Orion & Capella’s
Snow Island Adventures
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The world’s largest yule log
By Johannie Dufour and Sarah Beauregard / Translated by Katya Teague
W
hat a whirlwind it was at the Snow Island cake factory that day! Since the crack of dawn, the region’s best pastry chefs had been hard at work trying to break the world record for the largest yule log. Their goal: to make a vanilla cake with chocolate frosting almost the size of a house. It seemed like an outrageously ambitious challenge, but the Snow Island bakers and their many assistants were confident that their talent and determination would help them succeed. Sitting on bleachers set up for the occasion, several people watched the scene unfold with great interest. “Look, Capella,” Orion said to his twin sister. “The container for mixing the frosting is as big as the public pool!” “Yum! Chocolate is so tasty,” the gluttonous girl replied. “I would love to just swim in it!” Walking around the factory floor was the top journalist from the Snow Island Gazette, who didn’t want to miss a minute of the momentous occasion. With his camera in hand and a gleam in his eye, Gregory Slifer intended to capture the action from every angle. To get the perfect shot of the vat of chocolate frosting, he climbed into a basket on the end of a nearby forklift. An experienced worker used the machine to carefully raise him above the massive tank. “What an incredible view,” Gregory said, leaning a little too far forward. At that very moment, the strap around his neck meant to hold the camera snapped. Wide eyed, Gregory watched as his prized equipment plummeted to the chocolatey surface below and sunk into the frosting. Orion and Capella rushed to the reporter’s side. “Mr. Slifer, is your camera waterproof?” Orion asked. “It is indeed! Waterproof and extremely durable,” Gregory replied. “I often use it outdoors when I cover blizzards
and ice storms. I’ve always been able to count on it.” “Well, we can fish it out for you, no problem,” Capella declared. “And clean it off, too,” her brother added. After getting permission from the factory’s health and safety director, Capella embarked on the tricky mission. After putting on her scuba gear (which her parents had quickly brought from home), the young girl was strapped to the end of the forklift with a sturdy harness. Unable to contain her excitement, Capella was then lowered into the vat of creamy chocolate. A few minutes later, the eight-year-old girl emerged. Covered in frosting, she held up the camera for all to see. “Got it,” she cried out. The grateful reporter rushed to her side to thank Capella and retrieve his equipment. Wiping the lens, he was relieved to discover that the camera still worked. After carefully purifying the vat of frosting, the Snow Island culinary crew completed their challenge. The panel of judges were duly impressed. Once a picture was taken for the Book of World Records, the giant dessert was sliced up and shared among all the residents of the region — much to the delight of Capella and her brother.
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The Christmas photo exhibit
By Johannie Dufour and Sarah Beauregard / Translated by Katya Teague
S
trolling down the street with great excitement, Orion, Capella and their father, Patrick, were on their way to the Snow Island Art Gallery. The gallery had graciously allowed the city to use one of its rooms to showcase old photos from Christmases past, and the exhibition was scheduled to open that afternoon. Fascinated by the history of his hometown, Mr. Patrick, as his students called him, volunteered to organize the whole thing. He’d asked elders from across the island to share their old holiday photos, and
the response was incredible. In fact, he received so many pictures that he only finished organizing and hanging them
up the day before. Today, Patrick had the twins in tow to help with the Continued on Page 5
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The Christmas photo exhibit
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By Johannie Dufour and Sarah Beauregard / Translated by Katya Teague Continued from Page 4 finishing touch: putting up the Christmas decorations. When they arrived, however, they were shocked by what they saw. Hundreds of photos had fallen off the walls and several frames were broken. There was shattered glass all over the floor and even some of the display boards were knocked over. “What happened?” Orion asked, a note of panic in his voice. “I believe it’s my fault,” his father answered with a grave tone. Pointing to an open window, Patrick explained: “I wanted to let in some fresh air because all the old boxes made the room smell musty. I must have forgotten to close it before I left. “The strong winds that blew in last night certainly did a number on this place. I’ll have to postpone the grand opening. There’s no way we’ll be ready in time.”
