CHESTERFIELD INLET - Calm Air made a successful landing with its annual Christmas dinner in Chesterfield Inlet this past week.

Mayor Harry Tootoo getsready to enjoy his meal during Calm Air's Christmas dinner in Chesterfield Inlet this past week. - photo courtesy of Gerald Kuehl

The airline holds the event for school kids in a different Kivalliq community each year.

The 2009 event had a special feel, as Chester was the first stop in the second-time around the region for the airline's feast.

And, being in a smaller community, invitations were sent to one and all.

The event was held at Victor Sammurtok School, and principal Allan Pitcher said he was very impressed with how smoothly the dinner went.

He said the feast was a big hit for everyone involved.

"Calm Air handled about 850 kids in Rankin Inlet in 2008 and more than 900 in 2007 in Arviat," said Pitcher.

"Since we have 115 students and about 325 people in the community, Calm Air decided it could easily do a community dinner in Chester.

"It was a good decision because the feast, in terms of taste and efficiency, was just superb.

"It was a wonderful meal and everyone certainly seemed to enjoy it all."

Pitcher said a number of staff and district education authority members cooked 18 turkeys for the event.

He said the number cooked was based on what was used to feed the masses in Rankin the previous year.

"We had lots of turkey left, so it was all done up and bagged.

"We do a grocery hamper for folks in town who could use a little helping hand at Christmas time.

"The school collects non-perishable items and is the drop-off point for anyone who wants to donate to the hamper.

"So, everything left - turkey, tins of gravy, cranberry sauce and juice - was all placed with the hampers."

Pitcher said while a few of his students did help out, Calm Air staff, their friends and family members, and RCMP officers did most of the work during the feast.

He said if there was a need for help, someone stepped in and picked up the slack.

"The dinner ran on the expertise of Calm Air staff who have become quite proficient in running them.

"We started at 11 a.m. because we wanted to be able to seat everybody.

"There was a continuous movement of people until about 1:30 p.m. It really was quite something to see it all happen so smoothly."

Pitcher said the vast majority of the community came out to the dinner.

He said most of the people who didn't attend either couldn't get away from work or have trouble getting around.

"We had dinners delivered to people we knew couldn't attend.

"We also arranged to have plates sent to the Naja Isabelle Home, where people have to be on duty, of course."

Pitcher said he was also impressed with the almost complete lack of waste.

He said it was the first time he ever saw everyone eat everything they took to their table at a special meal.

"We even have the remaining turkey bones frozen for anyone who may want to make soup, or we'll use them for soups or stews for the kids after Christmas.

"Calm Air also supplied some wonderful prize giveaways during the feast, including plane passes.

"We received some terrific comments on the dinner, and it was wonderful to see so little waste and have everyone enjoy it so much."

Nunavut area manager Karen Yip of Baker Lake said it was nice to start around the Kivalliq for the second time with the dinner.

She said the airline has come a long way since starting the annual promotion in Chester eight years ago.

"This is my third year being involved with the dinner and we've grown a little better at it every year," said Yip.

"The dinner went smoothly in Chester, and that gave us more time to talk to people, have some fun and just enjoy being there.

"We planned for 350 at this year's dinner and more than 300 showed up."

Calm Air staff members came from as far away as Winnipeg to help out with this year's turkey dinner, which also featured mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, gravy, corn, buns, cookies, oranges, candy canes and various beverages.

Yip said the dinner is Calm Air's way of giving a little back to the communities that support it all year.

She said airline staff members also like the idea of bringing a little extra Christmas spirit to kids, youth and elders.

"We're already looking forward to going back to Coral Harbour next year. Two years ago, we went through 50 turkeys in Arviat and that was as much fun as it was work.

"We want to do what we can to help the kids in the community we visit each year have a special meal and a great Christmas.

"This is a program our airline looks forward to participating in every year and we plan to keep it going for many more to come."