THUNDER BAY — A holiday celebration at Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute delivered a turkey dinner with all the fixings to students in Grade 9 and Grade 12.
Produced in conjunction with Roots Community Food Centre through its Get Fresh Café program, the tasty meal was also given out to students at Hammarskjold High School and Superior Collegiate CVI, a way to thank students and staff for their support over the past year-and-a-half since Roots took over the cafeterias at all three schools.
Jack Popowich and Ava Kaemingh, both 17, on Wednesday said the free lunch, was a fun way to wind down the final week of school before the Christmas holidays.
“It’s really nice. A lot of kids don’t get this opportunity, so it’s nice to take a break from schoolwork and a busy time to enjoy a meal with our friends. It was really good,” Kaemingh said.
“It was delicious,” Popowich added.
“Some people don’t get the opportunity to get dinner and to get to do it with their friends might be more meaningful.”
Erin Beagle, the executive director at Roots Community Food Centre, said the offering was a chance for students to not only experience a turkey meal and holiday traditions, but it was also a chance to bring the school community together, to celebrate everyone at the same table.
“The schools have really diverse populations. We’re also serving halal and vegetarian at the school so that everybody has something that they can enjoy and be a part of something they all do together,” Beagle said.
It’s a lot of work, but it’s so worth it, but it’s educational too, she added.
“Classes from all three schools have been involved in getting 500 pounds of potatoes peeled and cut, 350 pounds carrots peeled and cut. Those were both donated. B&B Farms donated all the potatoes, Peak of the Season donated all of the carrots and then on the last two days, Horizon North, who is our food partner in all of the schools, have been prepping 20 12-kilogram turkeys that were donated by Sysco Canada,” Beagle said.
Westgate principal Ryan McDonnell, said it was an exciting day at the south-side school.
It’s a really busy time at the school, a great way for students to wrap up the 2024 portion of their 2024-25 school year.
“Our kids come from all different backgrounds and today is a time to get together, no matter what you celebrate at this time of year, to show some gratitude, reflection and look forward to the new year,” McDonnell said.
“Roots has been an amazing partner for us, coming into our classrooms. We go to their facility and our kids engage in amazing and really experiential learning. Our kids have helped prepare the lunch today … so it brings that service idea into our schools and really promotes doing things for others.”
McDonnell said they chose students in their first and final years as recipients to welcome the newcomers and pay tribute to those whose high school days are nearing a close.
Any extra meals left over were handed out to students in Grades 10 and 11.
