duties, while looking after their three children. Life wasn’t easy but they persevered and thrived.

One of Eleanor’s special Christmas memories was of the excitement of Christmas morning. “I was about 4-yearsold. My brothers and I got up in the morning and ran to the kitchen. Each of our plates was set with an apple and some kind of candy. A small chocolate bar or something like that,” she recalled. “We didn’t get candy often but we got some at Christmas.”

Eleanor married Dean Foster in 1955. Dean was a member of the armed forces, and in 1956 he was posted to Germany, where they lived for three years. Eleanor remembers travelling alone, arriving on Dec. 22, and making a rather long walk to the house where she and Dean would live.

“It wasn’t fancy,” she recalled, “we had one room upstairs and one room downstairs, and we shared the laundry.”

That first Christmas they walked the two miles to the little town of Werl to have Christmas dinner with friends, a young

couple who had a daughter who was about 3-years-old.

“We took the little girl a gift and then she wanted us to come every day,” Eleanor said with a laugh. “She was a beautiful little girl.”

Soon after arriving in Germany, Eleanor found herself pregnant with her first child.

“I had a good many memories of Christmas once we had our children,” said Foster.

As for gifts, Foster recalled that, as a child, she and her brothers always got clothes and footwear. “We were always happy to get new clothes. We always opened our presents on Christmas Day, but we were allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve before we went to bed.”

Special Christmas treats always included fruit, a few nuts, and a little candy to share. “We would quite often get an orange as a special treat. It was good because it was something that didn’t spoil.”

“My Mum baked a lot for Christmas, even though she was working. I really liked her homemade bread!” Foster shared.

Eleanor and Dean and their children usually spent Christmas at home together. Over the years, there was a fair amount of relocating. Dean was posted to various army bases across Canada, including Dundurn, Saskatchewan and Chilliwack, B.C. They finally returned to Base Pettawawa in Ontario. After Dean retired, they moved back to Boulter to raise their family. “We didn’t always get to church [on Christmas Day], as our church is in Maple Leaf [and we lived in Boulter], which is quite a distance away,” recalled Eleanor.

One of the most unique aspects of

Merry Christmas

Season's

Christmas for Foster was that Christmas Day was also her parents’ wedding anniversary.

She explained, “It was sad for my mum because they were going to get married in Carlow. Everything was arranged, but her father [Eleanor’s grandfather] was very ill and was dying. So, they had to cancel the wedding they had planned. Then they decided to get married at her father’s beside on Christmas Day,” she continued. “It was joy mixed with sorrow that year.”

Very active during their life in Ontario, Dean served on council in Carlow-Mayo and then as the Reeve from the late 70s to the early 80s. He also served on the council in Belleville at one time.

As for Eleanor, she shared, “I was president of the Women’s Institute at our church for 30 years. We put on fundraising dinners for 200-plus people. One time I had to cook several 35-pound turkeys! I had to take both racks out of my oven to fit them in, because they were so big. They turned out very well!”

Eleanor now resides in the Centennial Manor in Bancroft where she participates

in lots of activities and plays a mean game of Crib, I am told!

“Christmas to me was a religious holiday. But, also one that you spent with family – all of us together at the farm,” Foster recollected with a smile.

While we all love to receive gifts, Eleanor Foster has shown that Christmas is more about giving than getting. With her family as the centre-piece, surrounded by neighbours and friends, Foster always lived her ‘best Christmas’ helping her loved ones to make special memories of this magical time of year. Merry Christmas, Eleanor!

Your

With gratitude in our hearts, we wish you and your loved ones a blessed and beautiful Christmas.

Cathy, Margaret, Tetyana, and Terry

At the dawn of a new Christmas season, may the light of the Holy Spirit fill your heart and soul with peace, harmony and contentment. Wherever you may travel, we wish you good health, great joy and many blessings.

support and understanding through the difficult times we have weathered together mean a lot to us, and we feel fortunate to be a part of this caring community.

Eleanor Foster recalls fond memories of Christmas at the farm.

When the Best Gift of All is Christmas Itself

TONI LAVIGNE-CONWAY Freelance

The 1930’s marked the era of wartime and tough times, there was little to give at Christmas, but for Ursula Golka (Trebinskie), that only made the holidays that much more special.

As Ursula recalls “Christmas was always an exciting time at our house. When we were young, I remember us having to take a nap in the afternoon on Christmas Eve so that we could wake up to go to Midnight Mass. Our home was always full of family that came to visit and stay, and Mom made it special with all the cooking and baking. And Grandpa Dombroskie always had a big bag of candy for the grandchildren. Now that was a treat!”

Most of her favourite memories of the holidays are centred around the gatherings and all the fun things that proceeded the day. Like the school concerts (“Sister Leona really liked putting on those concerts and we all had to participate”), making all the decorations for the tree at home, and dressing up in their Sunday clothes to walk the few blocks to church together, “cause Dad didn’t own a car.”

Ursula also recalls how hard her mom worked to get things ready for the celebrations. “My sister and brother were older and away from home, so we really enjoyed having them with us for a few days. My mom started baking long before Christmas and the treats were kept safe and cool in the cold cellar.”

They looked forward to her mom’s Christmas cake, specially made with gum drops. “She always made two so that we could give some to our grandmother.”

It may have been about the festivities, but Ursula does remember that one very special Christmas when she was surprised to get something she really wanted.

“Rag dolls were very popular at the time, but I dared not think I’d get such a gift”. It seems her brother may have known that she might be getting one and wanted to throw her off because she recalls looking under that tree that year saying, “I sure hope I get something different like a rag doll, to which he replied… well, you’re not!”. The norm was to get a new dress, or perhaps

some shoes; always something you needed. “You can imagine my surprise when I opened up my gift and it was a rag doll!”

Thinking back on the differences between Christmas then and now, Ursula feels a little sad for the children of today who might never know the sense of family and the precious gift of being with each other.

“It was never about the gifts for us. And it’s still that way for me. It was all about the house being full of family, the food that we only had at Christmas, the polish hymns sung at church, and spending time baking with mom. Everyone worked hard all year, and at Christmas, they were able to take a break and enjoy each other.”

She went on to continue those traditions she cherished with her own family after marrying her sweetheart, Jack Golka who she met while skating with friends at the arena when he asked her to skate with him. It seems that a few turns around the rink was all it took for the pair to become a couple and they went

on to be married for 63 years. After living and working in the Bay for a few years, they moved their family to Kingston where Jack continued his work in the healthcare field.

During that time away from home, Ursula recalls keeping alive a lot of traditions from her childhood and coming home for Christmas whenever they could.

The Golka’s did move back to the Valley and later with her daughter Jo Anne and son-in-law Michael (Truskoski) after Jack suffered a heart attack.

Sadly, this will be Ursula’s first Christmas since her beloved husband passed away, and although it will be a hard one, she has her “wonderful daughter” and family to thank for keeping her busy and the spirit of the holidays alive. “They take such good care of me. I love my family and honestly the great grandchildren make my life so happy. I’ll be living the magic of Christmas through them.”

Thanks for Putting the

Ursula and Jack with Santa and his helper, grandson Graham Ursula with her great grandchildren Cash and Daisy who make are the joy of her life

Keeping Old Traditions Alive and Making New Ones for Baby’s First Christmas

TONI LAVIGNE-CONWAY

Freelance

Centuries ago, a baby born in a manger showed us the true meaning of Christmas and the love of family. Today, there is still nothing like the miracle of a new baby at this special time of the year.

That’s why this Christmas Caiti (Finnerty) and Travis Reinke will be counting their blessings and carrying on their own childhood traditions with baby Beckham whom they welcomed to the world this past August.

Baby’s first Christmas, is there anything more special?

“We feel so blessed and excited to be celebrating our baby’s first Christmas” says Caiti, so much so that they have already started carrying forth the many traditions that they’ve had as children with their son.

“At our house, the things we did leading up to Christmas was always what was most important and the what I’ll always remember”

When she was little girl, the holidays started in November when she and her Mom Marie would have a marathon baking day with Granny. They made everything from jam jams to gingerbreads while Poppa Lorne would sit and enjoy the banter while sampling the baking.

That tradition continued over the years and a few weeks ago, she and her mom rolled up their sleeves to tackle a full day of baking but this year under the watchful eye of Beckham, who learned how to sit up in his bumbo chair just in time to take on the title as baking supervisor. Of course, he called a halt to the affair a few times throughout the day for feedings and naps. And this time, it was daddy Travis and Grandpa Steve who were on hand to do the taste testing.

Another custom being carried forward is the annual outdoor

planter making that Caiti and her mom traditionally do before the snow flies. So with baby Beckham in tow, they hiked the fields for the perfect greenery, managing to use the bottom of the stroller as storage to haul things back to the garage where the planters were put together.

And this year, Travis’ tradition of gifting Caiti with an ornament that marks the special occasions of that particular year (graduation, engagement, their wedding etc) hangs on the tree already, bearing the message “Baby’s 1st Christmas”

But with life changes also comes an opportunity to make some new traditions.

These grateful parents have begun telling their young son

his bedtime stories under the Christmas tree, where he is mesmerized by the glow of twinkling lights.

“Travis and I have made a conscious decision to slow down and enjoy the moment as much as we can this year. After having been through a pandemic and experiencing the isolation that came with it, we are just so very grateful for the things that are important. The people in our lives, especially Beckham, are so precious to us and we are thrilled that we can be gathering with them over the holidays. We are certainly counting our blessing”

Both raised in small areas, she in Barry's Bay and Travis in Eganville, Caiti still recalls so many things that took place in her hometown that built up the excitement over the holidays. Things like her elementary school Christmas concerts, MV’s Sounds of Christmas, the Tree of Lights, and Moonlight Madness shopping in town when they each picked a name in the family and bought an early gift for that person.

As parents, they hope to pass along to their young son what they both experienced as children. That the real treasures are not really about gifts, but the traditions and memories you will make each and every year.