Patrick sighed as he began to sweep up the broken glass. “No way! I’m sure we can find a solution,” Capella exclaimed, always eager to take on a challenge. “Come on,” she said to her brother. “I know what to do. We’ll be right back, Dad!” Before he could say anything, the children bolted for the door. “Where are we going, Capella?” Orion asked. “To look for our friends,” she replied. “With a few extra people, we’ll have this mess cleaned up in no time.” “Good idea!” Once outside, Orion and Capella sped off to get help. Within 20 minutes, word had spread and a dozen classmates had gathered, more than happy to lend a hand to the coolest teacher in school. Back at the gallery, everyone got straight to work. Patrick called out instructions, amazed at how many students
had rushed to his aid. There’s nothing like a bunch of energetic eight-year-olds to get a job done at lightning speed! Two hours later, the room looked as good as new — minus a few picture frames — and the newly hung decorations made it feel like Christmas. “Wow, everyone, I can’t thank you enough,” Patrick exclaimed as he admired their handy work. “Thanks to you, our exhibition is ready to welcome its first visitors.” Right on cue, Mayor Isla arrived for the inauguration. Impressed by the exhibition, she showered the children with praise as they led her around the room. Patrick turned to Orion and Capella. “You saved the day,” he said. “I’m very proud of you.” Smiles lit up the twins’ faces. Without a doubt, they’d share the story for years to come.
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The great Santa Claus parade
By Johannie Dufour and Sarah Beauregard / Translated by Katya Teague
B
undled in warm clothes, the residents of Snow Island had gathered on both sides of Main Street. Everyone was happy and excited because the annual Santa Claus parade was about to start. According to local gossip, this year’s event was set to be even more spectacular than usual because it was the city’s 250th anniversary. Twins Orion and Capella found the perfect spot where they could watch the parade with their parents, Patrick and Audrey. Standing at the very beginning of the route, they’d be the first to see the floats, hear the bands, watch the entertainers and catch a glimpse of the VIP guest — a certain jolly man with a long, white beard. “Did you know that Santa Claus will have real reindeer pulling his sleigh this year?” Capella asked. “Who told you that?”
Audrey replied with surprise. “I saw it in the Snow Island Gazette,” the girl answered. “Since when do you read the newspaper?” Patrick responded, equally shocked. “Ever since I learned how to read, of course,” Capella answered with a mischievous grin. Suddenly, a familiar voice boomed over the loudspeakers. “Dear fellow citizens,” Mayor Isla said. “Thank you for turning up in such large numbers to this year’s parade, which is sure to be phenomenal. A big thank you to all our sponsors and volunteers, without whom this event would not be possible. “Now, without further ado, enjoy the show!” Over the next hour, the crowd applauded as dance troupes, musicians, acrobats, stilt walkers, puppeteers, jugglers, fire-eaters and beautifully decorated floats filled the
street. The reports were true: the parade turned out to be incredible. However, everyone was still eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a volunteer appeared next to Orion and Capella, startling both of them. “Have you seen any reindeer go by?” the woman asked. “They ran away while our backs were turned.” “No, but they can’t be far. We’ll help you find them,” Capella replied, gesturing for her family to follow her. Known for his keen observation skills, Orion quickly spotted hoofprints among the boot and tire tracks in the snow. “Follow me,” the boy declared. “I think the reindeer went this way, toward the candy store.” Orion was right. When the family arrived at the shop, they discovered the doors were Continued on Page 7
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The great Santa Claus parade
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By Johannie Dufour and Sarah Beauregard / Translated by Katya Teague Continued from Page 6 wide open and four magnificent reindeer were feasting on gumdrops, caramels and licorice. “Quick, tie your scarf around their collar and we’ll lead them back to the parade,” Orion suggested. “Good idea, and we can lure them with candy,” his sister added. Orion, Capella and their parents sprung into action, each grabbing a handful of candy and guiding one of the reindeer toward Main Street. When the volunteers saw them coming, they rushed over, grateful for the family’s help. And so, thanks to one kind and quick-thinking
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The Christmas lantern walk
By Johannie Dufour and Sarah Beauregard / Translated by Katya Teague
B
n one particular night in December, Orion and Capella were allowed to stay up late. This was because they were taking part in Snow Island’s first-ever lantern walk. Trailing behind their parents, they followed other hikers through the woods along the Star Trail. Soon, the group would arrive at the observatory where they would be able to admire the night sky and, if they were lucky, catch a glimpse of the northern lights. Illuminated by the glow of their lanterns, the twins happily joined in as the crowd sang Christmas carols. The mood was merry, and it was a perfect night for a stroll. Suddenly, someone cried out in pain. “Mrs. Isla twisted her ankle,” a man called out. Several people turned back to help the mayor, who’d been keeping stragglers company at
