Coral Harbour (Mar 17/04) - It's never too late to spread a little holiday cheer.

That was the message delivered this past month in Coral Harbour when a taste of the Christmas season came to Sakku school two months later than originally planned.

Tonya Regular, a marketing assistant with Calm Air, helps serve up the goodies during a special Christmas dinner this past month in Coral Harbour. - Photo courtesy of Elroy Grandy

The Calm Air-sponsored Christmas dinner was served to students and staff at the school.

The dinner had to be postponed in December due to a flu outbreak.

Twenty turkeys were cooked by volunteers in town, while Calm Air representatives Tonya Regular (marketing assistant), Rebecca Condon (vice-president of marketing and sales) and Bryan Fotheringham (Nunavut area sales manager) helped prepare and serve the meals at the school.

The three were assisted by school staff and junior and senior high students.

A number of elders in the community also attended the event.

Fotheringham said the Christmas gathering was a positive experience for all who participated and no one left the gym hungry.

He said the Coral gathering marked the second year Calm Air has sponsored the Christmas dinner event.

"The program started in 2002 with Christmas dinner being served at Victor Sammurtok school in Chesterfield Inlet," said Fotheringham.

"The first gathering turned into more of a community feast because almost everybody in the hamlet turned up.

"This year, it was more of a school event for the students."

Dinner a hit

Fotheringham said the Christmas dinner program helps Calm Air build upon its good working relationships with the various communities.

He said the airline company is pleased to sponsor a good-will event every year, and the dinner was well received in both hamlets.

"It was a real joy to see all the smiles and the expressions on the kids' faces when they entered the gym and saw the meal that awaited them."