Where will they be this Christmas? Their plan is to stay at home, wearing the Christmas pj’s granny Marie always gifts the family on Christmas Eve, share the big meal on Christmas day with family and then get ready to host Travis’s parents Nancy and Michael and the Reinke family for the first time at their home, where Beckham will no doubt be the centre of attention to his older cousins who can’t wait to entertain the little guy and fill him on the gifts they got from Santa.

“As we get older, we are more grateful for everything we have and the people in our lives. And we’ve become more reflective, especially now at Christmas time. Honestly, the memories that we both have of our childhood, the people we love, and our new little baby fill our cup”.

Caiti and her mom Marie carrying on the family tradition of a baking marathon under the watchful eye of baby Beckham

When the Christmas Holidays started with a Horse Drawn Wagon Ride to Midnight Mass

TONI LAVIGNE-CONWAY Freelance

It’s Christmas eve on the farm in the 1930’s. The horses and wagon are decorated with a cow bell and some red ribbon. The kids pile in, and Dad takes the reins for the ride into to St. Hedwig’s church in Barry’s Bay to attend Midnights Mass.

When they arrive, the horses and wagon are parked alongside the others in a shelter with a wooden roof that’s been built to keep the horses dry and fed with hay while they wait for the families inside.

Everyone was looking forward to the meal that would be waiting for them at home, where mom had stayed to ready the chickens in the oven, stuffing on the stove and cut the Christmas cake that had been made and hidden away weeks before.

For 90-year-old Sylvie Yantha of Barry's Bay, the memories of Christmas’s past are as fresh today as they were all those years ago. One of six children born to parents Mary and Michael Yantha, he recalls living in the depression years and in a time when Christmas was all about the extra food and taking some time away from hard work.

“In school, we always had a Christmas concert in the church basement where we did some singing and a play. My favourite carol was the little drummer boy. And I remember the teacher putting all our names in a hat. We had to pick one and get a gift for that person to present on the last day of school before the holidays.”

Presents were simple and Sylvie recalls his favourite one was the year he got a flashlight.

“We had only one in the house, cause batteries were pricey, so we didn’t use it much. I was pretty pleased to get one of my own.” Because there was no electricity at the time, he used his flashlight at night to read and do homework. Besides the big meal on Christmas eve, they all got a

stocking, usually filled with an orange and some candy. He recalls that the time off from work and school is the thing that everyone most looked forward to. The week between Christmas and New Year was always busy. There were card games held in the church basement and when they were old enough to attend, he and his siblings would walk the 45-minute trek to town to participate and he remembers that if your team won, there were prizes to be won, like a blanket.

After daily chores were done when he was a teenager, there were also hockey games played at a rink that was built on the lake just below the church where he and friends would challenge the kids from Killaloe and Combermere.

“Those days were simpler than they are today. I’ve seen so many changes in my lifetime since then. We had very little decorations and lights, no phones, no power, no cars. It was the depression and money was scarce. We always had chicken for our big meal, because we had them on the farm; there was never turkey.”

The years have come and gone. Sylvie moved to Kitchener as a young man, became a machinist and tool maker, raised a family with his wife Evelyn, who has since passed. After retirement, they moved back to the Bay where he continues to live today.

This year, he will still be attending Mass on Christmas Eve, but now, the lights will be on well into the night and he’ll be traveling in a car. And when he gathers with friends for a meal, it will most likely include turkey and he hopes maybe even a little Christmas cake, which is still one of his favourite treats.

Sylvia Yantha with the ceramic Christmas tree he's had for many years.

A brave mother’s dedication to her children takes her 13,000 kilometres from home to experience Christmas and the snow for the first time

TONI LAVIGNE-CONWAY Freelance

Growing up in Thailand is about as different as it gets from living in rural Barry’s Bay.

With a population of over 17 million people (yep you read that right!) in Bangkok where Eid Mookprom was born and raised, there was certainly an abundance of traffic, people, and hustle bustle. Imagine coming to live here after that!

Life in Thailand was and is very hard for the average family, with few well paying jobs. Eid says she always had a goal to come to Canada for employment so she could support her family back home and ensure a better life and a good education for her three children.

As luck would have it, one day in 2005, she was chosen by her supervisor at the hospital she worked as a nurse’s assistant to come “right away” for an interview for a care job in Canada. Eid recalls that it was very busy on the floor that day but “I ran up to her office and met with a man who was living in Thailand with his wife and child at the time but looking for someone to look after his elderly father who lived in Wilno Canada, where he was from. We talked for only 10 minutes, and he offered me the job.”

Fast forward 6 months later. Paperwork and working visa in hand, this brave woman traveled 4 days and over 13,000 kms holding two small suitcases to eventually arrive in Wilno, population of fewer than 500 people. She admits to being nervous because she didn’t know anyone, but at the same time very excited and happy that she would now have the means to ensure a better future for her children by sending 90% of her income back home to Thailand.

In speaking to Eid and as a mom myself, I was truly in awe of the tremendous courage and determination this must have taken. I’m not sure I can imagine having to make a choice like that.

The first thing she noticed? “It was so quiet!”

She arrived in the summer but come wintertime, she would

notice a lot more. Like the cold temperatures she’d never experienced in her life and the delight of her first-time seeing snow.

“I called my daughter in Thailand and told her it was -25 degrees and she asked me… Mom are you still alive?!”

And then came her first Christmas. She was in awe of the fact that you could have a Christmas tree in your house and see and touch a real live tree.

“In Thailand, Christmas is not like it is here. It’s not really a holiday, and no one has a tree or decorations. You only see that in the large shopping malls and the movies or on TV. New Years is the big celebration.”

Sadly, the gentleman she was caring for passed away within months of her arriving, but quite quickly, she was able to secure employment in Barry’s Bay, and ironically again after only a ten-minute interview.

18 years later, this hard-working woman is now a Canadian citizen, owns her own home and has since sponsored her youngest son Chakrit to come live with her (the government only allows for the sponsorship of one of her children although she has been able to secure a visiting visa for her daughter Shernknan at one point).

Chakrit arrived in the cold month of January, and he too had quite an adjustment to the temperature, but just like his mom, he loved seeing the snow. They both said, “we ran outside like children so they could feel and taste it.”

He stayed on to finish high school here, traveling back to Thailand to complete an Aviation degree in university, just like his older brother Tanant. A Canadian citizen himself as

Merry Christmas

Happy New Year

well, he is back in Barrys Bay right now while deciding on his future.

If they could pick one of the nicest things about living in Barrys Bay, they are quick to say it’s the community and the people. “Everyone has been so welcoming and kind and never hesitate to help each other.” They also love that everyone knows everyone and treats each other like family, because when you come from a city that has a population of 17 million, that’s impossible.

And if they could pick what they love most about Christmas here? Well, hands down it would be the Christmas trees and holiday decorations. “We love all the lights and the Christmas trees. Second to that would be eating turkey.

Neither had ever tasted a traditional turkey dinner or stuffing before being here, and they “love it!”

A huge difference from Christmas in Thailand, Eid Mookprom and her son Chakrit enjoy all the decorations and the beautiful trees this time of year.

History of the tourtière continuing the tradition in your unique way

KATRINA BOGUSKI Freelance

In her series on iconic Canadian foods, food blogger Gabby Peyton calls the tourtière “Canada’s meat pie.”

Lots of cultures have meat pies and according to Peyton, recipes for meat pies are among the earliest dishes on record. She says some evidence suggests they date back to at least 1,600 BC when meat pies were eaten by Mesopotamians.

While the history of the tourtière does not go back that far, it is a longstanding culinary tradition in Canada. Peyton said, “Tourtière is a derivative of cipaille, a traditionally British dish known as “Sea Pie,” which has its first mention in the 1796 The First American Cookbook by Amelia Simmons. The first appearance of tourtière in a cookbook is in La cuisinière Canadienne of 1840, which is probably one of the first French language cookbooks published in Canada. This recipe contained pork, mutton, veal and potatoes. The meaty dish has since become entrenched in French-Canadian culture and is now a tradition across the country.”

The French-Canadian treat is especially popular in Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia other parts of Canada such as St. Boniface Manitoba and other cities with significant French populations.

The ingredients that go into a tourtière can vary significantly from one recipe to the next,

especially when it comes to which herbs and spices it contains. These variations often reflect the different traditions passed down in distinct regions, or within particular families.

Today’s recipes typically contain ground meat as the central ingredient; it can be pork, beef, veal, lamb or a combination thereof, with pork generally being the most popular. Potatoes and onions are also found in most recipes. These ingredients, along with a wide range of spices, are cooked on the stovetop in advance to make the tourtière’s rich filling.

Unlike other meat pies, which may have chunks of meat and vegetables, the tourtière’s filing is typically mashed or blended in the pan so that it is left with a smooth paste like consistency.

After this filling is cooled, it is placed in a pie crust, topped with a second layer of crust and baked in the oven. Festive decorative cuts are usually placed in the top portion of the crust to allow steam to escape during the baking process.

While this dish could be served at any time of year, it generally makes its appearance as a signature dish found on the tables of French-Canadian families at Christmastime.

Cinda Chavich wrote a column called Tourtière: A Canadian Christmas Eve tradition which initially ran in Calgary’s Avenue Magazine and was later posted online

A sleighful of Christmas wishes and appreciation to everyone we know this holiday season!

on tastereport.com. In this piece, she notes that traditional tourtières “…are usually filled with a savoury mixture of ground pork and mashed potatoes, but depending on the region, it might be a deep-dish torte filled with layers of wild game, from rabbit to pheasant or partridge, even moose or elk. Creative Quebec chefs now make their tourtière with all manner of fillings – chicken, lamb, seafood – and versions across the country include, Alberta beef, prairie bison and even soy protein for vegetarian pies!”

Chavich’s comments illustrate that traditions are rarely static and evolve over time. Not only do the ingredients for traditional dishes evolve

depending on what is available and what is popular with any given family, so to do the ways in which we share those traditions.

Gatherings around the Christmas table may be small and lowkey again this year, and in times such as these, traditions may take on new meanings.

