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Page 1: Season's Greetings supplement

Season’s GreetingsThursday, December 23, 2010 Alberni Valley Times • 1B

Page 2: Season's Greetings supplement

What does Christmas mean to you?

That’s what we decided to ask people for this year’s Sea-son’s Greetings supplement.

Now I’ll ask you, our reader, to give it some thought. What does Christmas, or the holiday sea-son, mean to you? Have you ever stopped to think about this?

I haven’t for a long time.All too often we get caught up

in the commercial side of Christ-mas and forget that it has a deeper meaning. It isn’t about the presents under the tree or the last-minute racing around trying to buy for everyone on the list. Christmas is so much more.

While I read the stories people submitted to this year’s supple-ment, I was surprised by a lot of them. Christmas has a lot of differ-ent meanings to people in this com-munity. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that, for most people, the true meaning of Christmas has not been lost. Their stories and photos tell of celebration, love, tradition and, most of all, family, and we share as many of them as we can in this supplement.

It got me thinking about what it means to me.

What I discovered is that Christ-mas is about faith.

Whether you celebrate it as a reli-gious holiday or just a day of giv-ing, I think believing in Christmas is about having faith.

As a Christian, we are asked to believe the Christmas story. We are told that the Virgin Mary gave

birth to a child in a manger. That child would be our saviour, the Son of God. As with so many of the stories from the Bible, it takes a lot of faith to believe this one, and yet we do.

We believe it because it gives us hope. We believe it because it offers us something bigger than ourselves to trust in. But most of all, we believe because it allows us to feel that anything is possible with a little faith.

But for some, Christmas is not about religion. It is a day of cele-bration that is more about the giv-ing, traditions and celebrating and less about the story. Still, faith is part of it.

Without faith how could we believe that a fat man in a red suit flies in a sleigh pulled by reindeer to deliver presents to kids around the world on Christmas Eve? That takes a lot of faith.

Although we grow to discount this story, it is true if we believe and have a little faith.

In both cases, because of our faith, great things happen every year at this time.

People open their hearts and their wallets and give to people who are less fortunate, in hopes that it will bring a little bit of joy at Christmas time. There’s no

place where this is more apparent than in Port Alberni. Although the people of the Alberni Valley often

shows their heart, our pages are particularly full of good deeds that people are doing for each other at this time of year.

Every year this gives me faith.

Christmas is also a time whenfamilies come together. This is my favourite part. That’s where the holiday shifts a little bit from faith to love. But really the two are inter-changeable, because you can’t haveone without the other. Faith and love go hand in hand, and both are necessary when it comes to bring-ing the family together.

When you read this, for the firsttime in a number of years, I will be home in Nova Scotia with my fam-ily. These days I celebrate the holi-days away from my family more often than with them. That oftenmakes Christmas a bit difficult for me, but through it all, I know it will be special. That’s because even when I am in B.C., a country away from my true family, my adopted family here helps me celebrate and makes sure I keep my faith alive. In many ways, while I celebrate my traditions at home, I will miss my Port Alberni family.

No matter what Christmas means to you, I’m sure love and faith play a big part, even if you’ve never realized it before.

On behalf of the Alberni Valley Times, I hope this holiday season is one filled with joy. I wish you all a Christmas surrounded by loveand one that helps you rememberthat with a little faith anything ispossible.

Now read on, and see what Christ-mas means to people in your com-munity – your extended family . ThisChristmas we’ll share our stories.

Merry Christmas, and best of luck in the new year from me and the rest of the staff at the Alberni Valley Times.

Season’s Greetings2B • Alberni Valley Times Thursday, December 23, 2010

We’re truly blessed

to be part of this

wonderful community.

All the best in 2011.

From Randi, Claire, Mark, Dave & Debbie

Scott Fraser, MLAScott Fraser, MLAAlberni-Pacifi c Rim

3845B Johnston Rd., PortAlberni V9Y 5N4Phone 250.720.4515

www.ScottFraserMLA.com

What does Christmas mean to you?HeatherThomson

Heady’s Hunches

KentoAge 7

Grace HolmquistAge 8

Page 3: Season's Greetings supplement

A couple of months ago, we asked the community “What does Christ-mas mean to you?” We had a num-ber of responses, but we thought it fitting that we start what Christ-mas means to some of our young-est readers.

The following is a selection of answers from children in the com-munity, both in written form and drawings. More will be scattered throughout this special section.

We have decided to run the let-ters exactly as they were sent to us. The spelling mistakes and errors remain, because that is how they were written by the children who participated.