the back of the group. Orion, Capella and their parents quickly followed. While the mayor apologized profusely for having ruined the hike, the adults discussed what to do. Some thought that one person should wait with her until help arrived, while others offered to help her hobble the rest of the way to the observatory since it wasn’t far. Just then, Orion had an idea: “Hey, why don’t we make her a stretcher?” “Yes, we learned how to make one this summer at the Little Explorers’ Day Camp,” his sister added. “It won’t be easy to do by lantern light, but I think we can make it work,” one woman responded cheerfully. Excited to put their knowledge to the test — and to help Mayor Isla — the twins began explaining what to do. For many, the activity brought back memories of their own childhood outdoor survival
lessons, and a sturdy stretcher was built in no time. A few people carefully helped Mayor Isla onto the stretcher, and the strongest members of the group carried her up to the observatory while others lit the way. Soon, they joined the rest of the crowd who’d gathered around the observatory and extinguished their lanterns. Capella was disappointed not to see any northern lights, but then her brother pointed to the sky and cried out with excitement: “Look, you can see Orion from here!” “You’re right,” she replied, gazing up at the constellation her twin was named after. “Help me find my star!” “Your star?” asked the mayor, who’d been positioned on the ground nearby. “Yes, Capella is the brightest star in the Auriga constellation,” the girl explained. Continued on Page 9
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The Christmas lantern walk
By Johannie Dufour and Sarah Beauregard / Translated by Katya Teague Continued from Page 8 “Oh, I didn’t know that,” the mayor replied. “Your parents must really like stars if they named you after one.” “It’s because they met here,” Orion said. “Dad took his class on a field trip to the observatory, and Mom was their guide.” “How romantic,” Mayor Isla exclaimed, following the girl’s finger as she pointed up at the star that was her namesake. After gazing at the stars and sipping hot chocolate, the hikers prepared to make their descent. Suddenly, the sky lit up with flashes of fluorescent green. “Oohs!” and “Aahs!” resounded through
the crowd as all stood mesmerized by the marvel. There was little doubt that the first edition of the lantern
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The Christmas craft workshop
By Johannie Dufour and Sarah Beauregard / Translated by Katya Teague
O
ne morning, all the children on Snow Island between the ages of six and 12 gathered in the school gymnasium for a Christmas decoration workshop led by two dynamic art students, Maeva and William. “Your challenge is to make a Christmas tree ornament that symbolizes your personality and interests,” Maeva explained. “In other words, people should think of you as soon as they see your ornament,” William added. “You can use any of the materials we brought.” “You have three hours to create your masterpiece,” Maeva said. “Off you go!” Orion and Capella were very excited. Frantically rummaging through the art supply bins, the eight-year-old twins gathered materials: pom-poms, feathers, sequins, ribbons, pipe cleaners and more. With their hands full, they headed back to
their table to begin. “What are you going to make for your ornament?” Capella asked. “Since I love outer space, I’m going to make mine into a rocket ship,” Orion replied. “And since everyone knows I love lemon yellow, the whole thing will be yellow! What about yours?” “I’m obsessed with chocolate and math, right? So I’m going to make a chocolate bar with mathematical symbols carved into each square,” Capella explained. The twins enthusiastically set about making their decorations. However, over by the craft bins, two of their friends weren’t having as much fun. “Gosh, I have no ideas,” Sylvio lamented. “I don’t know what to make either,” Jasmine admitted. Suddenly, Orion and Capella had an idea about how to spark their friends’ creativity. The siblings took turns
asking them a variety of questions without giving them time to answer. “What’s your go-to song?” “Do you have a pet?” “What sports do you play?” “Do you like to read?” “What food do you like best?” Gradually, the children’s faces lit up. With the help of the twins, they’d finally found their inspiration. Thanking them, Sylvio and Jasmine headed off to create ornaments in their image. The boy made a pineapple-shaped hot air balloon, and the girl decided on a guitar-playing penguin. That evening, families across Snow Island hung all sorts of unusual ornaments on their trees: a rainbow snowboard, a tractor with wings, a cat curled up in a bird’s nest, a puzzle piece with an elephant trunk on it, a sailboat with Viking symbols, a dinosaur wearing overalls — what a sight! Continued on Page 11
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The Christmas craft workshop
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By Johannie Dufour and Sarah Beauregard / Translated by Katya Teague Continued from Page 10 Inspired by their creativity, many of the children’s parents, including Orion and Capel-
la’s, decided to make their own personalized decorations. After all, who said crafts are only for kids?