What are your favourite holiday foods? Who will you be sharing your traditions with this year? If the pandemic puts a damper on your Christmas plans again this year, remember you can always take a new twist on an old tradition, or use this time of change to introduce a new tradition into your celebration.

If you are unable to gather with friends and family, consider hosting a Zoom visit with others who may also be isolated at this time. You can use the technology to visit with people virtually while you each enjoy your tourtière or other holiday delights from the safety and comfort of your own homes, or you can use it as a means to pass on your favourite holiday recipes to the next generation.

Zoom typically has a 40-minute time minute, which might be all the time you need to reconnect with some folks. Alternatively, you can click the link again and rejoin to keep the party going.

Another way to add meaning to your holidays is to share Canadian Christmas culture with newcomers who may also be away from families, or may be celebrating their very first Christmas ever.

Regardless of how you enjoy your tourtière this Christmas Eve, Bon Appétit et Joyeux Noël!

Silent Night Holy Night

With exceeding great joy, we bid all of our friends and neighbours a most joyous and harmonious season.

Neil, Connie, Gerard and the staff at Barry's Bay Metro wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

With exceeding great joy, we bid all of our friends and neighbours a most joyous and harmonious season.

Neil, Connie, Gerard and the staff at Barry’s Bay Metro wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

Barry’s Bay

28 Bay Street, Barry’s Bay

613-756-7097 Mon-Sun 8 am - 9 pm

CLOSED Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day

Patricia, Barb, Al, Pamela, Sam, Mike and Jamie

History and meaning of the manger

KATRINA BOGUSKI Freelance

When you think of the word “manger,” it is likely that a Nativity scene comes to mind. In fact, the word manger refers specifically to the feeding trough found at the centre of the Nativity scene. Often artistic renditions of these scenes have become so stylized that the trough looks more like a comfortable crib. It was not. It was an actual bin used for feeding animals. The word comes from the French verb “manger” meaning to eat.

The Gospel of Luke says that Mary “… gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” It is from this Gospel passage that the story originates, and from the few details mentioned here, people have developed rich artistic images filling in other details.

The animals represented in the scenes are sometimes more influenced by the animals familiar to the artist imagining the event than to any actual historical details; and images of the scene come from around the world. The earliest known depiction of the Nativity scene can be found in one of the Roman catacombs and is said to date back 380 A.D.

However, it was St. Francis of Assisi who is credited with organizing

the first live Nativity scene which had real humans and real animals. St. Francis arranged his live Nativity scene at a place in central Italy called Greccio, and within a century the practice of live Nativity scenes spread around the Christian world.

It is not difficult to imagine why St. Francis was attracted to the Biblical story of the Nativity. It shows Christ in his poverty being born among the animals. Love of poverty and love of animals were how St. Francis most often expressed his love of Christ.

From St. Francis of Assisi’s first live Nativity scene in 1223, the tradition around Luke’s Nativity narrative continued to evolve.

Pope Honorius III was the pope at the time of St. Francis and he is said to haveing to the first

live Nativity scene. At a time when any people did not read, the live depiction of the scene was a useful means of instructing the faithful about this important Gospel passage and the feast which honours it.

The live Nativity scene developed into Nativity plays, which were popular and elaborate theatrical enactments of the birth of Jesus. By the 15th century, Nativity plays had become so elaborate and over the top that the Church began to forbid them. Outside, on secular land, however the productions still continued.

Scaled down version of Nativity plays where brought to the new world by European immigrants. Today, they are still popular in many churches of various denominations.

Following on the heels of the live scenes and plays, people also began making static Nativity scenes out of terra cotta, porcelain, wood and even paper. While the live scenes were typically held in churches, the Nativity sets evolved to be popular features in many homes during the Advent season, the period of four weeks leading up to Christmas.

Most modern people have lost touch with some of the deeper symbolism of many Christmas traditions; and many people are completely unaware of them.

Medieval Christians, however, would have understood the rich meaning of the Christ child being placed in the manger. With the institution of the Eucharist, at the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, Jesus turned the bread and wine into his body and blood and then gave it to his disciples to eat.

The eating of his body and blood is

prefigured in the manger, the place which held food for the animals.

Do not be surprised if this mystery sounds a bit far fetched to you; you are not the only one who has doubted. In fact, the teaching of the Eucharist was challenged by followers of Jesus from the first time he talked about it.

In the Gospel of John, when Jesus tells his disciples, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them,” people had issues with this teaching. John reports, “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” For Christians who believe in the real presence, the feast of the Nativity and the institution of the Eucharist are inseparably linked and both cannot be approached except by faith.

St. Peter Chrysologus said, “Christ’s birth was not necessity, but an expression of omnipotence, a sacrament of piety for the redemption of men. He who made man without generation from pure clay made man again and was born from a pure body. The hand that assumed clay to make our flesh deigned to assume a body for your salvation. That the Creator is in his creature and God is in the flesh brings dignity to man without dishonour to him who made him. Why then, man, are you so worthless in your own eyes and yet so precious to God?”

Regardless of where you stand on the historical or theological points of the manger, making room for Jesus at Christmas will always make the holiday more meaningful and enjoyable.

Waiting and wishing for the snow doesn’t really feel like Christmas at all

TONI LAVIGNE-CONWAY Freelance

Living in the southern States with year-round sunshine and balmy temperatures may seem tempting when it’s -30 outside in the Valley, but for one young Canadian family it was far from enjoyable at times, especially at Christmas time.

“Growing up in Barry’s Bay meant you got to experience the four seasons and were pretty much guaranteed a white Christmas. It really didn’t seem like the holidays at all during our 4 years in Oklahoma. There were days when Kevin and I were outside hanging lights and decorations wearing tank tops and sandals, which felt very strange and not at all like Christmas” recalls Leslie Long.

But the snow and cold weather wasn’t the only thing they missed. “When we were young, my mom insisted that we dress up for Christmas Eve Mass, and we put up a fuss because we didn’t want to change and were too excited and wanted to be home, but we were always happy once we got there because we would gather with our friends and neighbours, sing in the choir with Mrs. Potvin at the organ, and visit with people we hadn’t seen in a long time who came home for the holidays. Afterward, we’d rush home and get our jammies on, eat the spread mom prepared that always included some of her baking and we were allowed to open one present, much to the chagrin of Dan who always tried to convince Mom that we should open just one more; but she didn’t budge!”

Thankfully, Kevin’s job with the Forces has allowed for them to return to Canada, and even better, the Ottawa Valley, where there is certainly no chance of missing the winter this year.

The parents might be happy, but the kids (Ava seven and Ollie three) are ecstatic and can’t wait for the snow. In fact,

they’ve already been frolicking in the first snowfall of the season and it sure didn’t disappoint. According to Ava, she’s been waiting FOREVER to see snow again. For now, they are hoping to keep a lot of the traditions that they experienced as children with their own like kids.

“Something that’s etched in my mind when I think of my best Christmas’s is our family dinners either at Memere’s in North Bay or Grandma Joan’s in Barry's Bay. All of us were crammed into their kitchens, often putting tables together so we could all fit. There was so much laughter and fun and we ate till our belly’s might burst. Afterward, both my grandmothers brought out their treat trays and Uncle Earl and I always fought over who’d get Grandma’s jam jams and at Memere’s, it was all about her chocolate roll.”

Joy Is Knowing Folks Like You

Seasons come and go, but our best wishes remain with you today and always. Thanks for your generous support and faith in us. We appreciate you, and we wish you a wonderful holiday.

Sadly, both of those grandmothers are no longer here, but now her own children have their Memere and Poppa and there will definitely be a gathering with them.

Leslie hopes to keep the spirit of togetherness at the center of her families’ plans this Christmas and for years to come. “When I think of what meant the most to me at Christmas time, honestly, it’s all about

family and being together. There was no shopping or busyness over the holidays. Instead, we bundled up and walked in the fresh snow at night to look at the lights, played games, did some skating on the lake, visited with the cousins, aunts and uncles; it always involved family and friends.”

But a new home and chapter in their lives also calls for new traditions, and this year, the children will each choose a new ornament every day during Advent to hang on their small children’s tree, something their parents hope they will continue to do as they grow and have families of their own.

This Christmas will also be that much more special because it will also include a new addition to the family, baby Maggie, who will be three months old by the time Dec 25 rolls around. Her big sister and brother have assured their parents they are going to show her the ropes when it comes the details of how to get the cookies and milk ready for Santa. And of course, how to play in all that snow.

*Authors note:

For those of you who don’t know, this story features our oldest daughter Leslie, son-in-law Kevin and our precious grandchildren.

And although they are all excited to be back on Canadian soil, NO ONE could be happier than this Memere and Poppa to have them home and living so close by. We cannot wait to watch their little faces on Christmas day, and later share a special meal together, and yes, I am already baking up a storm for the dessert tray that will include all the family favourites, including those jams jams and chocolate roll, in honour or our sweet Moms.

Lelsie is right; family and being together is everything, especially at the holidays. May you be blessed to have yours around you this year as well.

and

we hope that feeling lifts your spirit and fills your heart and soul with enough peace, joy and hope to last the whole year through!

Happy to be back on Canadian soil, Leslie and Kevin Long with children Ava, Ollie, and new baby Maggie

Ava is thrilled to finally have snow again.

Christmas time can be challenging for military families

KATRINA BOGUSKI Freelance

Christmas is a time when celebration with family takes on special meaning. However, for families with a loved one serving in the Canadian Armed Forces, the holidays can be especially difficult.

Recently, the Valley Gazette spoke with Julie Hollinger, programs manager at the Petawawa Military Family Resource Centre (PMFRC) to find out more about the challenges military families face at this time of year. We also had an email exchange with Claudia Beswick, the centre’s executive director.

The PMFRC provides support for military families from Garrison Petawawa, both those with family members who are currently serving and also for families of veterans. The reserve unit in Pembroke (42nd Field Artillery Regiment) can also access their programs. Although the majority of the families served by the centre live in the Petawawa, Pembroke and the Deep River area other families are spread throughout Renfrew County.

