Gobbling up holiday spirit
Calm Air brings its annual Christmas Dinner to Arviat
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, December 10, 2014
ARVIAT
Calm Air kept its annual tradition of an early Christmas dinner and gifts for the kids alive in Arviat this past week.
Calm Air Kivalliq regional representative Karen Yip congratulates Grade 7 student Albert Nungnik on having his ticket drawn during Calm Air's annual Christmas Dinner in Arviat on Dec. 4. - photo courtesy of Christine Mills
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The airline even began doubling up on its efforts this year, with an additional stop in Sanikiluaq on Dec. 2 before landing in Arviat on Dec. 4.
Calm came prepared to serve the entire community of Sanikiluaq with 800 dinners, and brought enough for 1,000 dinners for students, teachers and special guests in Arviat.
Calm Air's regional representative for the Kivalliq, Karen Yip of Baker Lake, said Calm began the Christmas Dinner program about a decade ago.
She said the annual dinners will get to each Kivalliq community faster now, with Calm delivering two per year from this point forward.
"We went to Sanikiluaq this year because we fly there now, making it the only Baffin community we provide service to," said Yip.
"But, from next year on, starting with Rankin Inlet and one other community, we'll be holding the Christmas dinner in two different Kivalliq schools each year, so we'll be able to go across the region twice as fast."
The Arviat dinner was held at the Qitiqliq Middle School's gym.
Yip said seven Calm Air personnel made the trip to Arviat, and the community's local agents took part in the proceedings as well.
She said school staff members had 34 turkeys cooked upon their arrival.
"We did have a good amount leftover from the meals, so we left that with the three school principals and they're going to distribute some of it among needy families in the community.
"Our Calm Air people cooked the stuffing and mashed potatoes, made the gravy and prepared the cranberry sauce and the rest of the fixings on the morning of the feast.
"We had the stoves going at about 8:30 a.m., which gave us about two hours before the first scheduled sitting of the younger kids at 10:30 a.m."
Calm Air also invited the teachers and instructor from the Nunavut Teacher's Education Program and elders from the community to the dinner.
Yip said a number of people from the community came to assist with the event, including Mayor Bob Leonard.
She said she's not really sure where everybody came from, but quite a few came to help.
"We brought along a lot of presents this year, which we did in conjunction with Arctic Co-operatives.
"We distributed the presents among the students of all three schools, and we also gave away three different pairs of tickets to anywhere Calm Air flies during the day.
"Calm Air takes this opportunity every year to give back to the communities and the people it serves.
"We're happy we can share Christmas with them and make the holidays a little happier for everyone."
Qitiqliq Middle School principal Doreen Hannak said from what she saw, everyone had a great time and the dinner was really successful.
She said it's really nice of Calm Air to hold the dinner every year, and it's appreciated by the schools.
"We had to do two sittings with the number of students and staff being so high in our three Arviat schools," said Hannak.
"It was easy to see how happy the kids were, and everyone left the gym with a full stomach.
"There were draws done while the students were eating, and between the sittings, and that was very exciting for the kids, especially when they were drawing for free Calm Air tickets."
Hannak said she was proud of how everyone at her school was willing to help.
She said it's an exciting time when Arviat schools get to host the dinner.
"It's really fun to help out with the dinner.
"The middle school cooked 22 turkeys and 12 were given to the high school to cook.
"Everyone had a great time doing what we could while we waited for the Calm Air staff to come in."
Hannak said in addition to Calm's Christmas Dinner, the schools got to spoil their students a little more the following day.
There were absolutely no hungry kids at Qitiqliq for a couple of days after Calm Air's arrival, she said with a laugh.
"We served turkey soup the following morning and then we served turkey with mashed potatoes and corn.
"We shared the leftovers among the three schools, and then we'll give out the rest to those who may need it to take home.
"It was funny to hear some of our students say they so were so full they might not eat again that day, but it was also very nice to hear.
"The Calm Air staff did a great job with what they prepared and serving during the two sittings, so everyone really worked together to make the dinner successful and we really enjoyed it."
