By Darcy Topinka

Seasonal celebrations and gatherings have always played an important role in building community. Special events like our Seniors’ Dinners are excellent excuses for residents to celebrate the season, socialize, and enjoy some food. What are people talking about these days? Elections seem to be on the tip of everyone’s tongues. U.S. and Canadian politics are hot topics, as have been our recent changes at City Hall. Whether it’s Halloween, Easter or Christmas, the Centre’s seasonal events bring people out to chat, hang out and share their concerns about their community, their country and the world. Below is a summary of the many gatherings happening at the Community School Centre during the months of December and January.

Our annual Seniors’ Holiday Banquet is set to run on Wednesday December 10th at 5:00 pm. Dinner tickets need to be purchased in advance. As is customary your servers for the evening will include City Councilors, School Trustees, Society directors, and, traditionally, our Mayor. Chef Martin will also be preparing turkey and other seasonal fare.

The following week, all community members are invited to attend our Community Holiday Dinner. This family event will be taking place on Wednesday Dec 17th at 5:00 pm. Again, this event often sells out so please get your tickets early. Tickets are not sold on the day of the event. It is customary for many in attendance to take the short walk down to the school gymnasium to watch our School staff and students put on a holiday concert, which will be sure to get you in the mood for the holiday season. The concert gets underway at 6:30 pm.

This year the Community Centre will be continuing its Annual Holiday Blanket Drive. Gently used blankets can be dropped off to the Centre Desk. The program runs for three weeks starting December 1st. All donations will go to the Streetlink Emergency Shelter.

In the New Year friends and neighbours will be getting together for the Souper Supper. This family meal takes place on Wednesday January 21st at 5:30 pm. Your choice of three soups and an assortment of breads will be served up by our fantastic volunteers.

Our Winter Program and Activity Guide will be in circulation mid December. Should you fail to receive one in the mail, not to worry, you will find all the great programs offered here at the Community School Centre on our web site www.jamesbaycentre.ca.

This fall the Community School welcomed a brand new early years program. Sponsored by the Ministry of Education, the Strong Start program has almost 50 children registered and runs Monday through Friday from 8:45-11:45am. For more information on this fantastic free program contact either the school or the Community Centre.

James Bay Community School also wishes to extend our appreciation for the generous support we have received from the South Harbour Partners. This group of James Bay community residents has set a fine example for our community and our students by assisting us in developing Community School initiatives such as our School Project Fund and the Support a Reader program.

The last day of school before the winter break is Dec 19th. The school will reopen on January 5th. Enjoy the Holidays!