The Petawawa centre is one of 32 Military Resource Centres found across Canada. Military families sometime blend in with other families, and it can be easy to overlook how many families in this area are directly or indirectly connected to the military. According to Beswick and Hollinger, “More than 10,000 family members accessed PMFRC services last year.”

Over and above all of the stresses other families have endured during the pandemic, military families have some additional con-

cerns. Hollinger told the Valley Gazette that the holidays can be especially difficult because many are away from their extended families at this time of year. She added that this is especially hard when the families are young and there is no extended family to act as a safety net.

“Military families are posted to communities that may be new to them, in some cases, they may move across the province, move across the country and some may even move out of country. So, families settling into a new community, getting their family situated can be challenging. If a family is new to the area – and has not had a chance to build a network of friends – the holidays can be an especially lonely time. This has been especially difficult with COVID restrictions which make it more difficult for families to travel – and because of the limits to social gatherings outside of one’s immediate family.”

Beswick and Hollinger both concurred that settling into a new place is challenging for the whole family including children. Having to change schools and make new friends is a part of what can be a difficult process. Additionally, some families have the added stress of ongoing deployments, training or exercises that may result in being separated. This separation can last from a couple of weeks to as long as six months. An email from Beswick said, “Sometimes maintaining the family routines and schedules alone while the member is away can be exhausting. So, the ability to build that extended network of friends and support is very important.”

To help with that support, the PMFRC

provides a wide-range of virtual and in person programs to military family members. Some of these programs include: counselling, childcare, support for families dealing with a deployment and information services to help for new families who are trying to integrate into the community.

Additionally, there is second language support and help for families with members who have special needs. People can also tap into volunteer opportunities and employment support and even find resources to them in making the transition to post-service life. Through their collaborative ar rangements with many other community groups, the PMFRC is able to put its members in touch with a wide array of pro grams. Beswick and Hollinger said, “We don’t duplicate what is already existing in the community, but we will do all we can to get information on those resources and then help families connect with those resources when they need it. Our presence in the community is quite visible and we really believe no door is the wrong door. If a family has questions or is looking for specific services, we will do what we can to connect them to those resources.”

More information

about the available services can be found at CAFconnection.ca. The centre also recently launched a new podcast called Military Family Life, which offers advice from military families.

Currently more than 200 volunteers contribute their time and talents to the PMFRC, which is a registered charity. Beswick and Hollinger said they appreciate any support they get from the community. Beswi ck said in an email, “We are open to collaborating with any organization that would like to support military families. If there is a resource or service that is in the community that you think would benefit CAF families, then don’t hesitate to reach out and connect with Julie our programs manager.”

The PMFRC team said it is always eager to hear from families about the barriers they are facing, and the support they would like to receive. Receiving this feedback helps them to create programs and services that are relevant to military families. The Valley Gazette wishes all families, especially military families “Peace on Earth” this Christmas!

Two year old Madeline is one of the people who benefit from the programs offered by Petawawa Military Family Resource Centre.

Christmas Traditions With the Valley Gazette staff

Michel Lavigne’s Christmas Traditions

When I was growing up our mother used to make a good number of meat pies and we always had meat pie after Midnight Mass. Over the years she continued to make her pies and she would always have a few in the freezer to hand out as we headed home after the annual family get-together. I myself started making Christmas meat pies a few years ago and I have to tell you I like them a whole lot. Cathy does not eat the pies so she usually ends up feeding the left over pie that I always leave in the fridge for a bit to our little furry friends. Another thing my mother used to do, was she would make homemade “bits and bites” and put them in a little cookie tins. Mother would also get all us older children a big tin of assorted popcorn. It’s too funny not to mention that. She was something else. God bless her.

A tradition that I started when I met my wife Cathy was to buy her a Christmas character each year. Each year I have gone out in search of a different character and for the most part have been successful in finding different ones of all sizes. We call them our Christmas kids. Cathy just loves to display them at Christmas time throughout our home.

Sarah's Christmas Traditions

Goosebumps grow on my skin as I lift the heavy duvet on Christmas morning. But frigid temperature is not the only striking sensation that greets me. A sandpaper tongue incoherently brushes hair onto my face. My cat, for the past five years, wakes me just after Santa’s arrival on Dec. 25. Oscar the Wilde Grouch, the Siamese cat, has risen.

Oscar the Wilde Grouch, plays with the only ornament that accurately reflects his personality, one that reads “I hate Christmas”.

Since Greenies cat treats are placed beneath the Christmas tree, Oscar meows a little more shrilly in anticipation of his routine morning snack. His little paws patter on my arm as if to say “wake up, lazy human!”

But, I imagine, he isn’t meowing for Christmas morning. It’s Oscar’s birthday. He is a Christmas cat, turning six years old. With all of his feline yelling, he’s acting awfully immature for his age. In human years he’s 40.

Despite his middle-aged ever-expanding belly, I carry Oscar downstairs to gleefully enjoy the delight of wrapping paper. Oscar dives head first into a gift bag the way human’s neck their way into turtle necks. Crash! Before Oscar can jump on the couch, his cousin Odie the dog is sliding across the floor and slamming into the chair to play. But Oscar has no temperament for dogs. He scuttles upstairs where he spends the rest of the day yowling a cat “come back!” as I make my holiday braciole.

Given his dog-free birthday preference, I make sure to hand-deliver treats and toys to his bed so he’s not left out of the holiday cheer. What would the holiday be without family members, furry or otherwise?

Christmas Traditions

With the Valley Gazette staff

Helen's Christmas Memories

Christmas is my favourite time of year and is filled with special memories and traditions. I remember as a child we would help Dad decorate the tree and Mom would make all kinds of special treats for Christmas dinner like her Christmas cake. Mom always made two meals on Christmas Day with turkey and all the trimmings for dinner and supper and aunts and uncles and cousins from my Dad’s side of the family would come. On Christmas Day we had a hard time staying in bed until daylight because we wanted to see what Santa had brought and if the milk and cookies had been eaten. Christmas was a loud house full of family and food and lots of fun. As we grew up, loud family gatherings and dinner became the best part of the holiday in my opinion. When Gerard and I had our own children, we kept this tradition, with my siblings and their children. I remember waking our children to see what Santa brought them. The best part of Christmas is seeing how the children enjoy everything. One of my favourite Christmas memories was with our first grandchild, Aleeah. Gerard had made her a cage for her stuffies and she spend a lot of time climbing in and out of it. Forget the stuffies. She fit in there perfectly. Now that our family has grown and our children have families of their own, we have kept the family gathering for dinner even though sometimes it takes a lot of coordination and I see that the fun of Christmas grows around the children. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas filled with growing memories.

With Kind Thoughts at

May this season bring you many happy moments, safe and joyful reunions, and enough cheer to last all year!

Christmas is a time for gratitude, and we’d like to express our deep appreciation to this community for helping us through challenging times. We thank you for your trust in us, and we look forward to making great memories with all of you in 2021 as we reunite and rebuild together.

Christmas Traditions With the Valley Gazette staff

A very Layman Christmas

The Layman family has never been super traditional. We don’t do a big turkey dinner, we don’t have a huge gathering of every family member, and most years we don’t even celebrate Christmas on Christmas day.

When I was younger, my mom always worked on Christmas day, so we usually celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve with just our family of four. And to this day, I love it that way; less stress planning everything, flexibility around working schedules, and most importantly to my little brother and I, we got to open our presents earlier.

Our grand Christmas dinner usually ends up being finger foods and homemade charcuterielike spreads of meats, cheeses and crackers. Now that is not to say we didn’t have larger, more elaborate dinners on some Christmases, (my mom makes a mean spiral ham with all the fixings). As I got older I began to appreciate all the effort and energy it took to fit a perfect Christmas into a busy nurse’s schedule, as I’m sure many other families have had to do. So to this day, we enjoy our finger food Christmas, there’s nothing like the taste of nostalgia.

Now onto the big event of the evening, the family Christmas photo. This might be a cliche, but to the Layman family it rings true: Dads always take an incomprehensible amount of time to set up a camera. Although it’s the same camera every year, he always seems to forget how to trigger that pesky timer properly. The camera either goes off too early, leaving him out of the photo altogether, or we’re sitting in front of the Christmas tree smiling until Easter, only to find out that the photo never got taken. And although as a kid this annoyed me to no end (come on Dad I have presents that need opening), as an adult I look forward to the camera fumbling tradition. And now that I’m married with a house, a baby on the way, and Christmas tree of my own, my wife and I have started this very same tradition. And, to my chagrin, my camera skills are about as abysmal as my dad’s when it comes to family portraits.

To some, these Christmas traditions might seem insignificant, but to me, Christmas is about spending time with family, (okay Derek enough of the cliches). And although the presents have changed from Tonka trucks and candy to beer and socks, the Layman Christmases have stayed relatively the same; A small family get-together, simple fair for dinner, and an uncomfortable photo or twelve. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.

My wife Allie, my dog Pepper, and I continuing the family photo tradition.

My parents (Kerry and Colette Layman), my brother (left), and I (right).

Christmas Traditions With the Valley Gazette staff

Christmas is a season not a day - Katrina

The tree stays up to Epiphany! Few rules in my family were enforced with greater strength, and as I aged the wisdom of this tradition became evident.

One Christmas, my family had become so divided that it was evident that we would not celebrate Christmas together. This situation is an experience many people face through divorce, or other forms of division that thwart even those families who are trying their best.

On this particular Christmas, no amount of negotiation would bring everyone to one table.

In a half-hearted attempt to offer some consolation to the family member not invited to Christmas dinner, I said, “Look, maybe we can get together on Ukrainian Christmas.” To my surprise and delight, that family member did not see the offer of Christmas dinner on Jan. 6 as an insult, but rather as an effective solution to an otherwise tragic situation.

Ever since that Christmas, “little Christmas” has become one of the biggest highlights of my holiday celebration. My ethnicity it is quite complex, a mix of Polish, Irish, English and French, but come Christmas, my Ukrainian roots come out in force. Jan. 7 is reckoned as Christmas day in the Julian calendar, but many families start the celebration on Jan. 6 which is Christmas Eve.

