The airline has brought back its Christmas Tree program after a year's hiatus and launched a new project in Chesterfield Inlet.

The pilot program -- Christmas Dinner with Calm Air -- was held yesterday, in Chester.

The airline prepared holiday meals with all the trimmings for 135 residents.

Calm Air marketing reps Dawn Curry and Tersa Chaboyer travelled to Chester on Dec. 9 to prepare the holiday feast.

The food was delivered into the community on Dec. 6.

"What we're looking at doing is bringing the Christmas Dinner with Calm Air program into two Kivalliq communities each Christmas," says Currie.

"The program is aimed, to some degree, at showing our appreciation to the communities for the support they give our airline.

"At the same time, we have to recognize some families may not be as fortunate as others during Christmas time.

"We want to see kids in those families have a full Christmas dinner."

Calm Air will be working in co-operation with local schools to bring its Christmas dinner program into the communities.

The airline has also revived its Christmas Tree program this holiday season, but with a different twist than previous years.

The program did not run during Christmas 2001.

Currie says in past years, Calm Air would bring a decorated Christmas tree to each Kivalliq community.

She says anyone who made a donation to the food bank during the holidays would have their name entered into a draw, and the lucky winner would claim the tree.

"This year, we decided we'd rather see the tree go a family that actually received a food hamper.

"One of those families would probably need the tree the most."

The trees were delivered to Kivalliq hamlets this past week and set up at the various Calm Air terminals.

"The names of every family in each community that received a Christmas hamper will be put into a draw and the winners will be picked on Dec. 20.

"We'll take the decorated tree to the family's home and it will be theirs for keeps."