“A great social evening”

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The dinner gathered seniors from Vankleek Hill, L’Orignal, Hawkesbury and other municipalities for a Christmas dinner with all the fixings.

The food was prepared and served by volunteers, including Champlain Township Mayor Gary Barton.

 

“It’s a chance for everyone to come out and socialize and it’s something we do for people right across the township,” he said.

 

Helen MacLeod volunteered as a coordinator and is a Champlain councillor.
She said the event has become a popular tradition in the region and always draws a full house.

 

 

 

“We do this mainly for the residents of Champlain to get out and enjoy a Christmas dinner. For the volunteers, it’s a joy for us to do this,” she said.

She added students from Pleasant Corners Public School and Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute helped with serving and dishes.

Most of the evening’s entertainment was provided by Gaetan Pilon, who is a well-known local musician.

The seniors danced and clapped to his music, which he plays on two keyboards and a drum machine at once.

“I like playing for older people because they like all the songs I heard growing up,” Pilon said, adding this was his fifth year playing the Seniors Gala.

The evening’s main sponsors were the local Scotiabank and Hillcrest Funeral Homes in Vankleek Hill, which were represented in the kitchen by co-owner Mark Henderson.

L’Orignal ward municipal councillor Bernard Franche was among the organizers of a bus which brought seniors to Vankleek Hill.

He said despite the snowstorm, the evening was worth the trip.

“Given the cost of the dinner, it’s fantastic. The $7 even includes the bus to get here so everyone gets on board,” he said.

Azaneth McGibbon, who was in the audience, said she had a lovely meal.

Brenda Miller, who accompanied her father Harold Kerr, also called the event “a great social evening.”

Leonard Laroque, who travelled from Hawkesbury, was also a fan of the event.

“I’m enjoying myself, I had a wonderful meal. I’m just a jolly fella,” he said laughing.