Last week on December 8^th, Local 480 Charities hosted its annual Christmas Extended Care Dinner at the Trail Memorial Centre gym.  This year marked the 22^nd year your Local has organized and hosted this event. Approximately 200 residents from Local residential care units including Columbia View Lodge, BV Manor, Poplar Ridge, Chateau Manor, Rosewood Village, Silver City Gardens, Jubilee Manor, Senior Citizens Village and West Kootenay Brian Injury Association were all bused to the Memorial Gym for a turkey dinner.

All of our guests were treated to a delicious full course turkey dinner prepared by the Royal Canadian Legion Br. #11 Woman’s Auxiliary.  As usual, a wonderful job was done by the ladies preparing the fabulous meal. Thank you to you all.

Following dinner the residents were treated to some live entertainment provided by the St. Michaels School Choir, the Trail Pipe Band, and Katie Shaw Highland Dancers.  Santa took time out from his busy schedule and made an appearance presenting all in attendance with a tin of shortbread cookies.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our members and family members who volunteered their time to assist the residents off the buses and to their tables and at the end of the evening safely back to the bus.  Also, a big thank you to Trail Transit and their courteous bus drivers who do such a great job getting the residents to and from the dinner in such an orderly manner.  It would have been impossible to put on an event of this magnitude without all of your help.

A special thank you to the newly elected Council for taking some time out to come and mingle with the residents.  A heartfelt thank you for their contribution to this great event.  Last but not least, a big thank you to Santa, you certainly add a lot of excitement to the evening.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All

Armindo