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I
The open-air holiday cinema
By Johannie Dufour and Sarah Beauregard / Translated by Katya Teague
t was outdoor movie night on Snow Island, and the city was screening the premiere of The Distracted Santa Claus, a new animated film by a world-renowned local director. Families unfolded their camp chairs and gathered around heated lamps that were set up on the soccer field to keep everybody warm. With their chairs lined up, twins Orion and Capella wrapped themselves in the large blankets handed to them by their parents. “Dad, can we please have some popcorn?” the little girl asked. “And some hot chocolate?” her brother added.
“Good idea, kids. I’ll go get us some. Do you want anything, Audrey?” Patrick asked, turning to his wife. “A coffee, please.” Continued on Page 13
Merry Christmas!
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The open-air holiday cinema
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By Johannie Dufour and Sarah Beauregard / Translated by Katya Teague Continued from Page 12 “Hurry up, Dad, or you’ll miss the beginning,” Orion called out as his father headed toward the concession stand. There was no need to worry, though. Patrick returned with their snacks long before the movie started. In fact, the screen still hadn’t turned on by the time the kids finished their popcorn. “I wonder what’s taking so long,” Audrey said. “Yes, this is odd,” Patrick said. “And people are starting to get impatient.” “We could go see the technician and find out what’s going on,” Capella suggested. “Yes, his hut is nearby,” Orion added. “I can see it from here.” “Alright, but go straight there and don’t take any detours on the way back,” their mother instructed. When they arrived at the hut, the two children knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Since the door was
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unlocked, they opened it. To their surprise, they saw David, the technician, snoring away in his chair instead of operating the projector. The twins called out his name and shook him, first gently then more vigorously, but nothing worked. David was still asleep. “He’s so tired that it’s impossible to wake him up,” Capella exclaimed. “But how else can we get the movie started?” “Follow me,” her brother replied. With his sister right on his heels, Orion headed toward the nearest family. He quickly explained that the technician was sound asleep in his chair. “Poor David,” said the mother with a sigh. “I don’t know how he gets any rest taking care of four children under the age of 10 all by himself.” “I’m pretty good with electronics,” chimed in the girl beside her. “Go back to your seats, I’ll take care of eve-
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The Christmas home decoration contest
By Johannie Dufour and Sarah Beauregard / Translated by Katya Teague
T
wins Orion and Capella, along with their parents, were busy putting the final touches on their home’s outdoor Christmas decorations. The family had worked very hard and was hoping to win first place in a contest organized as part of Snow Island’s 250th anniversary celebration. Handmade garlands, animal figurines, ice sculptures and more adorned the house and yard. But the most unique element of their decor was the recreation of a starry night sky on the roof using white lights. They’d even arranged them to match the constellations.
