Volunteers from the Northern Lights Casino dish out the turkey. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Happier community

PAGC event dishes out to some holiday spirit to city’s vulnerable

Dec 18, 2024 | 2:13 PM

A heaping plate of Christmas joy has been served to Prince Albert’s most vulnerable, thanks to an annual Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) tradition.

A turkey dinner was held on Wednesday at the PAGC Urban Centre. Urban Services Director Geoff Despins estimated serving between 250 and 300 people.

“We wanna make sure that they get a nice Christmas meal. For some of them, this might be the only meal they get throughout Christmas,” he said.

A number of local agencies were helping out on Wednesday including PAGC, Northern Lights Casino, Parkland Ambulance, City of Prince Albert, Beaulac Funeral Home, RCMP, and the city’s fire department.

In addition to the meal, visitors could help themselves to a warm blanket, or new jacket.

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“On behalf of our ground chief, our vice chiefs and our executive director and executive staff, I just wanna wish everybody a merry Christmas and a safe Christmas,” Despins said.

Sleeping bags, gloves and blankets were among the donated items provided to guests. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Volunteers express their amazement over the number of donated jackets. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Representatives from Prince Albert Fire Dept. were taking orders. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Parkland Ambulance was in charge of coffee. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

City Councillors Tony Head and Dawn Kilmer were among those helping to dish out food.

“I’m just honoured to participate and give back any way you can,” Head said. “It’s important during times like this we come together and help out whenever we can”

Plans for a permanent shelter remain at the discussion stage and City Council recently passed a motion to hold four public meetings before March 31. Head acknowledged the need is great for supports for the city’s vulnerable.

“And kudos to PAGC and the volunteers here today giving their time back as much as they can and looking at all the faces here today, makes it all worth it,” he said.

(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Also launched on Wednesday is the PAGC’s new warm up van, funded in part by Riverbank Development.

In addition to providing rides to the meal on Wednesday, the van will be working until the end of March to assist people on the streets who may need some coffee or even a brief break from the cold.

Prince Albert Grand Council has also been busy delivering hampers to local agencies and schools.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell