INUVIK - Like every year, this past Halloween night the Christmas tree went up in Christian Van Vliet's house.

Christian Van Vliet, right, and fellow Samuel Hearne Secondary School student council member Amie Charlie have a little fun with some Christmas decorations last week. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

That way they get a celebratory head start to the festive season.

"We just love Christmas," said Van Vliet. "It's really a family event for us."

So it's no surprise the Samuel Hearne Secondary School Grade 9 student is one of several on the student council doing their part to add some Christmas cheer to the community.

The crew has organized the school's first Christmas Coffee House which will be geld at SHSS's foyer on Dec. 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. The price of admission is a non-perishable food item for the Inuvik Food Bank.

Already several performers have signed up, including the Sir Alexander Mackenzie School choir and Inuvik's own Louis Goose.

As far as Van Vliet is concerned, the more the merrier.

"It's just really nice to get everyone together and share in the Christmas season." "That would be nice not just for the school but for the whole town, I think."

Fellow council member Amie Charlie agrees. She's hoping to sing a few carols, such as Holy Night and Hark the Herald Angels Sing, with the help of a some members of her church group.

With several Christmas events scheduled in town, like the annual community Christmas concert at Igloo Church on Dec. 12, Charlie said the coffee house is meant to add to the spirited momentum.

"It's our way of just adding a little more happiness or spirit to the season," she said.

Sharla Greenland, a SHSS teacher, has been busy helping student council prepare for the event. She's hoping to have a great turnout.

"It should be a really nice start to the Christmas holiday," she said. "We really hope to have a great turnout. We're hoping it's something special."

If you're interested in performing at the coffee house, contact school vice-principal Lorne Guy at SHSS.

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