Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 16/99) - She has been Yellowknife's goodwill representative to newcomers since she began the program in 1995.

Judy Callas, a Yellowknife resident since 1985, is passing over the torch as Yellowknife's Welcome Wagon hostess to Wenda Boote, who moved up here a year ago. Nada Dahl, who has volunteered as a part-time hostess with Callas, will continue to help greeting new residents to town with Boote.

"It's a really positive experience for the three of us," Callas said. "Because when you're going go see someone, they're always receptive to the program."

"You're always meeting people that are interested in learning more about Yellowknife and are interested in getting involved in the community."

"They often have a lot of questions and don't have anyone to ask," she said. "So it's a very positive thing because you're going over with a lovely basket with gifts in it from local businesses."

After taking on a full-time job last September, Callas found that there just wasn't enough time left in the day to continue the Welcome Wagon program effectively.

Recently, she decided that it would be better to hand over the program to someone who had a little more time to offer, than to let it suffer.

"I really love it but I had to go back to work," Callas said, "But because I love the program so much I thought I could keep the program going and what I learned afterwards, was that I could not do the program justice.

"I just didn't have the energy or the time to put into it, so I thought that it would be better to give the program over to Wenda and Nada who have the same enthusiasm that I did."

For Callas, it only seemed fitting that Boote should take it over since she, herself, had been a recipient of the program when she first came to Yellowknife. She was so happy to receive a visit from the Welcome wagon that she quickly became involved with it with Callas and Dahl.

"It seemed like such a positive experience that I felt like I just had to get involved," Boote said. "We get so many calls from people that say, 'Hey, someone new just moved in across the street. why don't you pay them a visit.

"When we show up, people think it's just like Christmas, because so many businesses donate gifts and certificates for newcomers."

The Welcome Wagon also participate in the New Mom program, and go to Stanton Hospital three or for times a week to bring gift packages to new moms. In all, it keeps the Welcome Wagon fairly busy.

"We,ve delivered up to 950 gift baskets to newcomers since we started the program in 1995," Callas said. "We've also delivered 1300 gift baskets to new moms and babies. We promise to let the press know when the Welcome Wagon has delivered the 1000th gift basket."

She said the Welcome Wagon has been a Canadian neighbourhood tradition since 1930. It takes its name from the frontier days when settlers would bring supplies to greet passing wagon trains and encourage them to settle in their community.

As for Callas's thoughts on leaving the program, she contends that the experience has been nothing but a positive one.

"I've really enjoyed the program," she smiled. "It's been really important because newcomers get to meet a friendly face, it supports local businesses, and makes it a better community to live in."