My great-grandfather, Alexander Pastuck was Ukrainian Orthodox and eventually became Ukrainian Catholic. He emigrated from Ukraine and was a farmer in Manitoba, a longshoreman in Vancouver and a builder of movie sets in the early days of Hollywood. Although he died long before I was born, to him I owe my obsession with cinema and to him I owe the importance of celebrating Christmas as a season rather than a day. He was the reason we kept the tree up until Epiphany. Christmas is not a time to focus on the tables which do not welcome us, it is instead a time to make room for others in our lives. Many people are alone not only at Christmas, but also all year long. There are many people for whom the world does not make room; Jesus was one of them.

A lunch, a tea, an eggnog by the Christmas tree or a phone call to a long-lost friend can be a meaningful way to celebrate the feast of the nativity. Do not seek to jam everything into one day, instead spread out the celebration for the full season, reaching out to someone different every day.

If you are alone on Christmas, or separated from your family, do not despair. It is important to remember that Mary and Joseph welcomed Jesus alone that first Christmas. The celebration of Epiphany when the wisemen came was the day of greater fanfare. My favourite Christmas tradition is celebrating the whole season. It leaves more room for everyone, even Jesus.

We wish you a Very Merry Christmas and Many Blessings for 2022

-Marie Yantha, John and Lynne and Staff of Yantha Backhoe and Trucking In Memory of Alphonse August Yantha 1935-2011

We are grateful for all of our wonderful customers, our steadfast and talented employees, our supportive suppliers, and for our community who have stood behind us for 43 years!

My Ukrainian great-grandfather Alexander Pastuck.

Christmas Traditions With the Valley Gazette staff

Favourite Christmas tradition –Toni Lavigne-Conway

I don’t have just one!! There have been traditions from my childhood and others that grew over time when I had a family of my own. But all of them special and have shaped my love for Christmas!

When I was a child, I think one of the traditions I loved best was being able to stay up very late for Midnight Mass. Later, when I got older, I was excited to be one of the elementary school students chosen to be part of the Nativity on the altar and then become a member of the choir that sang from what I thought was a special place in the loft.

After Mass, it was right home to enjoy my mom’s meat pie and to this day the only thing I eat with ketchup (yep, that was a tradition too at our house.) That same recipe is what we still use today, although mostly my sister is the one who makes them faithfully every year now. And even though we were young kids, we still opened our presents that evening, no matter how late it was.

And who could forget the stocking that we didn’t think much of at the time?

For us, there was always a Christmas orange and some of those hard striped candies that would always be stuck together inside. Much different from today and what went into my own kids’ stockings!

I also remember that my mom always made sure we got a box of Lowney’s chocolate covered maraschino

chocolates, which I loved at the time.

Christmas day was reserved for visiting our grandparents and the cousins, and then we all went home to have our Christmas dinner there.

When our own kids were little, church service wasn’t quite as late, but we always went on Christmas Eve, keeping Christmas day free for the kids to play with their gifts, me prepping the food and then all of us enjoying our big meal, either at our parents’ homes or our own. We always tried to do that early so that we could go for a family walk around the neighbourhood to look at all the lights and walk off the all the treats from the day!

Christmas memories - Dan

If I’m being totally honest, my favourite memory or tradition at Christmas is all about the food. Our mom was baking for weeks and tried her best to keep us boys (and Dad!) away from the treats so she’d have something for company who dropped by and for us over the holidays. We all had our favourite. Mine was and still is her cherry surprise balls and date cookies. (Although I would eat anything that was there).

Despite her best efforts, we found all her hiding spots and helped ourselves, always remembering to hide the bare spots we created by taking the ones at the bottom up to replace what we took, or reorganizing them to hide the holes. If I got caught, I always blamed my younger brothers.

I cleverly married my wife Toni who just happened to possess the same talent for baking and cooking that mom had (smarter than I look, eh?) Toni just happens to be a gourmet cook and baker and she still makes my favourite cherry surprise balls and awesome date cookies. I am a lucky guy!

I made it my duty to pass on this tradition to our girls, teaching them too just how to rearrange the baking in the tins so that my dear wife wouldn’t notice. With all the years of experience, I was pretty good at it.

The girls always giggled and thought they were really pulling the wool over their mom’s eyes, but boy they sure didn’t mind giving up their Dad when it was discovery time!

I’m now looking forward to teaching the grandkids this very important tradition. And who knows? Maybe they won’t throw their Poppa under the bus! Another tradition that I have tried my best to carry on is opening one gift on Christmas eve. We did it as kids, I have managed to get Toni to let us do it with our girls, Leslie and Allie, after I coached them before bringing it up, and will do the same with our grandkids, Ava, Ollie and Maggie. But seriously, getting together with the whole family is still the number one tradition I will always treasure.

As we gear up for Christmas, we’d like to share our thanks and best wishes with you, our valued customers and friends here in the community. Your support and goodwill have really made our year special, and we sincerely appreciate your patronage. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Traditions With the Valley Gazette staff

Sharing the blessings of Christmas - Gayle Davis

When one talks about ‘Christmas traditions’, long-established practices come to mind that have been handed down from generation to generation.

One of our Christmas traditions began several years ago. I recall the hustle and bustle of raising a family, working full-time, and rushing here and there to find ‘the perfect gift’. My husband, who was a police officer at the time, had to work a good many Christmases over the years. When we were able, we would all attend the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service as a family. After finalizing last minute details, our Christmas celebrations would begin at church, at the special service.

As we drove to church, the traffic was always noticeably thinner; the last of the stores and businesses closed up for the Christmas holidays. If we were in luck, a light snow would be falling as the service began.

Our church had been transformed into an almost heavenly sanctuary, bathed in soft light. During the service, we sang traditional carols, and the Christmas story was read from the Bible. Enveloped in hushed silence, we would all ponder the wonder of God’s Christmas gift to the world. Then the candles were lit one by one and, as the flame passed from one person to another, the sanctuary became aglow with a wondrous light, representing the coming of Jesus which filled us with joy and hope.

Suddenly, as if peeling off a heavy, damp coat, the strain of the days leading up to Christmas melted away, and we freely immersed ourselves the feeling of ‘peace and goodwill to all men.’ It was magical!

Once the service was over, we came out on a snowy, muffled city street that was normally roaring with traffic. We were transfixed by the silence, as light snow fell and lights twinkled in the distance. An overwhelming feeling of love consumed us. ‘It’s finally Christmas!’ The thought warmed my heart.

This particular Christmas Eve we had one more stop to make before going home. Through a friend, we were able to locate a family who had recently arrived in Canada. They were in a strange land and were experiencing cold, snow, and loneliness for the first time. They also didn’t have much money for their own Christmas celebrations.

We were excited as we drove through the quiet streets, uncertain about how we would be received. Would they be scared of us or feel our actions were an intrusion? Once there, we grabbed the goodies and hurried to meet the family. We knocked at the door and the father, with a huge smile on his face, gingerly opened it, revealing a sparsely furnished room; his wife and several small children were huddled together in the background. Managing to convey our greetings in spite of a language barrier, we handed them the boxes containing all the ‘fixings’ for a Christmas dinner, plus a gaily wrapped gift for each of them.

We wished them a Merry Christmas and, as I turned to wave good-bye, I saw the mother with tears of gratitude glistening in her eyes, as well as the smiling children, their eyes sparkling with wonder and disbelief.

That was all the ‘Christmas’ my husband and I needed. How fortunate we were to be a part of making a happy Christmas for someone else before we celebrated our own Christmas. Our Christmas tradition was enhanced that year. Blessed by the special service, we were then able to pass the blessing along to another family through the privilege of sharing on that special Christmas Eve.

Winter Wonderland

Sleigh bells ring are you listening in the lane snow is glistening

A beautiful sight we're happy tonight walking in a winter wonderland

Gone away is the bluebird here to stay is a new bird He sings a love song as we go along walking in a winter wonderland

In the meadow we can build a snowman Then pretend that he is Parson Brown He'll say: Are you married? we'll say: No man But you can do the job when you're in town

Later on we'll conspire as we dream by the fire To face unafraid the plans that we've made walking in a winter wonderland

In the meadow we can build a snowman and pretend that he's a circus clown We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman until the the other kids knock him down

When it snows ain't it thrilling

Though your nose gets a chilling We'll frolic and play the Eskimo way walking in a winter wonderland

Walking in a winter wonderland walking in a winter wonderland

Joy to the World

Joy to The world! the Lord is come Let earth receive her King Let

No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The

Frosty the Snowman

Frosty the Snowman, was a jolly happy soul, With a corn cob pipe and a button nose, and two eyes made of coal.

Frosty the Snowman, is a fairytale, they say. He was made of snow, but the children know he came to life one day.

There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found, For when they placed it on his head, he began to dance around!

Oh, Frosty, the Snowman, was alive as he could be; and the children say he could laugh and play, just the same as you and me.

Thumpety thump, thump, thumpety thump, thump, look at Frosty go.

Thumpety thump, thump, thumpety thump, thump, over the hills of snow.

Frosty the Snowman, knew the sun was hot that day, so he said, "Let's run, and we'll have some fun now, before I melt away."

Down to the village, with a broomstick in his hand,

Running here and there, all around the square, sayin', "Catch me if you can."

He led them down the streets of town, right to the traffic cop;

and only paused a moment, when he heard him holler, "Stop!"

For Frosty, the Snowman, had to hurry on his way, But he waved goodbye, sayin' "Don't cry, I'll be back again some day."

Happy Winter & Merry Christmas

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

You better watch out You better not cry Better not pout

I'm telling you why Santa Claus is coming to town

He's making a list

And checking it twice Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice

Santa Claus is coming to town

He sees you when you're sleeping He knows when you're awake

He knows if you've been bad or good So be good for goodness sake!