Within the hour, the top reporter from the Snow Island Gazette, Gregory Slifer, would visit each of the participating homes to record a video for the contest’s website. The citizens of Snow Island would be able to watch the videos and vote for the decorated home they liked best. The grand prize was a trip to Santa’s Kingdom at the North Pole. “Is it dark enough yet to turn on the lights?” Orion asked his parents. “Yes! I can’t wait to see the house all lit up, and the trees and the fence,” Capella said, hopping up and down with excitement. Audrey and Patrick smiled
at each other and, with a knowing look, flipped the switch to turn on the thousands of glittering bulbs. The site was beautiful and spectacularly magical. “Given everyone else’s decorations,” Capella whispered, glancing up and down the street, “I think we have an excellent chance of winning the contest.” “Maybe,” her brother replied. “But we don’t know what the houses look like elsewhere in the city.” “You’re right, but I can still dream,” the girl replied. All of a sudden, there was a mighty BOOM! All the lights Continued on Page 15
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The Christmas home decoration contest
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By Johannie Dufour and Sarah Beauregard / Translated by Katya Teague Continued from Page 14 went out in a flash, leaving the street in near total darkness. The adults quickly pulled out their smartphones to shed light on the situation. “What was that noise?” Capella asked, eyes wide. “I think a transformer blew because too many people turned on their Christmas lights at the same time,” Orion replied. “It’s probably the one on the corner. Let’s go check it out!” As soon as they arrived, the family noticed that the transformer — or rather, what was left of it — was in a million pieces on the ground. Thinking fast, Orion exclaimed: “Mom, call Snow Island Utilities and ask them to bring a transformer with three times the power as soon as possible!” Without arguing, Audrey contacted the energy company and explained the situation. The operator, Paulo, was very understanding and quick to respond. Within 15 minutes, a team of experienced technicians arrived on the scene with the requested equipment. The women quickly installed the high-performance transformer, and soon the whole street was lit up
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with beautiful, twinkling lights once more — and just in time for the reporter’s arrival! That night, hundreds of citizens across Snow Island admired the decorated properties, both in person and online. In the end, the vote for best design was unanimous: it was Orion and Capella’s star-covered home!
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The community Christmas gift giveaway By Johannie Dufour and Sarah Beauregard / Translated by Katya Teague
B
eautifully decorated for the Christmas gift giveaway, the Snow Island community hall buzzed with energy and trilled with cheerful voices. Throughout the room, ecstatic children played with presents just received — building blocks, storybooks, musical instruments, board games and more. As for the adults, they happily chatted among themselves while watching their little ones. Eight-year-old Orion was closely watching the action unfold as he waited his turn to receive a gift. That’s when he overheard a disturbing conversation between Santa’s helpers. “There are only 32 gifts left,” the Star Fairy said to Peppy the Elf. “But according to the list, there are 33 children left who haven’t been called.” “How is that possible?” Peppy exclaimed. “I checked everything myself yesterday. Three times!”
“We must have lost one this morning on the way over from the garage at city hall,” the Star Fairy deduced. Orion couldn’t believe his ears. “Did you hear that, Capella?” he asked his twin sister. “What?” “Someone’s not getting a present,” the boy explained. “Oh no,” Capella replied. “We have to do something!” Without a moment’s hesitation, the siblings offered to retrace the route between the two buildings in search of the missing gift. With obvious relief, the fairy and elf accepted, but they urged the children to be quick. Orion and Capella made a beeline for their parents. As they put on their hats and boots, they hurriedly explained the situation. Audrey and Patrick grabbed their coats and followed the kids out of the hall, ready to help on the important quest. “Hurry up,” Capella urged
as they headed outside. “We have to get back before Santa finishes handing out the last of the presents.” “But if we go too fast, we might miss a clue,” Orion countered. “You’re right, champ. We need to be quick but attentive,” Patrick said. Halfway to the city hall garage, Orion raised a hand to signal his family to stop. “That’s strange,” he said. “Do you hear that? It sounds like bells.” “It’s coming from over there,” Capella exclaimed, immediately running toward the mysterious sound. “Look, there it is!” The girl jumped up and down with excitement as her family ran to join her. “Don’t you see it?” Hanging by its ribbon from a tree branch, the missing gift jingled as it swung gently in the breeze. “You two make excellent Continued on Page 17
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The community Christmas gift giveaway
PAGE 17
By Johannie Dufour and Sarah Beauregard / Translated by Katya Teague
Continued from Page 16 detectives,” Audrey said with a smile as she reached up to retrieve the package. “Now, let’s hurry back before it’s too late.” When the family returned to the community hall, they were out of breath but proud to have accomplished their mission. The twins bundled the present in one of their coats so they could discreetly return it to the pile of gifts — there were only three left! “Phew! Just in time,” Peppy murmured. “You saved the day,” the Star Fairy exclaimed. Once all the gifts were handed out, the children of Snow Island prepared to head home — inclu-
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Smiling from ear to ear, Orion and Capella wished everyone a happy holiday before rejoining their parents.