O! You better watch out! You better not cry

Better not pout I'm telling you why Santa Claus is coming to town Santa Claus is coming to town

As we pause to reflect on this year, we’re both humbled and filled with gratitude for the generosity and support we’ve received from all of you. Thank you for believing in us.

Christmas Poetry George Vanier Catholic School, Grade 2/3/4

Christmas Haikus

Christmas Fun

Christmas is so fun. Santa has presents for you. Go open them soon.

By Cassidy, Grade 3

The Christmas Holiday We hang the stockings.   Smell the sweet baking cookies. And wrap the presents.

By Oliver, Grade 3

Christmas Time

I love Christmas time.  Christmas is fun for me, yay! I got gifts today!

By Aurah, Grade 4

Oh Christmas Tree

The decorations

The very beautiful lights

The colorful tree

By Grey, Grade 4

One Winter Night Frosty The Snow Man. In The North Pole there is snow. I play in the snow.

By

Georgia, Grade 3

It’s Christmas Reindeer in the snow,

Having a jolly Christmas, Laughing all the way. By Jackson, Grade 4

The Long Christmas I love Christmas time. Have a jolly Christmas. Christmas time is here.

By Luc, Grade 3

Santa on the Roof Santa on the roof

Doing donuts on the roof With his big fat sleigh. By

Luke, Grade 4

Snowy Day

Snowy days are fun. Snowball fights are amazing. Winter is so fun. By Liam, Grade 4

Christmas Fun Christmas time is fun. It is fun at winter time, A decoration.

By Jackson, Grade 3

Christmas Couplets

Christmas Creatures

One day there was a boom  boom, it did go boom boom. There  was another  Floom  Floom   In the room room.

There was a big boom boom Floom Boom Boom.

By Leighton, Grade 2

Happy Holidays

Christmas time is here, the Christmas tree is out.

I leave cookies and milk for Santa, so he doesn’t pout.

I can’t wait for Christmas Eve to wonder about.

Christmas time is so much fun, do not pout.

So much gifts under the Christmas tree.

I wonder what they will be.

By Mady, Grade 3

Christmas Holidays

Christmas looks like snow.

Christmas smells like cookies.

Christmas feels like snow.

Christmas tastes like coffee.

Christmas sounds like Santa talking.

My Christmas is a holiday!

By Cam, Grade 2

Christmas Night

I  got in to bed on Christmas  night,  I looked out of the window  with fright,

I saw a sleigh in the moonlight,  with father Christmas inside,  and eight reindeer outside,  and lots of gifts inside.

By Janie, Grade 4

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas

It was the night before  Christmas in the house. Nothing was stirring, not even a mouse.

The children were all snug in their beds and visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.

The snowflakes were falling outside the house.

I in my cap and mom in her sleeves had just settled off a long winter’s nap.

I had just laid down on my bed when I heard a sound of hoofs on my roof and a really loud sound from outside of my house.

By Jacinta, Grade 3

Cozy Christmas

I see snow falling from the sky, one by one falling to the snowy roof. I smell cookies with chocolate chips fresh from the oven.

I taste the candy canes nice and sweet, so tasty.

I feel all nice and snug under my blanket, so warm and cozy!

I hear the reindeers’ hooves on the roof, boom boom boom!

By Mia, Grade

4

Dashing through the snow, Rudolph will go flying through the night, Pulling a sleigh going to houses with Santa on the sleigh.

And all his friends with the job of century.

By Andrew, Grade 2

Christmas Joy

On Christmas I’m sleeping in my bed, I wake up when I think Santa has fled.

I wake up with lots of joy, because it’s the birthday of God’s boy. The letters get to Santa through the

elves, but before the elves deliver they sit on the shelves.

By Luke, Grade 4

My night before Christmas is   jolly and my name is Holly. Snow is white and very bright. I got our Christmas tree and it is beautiful like  me.

By Myra, Grade 4

Christmas Imagery

Christmas looks like my cat sharing his ball.

Christmas smells like coffee and hot chocolate.

Christmas feels like touching Santa’s reindeer.

Christmas tastes like coffee and hot chocolate.

Christmas sounds like a parade. My Christmas is awesome.

By Jake, Grade 3

Dear Santa Claus

Letters to Santa

Many of the children from the schools in our area wrote letters to Santa and dropped them off at The Valley Gazette.

We sent the letters to the North Pole for Santa and his elves to read over. The letters are always a big hit with our readers so we are printing them once again this year for everyone to read.

Enjoy and have some giggles...

Dear Santa Claus

Letters to Santa

From St. Andrews, Grade 1

How are you? My name is Chase. I am 6 years old. I love the reindeer. Can I please have a Nerf gun and a fishing rod and bear traps?

Thank you, Santa Love, Chase

Dear Santa,

How are you? My name is Teaghan. I am 6 years old. How old are you? Can I please have a phone? Thank you, Santa Love, Teaghan

Dear Santa,

How are you? My name is Forrest. I am 6 years old. How old are you? Can I please have a Nerf gun and a car and a fishing rod?

Love, Forrest

Dear Santa,

How are you? My name is Mia. I am 6 years old. How are the reindeer? Can I please have some make-up and perfume?

Thank you, Santa Love, Mia

Dear Santa,

How are you? My name is Annika. I am 6 years old. Merry Christmas! How old are the reindeer? Can I please have a TV, a Bay Blade and a phone?

Thank you, Santa Love, Annika

How are you? My name is Jeremy. I am 6 years old. How is Rudolph doing? Can I please have a Nerf gun and a water gun?

Thank you, Santa Love, Jeremy

Dear Santa,

How are you? My name is Seth. I am 6 years old. How is Rudolph? Can I please have a truck. Thank you, Santa Love, Seth

Dear Santa,

How are you? My name is Mariana. I am 6 years old. How many reindeer are there? Love, Mariana

Dear Santa Claus

Letters to Santa

From St. Andrews,

Kindergarten

Hello Santa,

How are you and Mrs. Claus?

We are wondering how old you are. We have been good listeners and kind friends. Thank you for the presents you gave us last Christmas. We think that you are a kind and wonderful friend. We have been working hard for Christmas; Peyton wants a magic wand

Kieran wants a school bus

Shaylyn loves Barbies

Matthew is hoping for a remote control drone

Robyn loves Barbies

Harper wants Barbies

Grace likes pretty golden dolls

Zofia wants an LOL doll

Aleeah wants LOL dolls too

Karley wants some new babies

Teegan wants a Barbie

Mrs. Corrigan loves nail polish

We love you lots! Be safe, be kind and let your heart shine.

Love, Peyton, Kieran, Shaylyn, Matthew, Robyn, Harper, Grace, Zofia, Aleeah, and Teegan.

Dear Santa Claus

Letters

My name is Ezra. I am 3 years old and for Christmas I would like a toy car. I want a purple cat as well. I have been a very good boy this year. Could you bring Nora a bumblebee toy too. I will make you some cookies for your reindeer.

Dear Santa,

My name is Sara. I am 3 years old and I’ve been a good girl this year. For Christmas I would like a lot of cookies and a white unicorn. My brothers Jackie and Ben would like big Lego. I love you Santa and I love all your reindeer.

Dear Santa,

My name is Lainey. I am 3 years old now. I have a Paw Patrol backpack and a suitcase already, but can you bring me a Barbie doll with purple hair and glasses please? Can you bring Mommy and Daddy a new puppy because our other one died. I have been extra special this year.

Dear Santa,

My name is Annabelle and I am already 3 years old.

to Santa

From Kidz Kastle Barry’s Bay

old. For Christmas I would like a horse, crown and a stuffed owl to cuddle. Please could you bring my sister a watch. I will leave you purple play-dough to play with.

Dear Santa,

My name is Elliott. I am 2 years old. I need a new dragon and an owl and 3 shirts for Christmas. I’m going to be a good girl. I need presents for Elliott. Mommy needs 2 new dragons for me. Santa, do you have a fishy goldfish?

Dear Santa,

My name is Kinsley and I am 3 years old. I want a black puppy and for my sisters, big pillows. There’s a snowman at my house with a carrot for its nose. I will make fairy cookies for you.

Dear Santa,

My name is Ethan. I am 3 years old and I have 2 brothers. I would like a balloon and I would like a present. I want to give you new glasses and a necklace. My brothers want a present and a balloon

Dear Santa,

My name is Hudson. I have a sister named Harper. I’m 3 years old and I would like more and more trucks and dinosaurs. Santa I will give you a present when Mama buys a present. I want a motorbike to ride too.

Dear Santa,

My name is Mackenzie. I’m excited for you Santa. I want a big owl stuffy. Can you bring dolls and clothes for my dolls? I’m a big girl now Santa and I wear earrings. Me and my Mommy will make cookies for you.

Dear Santa,

My name is Kohen. I’m 3 years old. I would like to have a big buck and a hunting hat. Could I also have some candy? My family would like to have a new blue car. Our car is no good.

Dear Santa Claus

Letters to Santa

From St. Andrews, Grade 2/3

Dear Santa, I’ve been good this year because…

I help to vacuum and I helped Keaton when he was hurt.

My Christmas Wish list is…

Minecraft Toy

Thank You, Love from Connor Yutronkie

Grade 2

Dear Santa,

I’ve been good this year because…

I don’t want to be on the naughty list.

My Christmas Wish list is…

Lego

Thank You, Love From Gabriel Howe

Grade 2

Dear Santa, I’ve been good this year because…

I help my mom with cleaning the house.

My Christmas Wish list is…

I want Roblox, I want Gooooo, and Minecraft coins

Thank You, Love from Keaton Harrie

Grade 2

Dear Santa,

I’ve been good this year because…

I have been good this year because I help my mom. I want presents please, I love Roblox.

My Christmas Wish list is…

I want a Nintendo Switch because I don’t have one.

Thank You, Love from Finnley Neff

Grade 2

Dear Santa, I’ve been good this year because…

I help my friends when they fall down. I love my mom and dad. I help my mom and dad.

My Christmas Wish list is…

Remote control Grave Digger, Kinetics and Huggy Wuggy plushy.

Thank You, Love from Evan Walsh

Grade 2

Dear Santa,

I’ve been good this year because…

I have been helping my mom with laundry

My Christmas Wish list is…

A puppy, i-Phone 13, laptop, Robucks, and a scooter

Thank You, Love from Kennedy Gienow

Grade 2

Dear Santa,

I’ve been good this year because…

I be nice to my friends. I do my homework.

My Christmas Wish list is…

Bowsers Fury, Nerf gun, Nintendo Switch Lite, race cars

Thank You, Love from Julian Herron

Grade 2

Dear Santa,

I’ve been good this year because…

I help with the dishes and I help do the beds.

My Christmas Wish list is…

I want a puppy and I want an i-Phone 13, and I want a Na! Na! Na! Surprise Dolls, and I want a Rainbow High dolls.

Thank You, Love from Adeline Cherry

Grade 2

Dear Santa, I’ve been good this year because… I help my dad because he had a sore ankle and I helped my mom with groceries.

My Christmas Wish list is…

1 Rainbow High dolls, popits, scooter, stuffy dolls

Thank You, Love from Danica Pinto Grade 2

Dear Santa, I’ve been good this year because… I help with dad and mom because I like to. I help to clean up the house but my sisters do not like to clean up at all but I do.

My Christmas Wish list is… Squishmallows, Lego Friends, Twisty Pets, Pop-its, LOLs, Rainbow High Dolls

Thank You, Love from Ella McGrath Grade 3

Dear Santa, I’ve been good this year because… I help my friends when they are brats. I help my mom. Thank you for everything you do for little kids. My Christmas Wish list is… Big LOL, Twisty Pets, Squishmallows, Pop-its, Fidgets, and Rainbow High dolls.

Thank You, Love from Kinley Luckovitch Grade 3

Dear Santa, I’ve been good this year because… I clean up my room.

My Christmas Wish list is… Nerf Gun and a remote control vehicle. Thank You, Love from Chad Walsh Grade 2

Dear Santa, I’ve been good this year because… I have done something special, I helped my mom and dad.

My Christmas Wish list is… Pop-its, Dolls Thank You, Love from Brooklyn Thompson Grade 2

Dear Santa, I’ve been good this year because… This year I have helped mom with the baby this year. I have been nice to my friends we play together. My Christmas Wish list is…

Puppy dog, Rainbow High dolls, Squishmallows, fluffy blankets and pillows, Fidgets, LOL dolls, computer.

Thank You, Love from Kaydance Finucane

Grade 3

Dear Santa, I’ve been good this year because… I be kind to my friends. I do my chores. I do my homework.

My Christmas Wish list is…

Bowser’s Fury, Scorpios Rex, Super Mario 3d World, cars

Thank You, Love from Luke Pecaskie

Dear Santa, I’ve been good this year because… I been helping with the laundry this year. My Christmas Wish list is… A kitten and a laptop

Thank You, Love from Grace Ella Cherry

Grade 2

Dear Santa, I’ve been good this year because… Listen to my mom.

My Christmas Wish list is… Remote control Grave Digger, Sticky Hand, Huggy Wuggy Plushy.

Thank You, Love from Michael Schutt

Grade 2

Dear Santa, I’ve been good this year because… I help my parents. I cleaned our upstairs. My Christmas Wish list is… Plasma Car, a computer, RC car with wheels and tracks. Nintendo Switch with Minecraft. Thank You, Love from Isaac Dupuis

Grade 3

Hi,  Santa. My name is Danyka. How are you doing and what’s our favourite kind of cookie? My favourite cookie is a sugar cookie. What do you do for Christmas? Af ter you give all the children their gif ts,  do you have Christmas dinner afterwards with a Turkey?

Merry Christmas Santa. I hope you enjoy the holiday season.

Sincerely, Danyka

St. Mar tin of Tours Catholic School

Whitney, Ontario

Dear Santa,

For Christmas I want to see my aunts and uncles,  grandma and grandpas this year. I would love that. Santa,  I want to give you a gift this year. You have given me a whole ton of gifts,  so I would like to give you a gift. By the way,  the reindeer are going to get a treat this year and so are you. I bet the elves are probably hard working right now. Can you say hi to them for me? That would be so cool if you did. I hope you come this year.

Love, September

St. Mar tin of Tours Catholic School

Whitney, Ontario

Dear Santa, I would like an iPhone 11,  so I can call my Grandma and Papa.

I hope I can see all my family at my aunt’s for Christmas dinner I hope I get to see my horse on Christmas so I can give her a big bag of carrots. My horse loves carrots.

Letters to Santa

I hope you all have an awesome Christmas.

Sincerely,

Pay ton ��

St. Mar tin of tours catholic school

Whitney, ON

Dear Santa:

Thank you so much for the toys that you got for all the kids.

This Christmas I hope I can see my cousins so,  so,  so much. We always have so much fun together and my family and I don’t see our cousins often. We almost never see Gracie,  Paige and Jack. It would be the best present in the world if Uncle Mike and Uncle Tom’s families came up for Christmas. We would go on another Christmas tree hunt.

I hope you are doing well. If you find a toy on the cookie plate it’s because I want to give it to someone and I’m asking if you could deliver it for me. What Is your favourite cookie? ��

I hope you have an amazing Christmas.

Love, Addie

Ps. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! ����

Dear Santa,

I like your elves. I like you too! Thank you for bringing me presents last year. For Christmas I want a toy cat. I would like orange but I like all the colours. I would also like a squishy emoji and kinetic sand. My little sister would love a doll. She loves dolls. Thank you for all the stuff.

I will leave you some milk and some pie and some carrots and some bread for the reindeer.

Love, Sadie

Thank you for giving me a John Deer tractor from last year. Can you bring me a water trailer and a snow bucket and a backhoe for my John Deer this year? Can you get some Frozen stuff for my sister Hollie- Grace? I’m going to get you cookies and milk and carrots for the reindeer. Thank you for letting me sit on your lap at Toy Bus before. Say “Hi!” to the elves for me and “Thank you for building my John Deer”.

Love, Carter

Dear Santa,

Hi Santa! How are you? Thank you for the RC monster truck from last year. Can you bring me a new RC car this year? My brother Archer also likes RC cars. My little brother Theo likes playing with rattles and baby toys. Santa,  how do you make all the toys? There’s cookies and milk this year! I hope your ride in the sleigh is safe and I’m hoping you don’t fall out. Your reindeer are almost as fast as cheetahs. Merry Christmas!

Love, Ryder

Dear Santa,

Dear Santa Claus Dear Santa Claus

How was your year? Thank you for all the toys you bring every Christmas. I am wondering how old are you? Is Rudolf a real reindeer? Does his nose glow? I’ve been really good this year. I would like a RC car that can go through water,  dir t,  and snow and the batteries don’t run out. Can it be a 4-wheel drive and can it be a charge one? I hope you have a good Christmas. I hope Mrs. Claus and all the other elves and the reindeer have a good Christmas too.

Love, Ryland

Dear Santa Claus

Letters to Santa

From St. John Bosco, SK AND GRADE 1

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Lennyn. I am 5 years old now. I have always been nice by playing with my little brother and helping him build a snowman. For Christmas this year, I would really like a tiger stuffie (like the one I had before but I lost it).

Thank you for always bringing nice things Santa! I will try my best to be good.

From: Lennyn

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Caleb. I am 5 years old now. I have always been nice by helping my family. I even helped mom decorate the tree. For Christmas this year, I would really like a black crane. Thank you for always bringing nice things Santa! I will try my best to be good.

From: Caleb

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Ethan. I am 5 years old now. I have always been nice by helping my dad pile wood. For Christmas this year, I would really like a Nerf gun. Thank you for always bringing nice things Santa! I will try my best to be good.

From: Ethan

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Jaxon. I am 5 years old now. I have always been nice by helping mom and dad. For Christmas this year, I would really like a blue underwater ski doo. Thank you for always bringing nice things Santa! I will try my best to always be good.

From: Jaxon

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Matthew. I am 5 years old now. I have always been nice by helping mom cook supper. For Christmas this year, I would really like Web Quarters. Thank you for always bringing nice things Santa! I will try my best to be good.

From: Matthew

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Lennox. I am 5 years old now. I have always been nice by helping my mom do laundry. For Christmas this year, I would really like some Hatchimals. Thank you for always bringing nice things Santa! I will try my best to be good.

From: Lennox

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Edward. I am 5 years old now. I have always been nice by picking up my toys. For Christmas this year, I would really like a T-Res robot. Thank you for always bringing nice things Santa! I will try my best to be good.

From: Edward

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Kai. I am 5 years old now. I have always been nice by helping my parents. I even helped mom wrap some presents. For Christmas this year, I would really like a little skateboard. Thank you for always bringing nice things Santa! I will try my best to be good.

From: Kai

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Brooke. I am 5 years old now. I have usually been nice by playing Fortnite with my brother. For Christmas this year, I would really like à doll house with a pool. Thank you for always bringing nice things Santa! I will try my best to be good.

From: Brooke

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Alexander. I am 5 years old now. I have always been nice by helping clean up the toys. For Christmas this year, I would really like a crane with

Santa! I will try my best to be good.

From: Alexander

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Faith. I am 6 years old now. I have always been nice by helping my mom, playing with my brother and cleaning my room. For Christmas this year, I would really like a plastic unicorn. Thank you for always bringing nice things Santa! I will try my best to be good.

From: Faith

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Calvin. I am 5 years old now. I have always been nice by helping do dishes. For Christmas this year, I would really like a blue toy 4-wheeler. Thank you for always bringing nice things Santa! I will try my best to be good.

From: Calvin

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Rilynn. I am 6 years old now. I have always been nice by helping mom with our dog Marley. For Christmas this year, I would really like some Hatchimals. Thank you for always bringing nice things Santa! I will try my best to be good.

From: Rilynn

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Emma. I am 6 years old now. I have always been nice by helping my mom with the dishes. For Christmas this year, I would really like some Mini Brands. Thank you for always bringing nice things Santa! I will try my best to be good.