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The Christmas ball
By Johannie Dufour and Sarah Beauregard / Translated by Katya Teague
I
t was Snow Island’s 250th anniversary, and in celebration of the occasion, the city had decided to revive an old tradition. A Christmas ball would be held at the Winter Solstice Hotel, a unique and prestigious heritage building. Unlike the balls of old, however, kids would be invited. Better yet, to ensure the parents could enjoy the festivities for as long as they wanted, a few volunteers had organized a sleepover for the kids in the adjoining room. Capella was so excited she could hardly sit still during dinner, which went on a little too long for her liking. As for Orion, he was quietly relishing the last few bites of his meal, eager to find out what was in store for dessert. Just then, the waiters carried out a huge chocolate fountain and trays piled high with an assortment of fresh fruit, along with a stack of aprons for anyone worried about spilling on their fancy attire. “Wonderful!” the twins exclaimed in unison. As the guests finished eating, Mayor Isla thanked the
event’s organizers and introduced the band that would soon kick off the next portion of the evening. More than ready to get on the dance floor, Capella leapt to her feet. However, as the waiters continued to clear the tables, only a few of the musicians made their way to the stage, clearly taking their time. “What do you think the others are doing?” Orion asked. “I don’t know, but we’re going to find out,” his sister replied. Without another thought, the twins stealthily snuck backstage into the dressing room where they found the rest of the orchestra looking distraught. Orion questioned one of the violinists and quickly learned that Naomi, the singer, would be making her first appearance in front of a large audience. She had stage fright and had locked herself in the bathroom. “We’ll go talk to her,” Orion said. “Good luck,” a saxophonist replied. “If she’s not out here in two minutes, we’re going on without her.” Despite their words of encouragement, the singer refused to come out of the bathroom. Suddenly, Capella had a brilliant idea. “We could sing with you to break the ice,” she suggested. “We’ve been rehearsing Jingle Bells at school, and several of our classmates are here.” “Um… sure, I guess,” the young woman stammered. “So
long as I’m not alone, I think I’ll be alright.” Relieved, Orion and Capella hurried back to the ballroom and assembled a group of their friends while the orchestra finished taking their places. When it was their turn, the kids made their way on stage, standing on either side of the singer. Together, they delivered a performance that brought everyone in the crowd to their feet — and gave Naomi the encouragement she needed. “Thank you so much,” she whispered to the twins before they headed off stage. “Now I know I can do it.” The singing and dancing went on for hours, much to everyone’s delight. When the orchestra finally paused for a break, it was time for the youngest partygoers to head off to bed. Although they were disappointed the night was coming to an end, Orion and Capella had thoroughly enjoyed the experience. “I hope there’s a ball again next year,” Capella said, as she curled up in her sleeping bag. “Mmm, me too,” her brother mumbled, already half asleep. The next day, the Snow Island Gazette reported that the ball had been a huge hit. They praised Naomi’s talent and described her as “an incredible up-and-comer.” After such a successful event, there was no doubt that the Christmas ball would once again become a beloved tradition on Snow Island.
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Legacy
Letters - TO -
Santa Legacy
Would your kids like to know what Santa and his elves have been doing to get ready for Christmas? We invite our Kid’s Club Members to write a letter to Santa, drop it off in one of our special mail boxes at our Churchbridge, Kamsack or Yorkton food stores and Santa will write back! Since Santa is so busy, he will need to have the letters dropped off by December 5, 2021.
Not a Kids Club Member? Join today at any of our Legacy Co-op Food Stores or online at www.legacycoop.crs
Rejoice in the spirit of Christmas
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