From: Emma

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Alexis. I am 5 years old now. I have always been nice by helping my setting the table. For Christmas this year, I would really like a doll house with a pool. Thank you for always bringing nice things Santa! I will try my best to be good.

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Laura. I am 5 years old now. I have always been nice by playing with my sister and helping her get on the swings. For Christmas this year, I would really like à headband with a bow and a princess crown. Thank you for always bringing nice things Santa! I will try my best to be good.

From: Laura

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Logan. I am 5 years old now. I have always been nice by tidying my toys. For Christmas this year, I would really like a little crane with wheels. Thank you for always bringing nice things Santa! I will try my best to be good.

From: Logan

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Austin. I am 6 years old now. I have always been nice by setting the table For Christmas this year, I would really like a Light Saber set. Thank you for always bringing nice things Santa! I will try my best to be good.

From: Austin

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Hayden. I am 6 years old now. I have always been nice by helping my mom watch my sister. For Christmas this year, I would really like a Barbie Doll. Thank you for always bringing nice things Santa! I will try my best to be good.

From: Hayden

Dear Santa,

This is your friend Tyson. I am 6 years old now. I have always been nice by helping to wrap presents. For Christmas this year, I would really like a Pikachu stuffie. Thank you for always bringing nice things Santa! I will try my best to be good.

From: Tyson

KIDS COLOURING

Dear Santa Claus

Letters to Santa

From: Sherwood Public School, Grade 2/3

Dear Santa

Hello! How are you? I wonder how you can go down the chimney? How do you feel? How do your reindeer fly with no wings? I have been a good girl this year. I would really like to have 2 rainbow high dolls and 8 lol dolls. Please, please, please!!!!!!!!

Your friend, Jorgia

Dear Santa,

Hello! How are you? I wonder how you get your reindeer across the world? I wonder how you get presents to all the children on earth?

I have been a good boy this year! I would really like a PS5, a bigger tv, a computer and an iphone 13. I want these things for Christmas.

Your friend, Liam

Dear Santa,

Hello, how are you? I wonder is it cold there because it is cold here? How many elves do you have? Does it snow there because it snows here? How is everyone? I have been a good boy this year. I would really like a fitbit because I like to run, the movie Home Alone because I like movies and an xbox controller because I like video games. I also would like some new hoodies to wear.

I wish you a Merry Christmas.

Your friend, Jaxson O'Brien

Dear Santa Claus, I wonder how you ride across the whole world in one night? How many elves do you have and how many reindeer do you have?

I have been a good girl this year. I would really like a vr headset, an x box, a ps 5, a tablet, a phone and my own Christmas socks, please and thank you.

Your friend, Paislee

Dear Santa,

Hello, how are you? I wonder did Mande and Marce come to the North Pole to help you find your list? How

old are you? I wonder how many reindeer you have? I have been a good person this year ! I would really like a horse because I love them. I also would like cowgirl boots because I want to ride horses.

Your Friend: Brinley Rutledge P.S. Have safe travels!

Dear Santa, Hello! How are you? I wonder ow old are you? I am wondering what is your favourite reindeer? How does it feel to ride in the sleigh? How any elves do you have? I have been a good girl this year! I would really like a game for a Nintendo switch. I would also like some lol dolls. I hope that you have a safe trip. Merry Christmas! Your friend, Paitynn Pigeon

Dear Santa, HELLO! How are you? I wonder how many elves do you have? How many reindeer do you have? What are your reindeer's names? How do you make so many toys? How can your reindeer fly?

I have been a good boy this year! I would really like a computer because I like games. I want an army book because I want to learn more about war.

Merry Christmas Santa. Goodbye!

Your friend, Nash

Dear Santa

How many elves do you have? How much snow is there and how do you get around the world in one whole night?

I have been a good boy this year. I would really like an XBox and 3 games: Call of the Wild, Halo and Fortnite. I hope you have a safe trip.

Your friend, Hudson

Dear Santa, Hello! How are you? I wonder how your reindeer can fly? Do you have magic? How many reindeer do you have? How do you travel around the world in one night?

KIDS COLOURING

I have been a good girl this year! I would really like a pair of high heel shoes, a tablet with a pen, a whole bunch of lols dolls, a squishy, a chalkboard, and a decoration and stars for my Christmas tree.

Your friend, Naomi

Dear Santa

Hello! How are you? I wonder how you travel around the world in one night? How do your reindeer fly? I have been a good boy. I would like slime and a drum set. I would also like a hoverboard and putty.

Your friend, Lincoln

Dear Santa,

Hello. How are you? I wonder how many elves are there and how many boy reindeer are there? How old are you?

I have been a good boy this year. I would really like an xbox and ps5, xbox games and ps5 games, and transformer toys.

Your friend, Maximus

P.S. Have a safe travel.

Dear Santa, Hello, how are you? I wonder how you travel through the world? Maybe you ride a magic sled?

I have been a good girl this year! I would like slime, a colouring book, a popit, a nerf gun, a toy box and a toy Santa!

Thank you, Santa!

From, Addison Creighton.

Dear Santa,

Hello! How are you? I wonder if it is cold at the North Pole? How is Holly? How many elves do you have? How are your reindeer? Does Holly do a good job? Do you share your cookies? How is Mrs. Claus? What kind of cookies do you like?

I have been a good girl this year! I would really like boxes because I like to play in them! A huge bear because I like bears a lot! I would like a pop it shaped like a cat because I really like cats and pop it's! I would like a Pokemon poster because I would like to know all the Pokemon! I would like a Pusheen plushie because I really like Pusheen!

Your friend, Layla Dupuis Sayonara! (goodbye!)

Dear Santa,

Hello! How are you? I wonder how do you give so many presents in one night? Do you have help from your elves? Do you like gingerbread? Do you always wear red? Do you get caught on camera? I have been a good girl this year! I would really like 20. LOL dolls, a baby alive, a barbie with a swing, a jumbo sized popit, a barbie remote control car, and a barbie car that doesn't come with a remote control, a mini guitar and a squishy.

Your friend, Kenzie

Dear Santa,

Hello! How are you? I wonder how many kids have elves on the shelves? What do you do in summer, spring and fall? Is it always cold in the North Pole? I have been a really good hooman this year! I would really like a Klee cosplay beacause... she's super cute and I love her! | would also like a dodoco Plushie (Klee's plushie).

Have a good day!

Sayonada! (goodbye!)

Your friend, Fiona Hewis

Dear Santa,

Hello! How are you? I wonder how Mrs. Claus is doing?

I have been a really good girl this year. I would like a new book and a new stuffy.

Have a safe trip.

Your friend, Ενa

Dear

Santa Claus

Letters to Santa

From Sherwood Public School, JK/SK/Grade 1

Dear Santa, How are you? How old are you?

We really like your reindeer and we really like you! We wish we could see you everyday, you are the best. We love watching your movies. Here are some questions we have for you: Does Mrs. Claus help you deliver presents? What colour is your sled? Do you like to read? What other snacks do you like other than cookies? What shows do you like to watch?

We love you!

Declan, Karlee, Gannon, Xavier, Mila, Nadia, Grason, Leslie, Carson, Jaxon, Jia, Charlie, Mason, Zoey, Braden & Mrs. O’Marra

Dear Santa, I would like a nerf gun, an RC car and an Xbox. I love you!

Gannon

Dear Santa,

Can I please have an iPod, a doll house, a panda bear and a Pop it.

I love you!

Karlee

Dear Santa, I would like a pellet gun and I would like a dino egg smash. Did Mandy and Marcie really go to the North Pole?

Grason

Dear Santa, I am wishing for a storybook, lights, markers and a Pop it.

Jia

Dear Santa, I like your movies, I would like to have an LOL doll, a Pop it, a nerf gun and kitchen stuff.

Mila

Dear Santa, I want a pellet gun, fishing lures, camouflage gloves and a nerf gun. I love you!

Xavier

Dear Santa, I would like a Pop it, a nerf gun and Lego. I like your reindeer.

Declan

Dear Santa, I am wishing for shapes and Lego. I love you!

Leslie

Dear Santa, I am wishing for monster trucks, Lego and a dinosaur.

Dear Santa, I am wishing for a nerf gun, a race car, Lego and a dino egg smash.

Carson

Dear Santa, I am wishing for a nerf gun and a Pop it.

Charlie

Dear Santa, I am wishing for a Pop it, an airplane, a drum and a guitar.

Braden

Dear Santa I am wishing for a fire truck and wooden blocks.

Jaxon

Dear Santa, I would like an LOL doll, a barbie, a yoyo and a stuffed bunny. I love your presents.

Dear Santa Claus

Letters

to Santa

From George Vanier Catholic School, Grade 1

Dear Santa,

My name is RJ and I am 6 years old. I was good. I would like a fishing rod, fish meat and an Appelin and Mew Pokemon card.

Love, RJ Grade 1

Dear Santa,

My name is Grace. I am 6. I was good. I would like a teddy, American girl doll and a big LOL doll.

Love, Grace Grade 1

Dear Santa,

My name is Lily and I am 6 years old. I was great this year! I would like a fuzzy buzzy, a video game and a mystery Hatchimal.

Love, Lily Grade 1

Dear Santa,

My name is Sawyer and I am 6 years old. I was good. I would like a Hatchimal, a Pokemon ball, a Purse Pet and a puppy stuffed animal.

Love, Sawyer Grade 1

Dear Santa,

My name is Izaak and I am 6 years old. I was great this year! For Christmas I would like Pokemon cards, Wings of Fire cards and a Star Wars lego set.

Thank you Santa.

Love, Izaak Grade 1

Dear Santa,

My name is Avery and I am 6 years old. I was great. I would like a Purse Pet, a unicorn scratch book and an Ice Hatchimal tray.

Love, Avery Grade 1

Dear Santa,

My name is Ben and I am six. I was great! I would like Pokemon cards, a Sobble Gigantamax stuffy and a Pokemon lego set.

Love, Ben Grade 1