Christmas means the Christ is born, it is a big day for me and all around me. First we celebrate this special coming by a mass in the church in the morning, after we continue by visiting the one in need in our parish. We have turkey dinner. After dinner we always go for a walk looking at all the Christmas lights around. I enjoy to be with my mom open-ing presents and playing with my friends.

Claudia Noel11 years old

To me Christmas means Joy, Love, Peace and a time to have time with all your friends and family! We also have to remem-ber that it is when Jesus Christ was born. It is also a time to put up your Christmas tree and decor-ate your house with snowman and on Christmas Eve Santa comes to deliver presents and put them under your tree. For dinner most people have chicken, mashed pota-to, gravy, corne and hot chocolate. Most people like it when it snows in the winter like me! Hopefully it does snow. Lotes of people like to go carealing in the snow and sing some careals like Jingal Bells, Silent Night and O Christmas Tree! And there you have what I think about Christmas.

Ella RogersGrade 4

Age 9

Christmas is special for me because my birthday in on Christ-mas day. It is important for me to spend time with my family. I get to see my parents, my grandma, my grandpa, my aunts, my uncles, my cousins and my sister. My mom and grandma cooks for me and family. They cook turkey on Christmas day. We also leave out cookies and milk for Santa.

In the morning I make coffee for my mom and grandma and try to wake them up. I yell at them to wake them up and then I go in the front room to open the presents. Then I go outside to have a snow ball fight and we make a fort and we get a whole bunch of snowballs. We also make a small snowman and a huge one. Then we go get a snow board and then we go find a big long hill or a big long road or we go find ice. Then the day is over so all of us go to the room and then the day is finely over then we go to bed in the comfy bed really comfy bed and then all of us go to sleep and that is how Christmas goes for me.

Gredy BarneyGrade 4

Age 8

I believe that Christmas means celebrating Jesus’ birthday. Over

the years it has changed to be about giving. Now people eat candy canes and decorate their houses with Christmas lights. We give presents to like…toys, clothes and all sorts of things. We always have a Christmas tree. We decorate it with golden glass balls, popcorn strings and things that relative have given us. I love Christmas because it is about hav-ing a SUPER DUPER time with my FAMILY!!!

Hope HigginsGrade 4

Age 9

I believe Christmas is originally about celebrating Jesus’ birthday. Jesus was born on Christmas day. Jesus was born in a place called Bethleham. Christmas is about spending time with your family, giving and bonding. We give pres-ents and Christmas cards. We bake cookies and make hot chocolate. Christmas is about having fun. I think everybody like waking up on Christmas morning.

Logan FudgeGrade 4

Age 9

Christmas means spending time with my family. We decorate the tree with shiny ornaments. We give and receive presents from each other. My grandma and I make cookies in her oven. We ice them when they’re done. For me and my grandma, making cook-ies is a special thing for us. On Christmas morning I am very excited. My mom and dad and I open our presents to see what we received. When I get new gifts I get very excited. When it’s Christ-mas day, I play with my new toys. After a little while, I phone my friend Hannah to ask her what she got, and then I tell her what I got. Christmas is a special time for my family.

Lashaina KailerGrade 4

Age 8

Christmas means spending time with my family and decor-ating cookies. We also decorate the Christmas tree and give and receive. My mom and sister go out and sing Christmas carols. My dad and I go play hockey. We also

sit around the camp fire and roast hotdogs. We eat a big turkey. It is good. We sometimes buy a puppy if we are good. We buy a book for each other. We sleep most of the day. Christmas means having fun.

Jaylen MillerGrade 4

Age 9

Christmas was the day Christ was born. To me Christmas mean’s getting together whith my family and friend’s. It’s not about presant’s or a Christmas tree’s it’s not about the fancy’est house on the block. It’s about your family you caring you sharing you lising to youre parent’s when they tell you to clean youre bedroom. It dos’ent mater if you get presant’s or not it maters that you are there spending time with your family. But that’s just my apinyin.

Elissa KitchenerAge 9

I think Christmas means a won-derful time of the year. It’s when I get to see my family and friend’s. When Christmas comes my house fills up with love (and presents.) My grandma and grampa come from town, my cousin’s and aunt’s and uncle’s come from Victoria! But my other cousin’s come from town too! Here’s the amazing part, my aunt and cousin come all the way from Calgary! “I cant wait to see them.”

We have our dinner on Christmas Eve. We have turkey, mash potato’s and gravy I won’t forget the vege-

tables. We usualy eat at my grand-ma’s house.

She’s a good cook. And for des-sert, well I don’t exactully know its usaully a suprize. That night we usaully get to open one pres-ent. Which is always pagamas and something little. Like lotion or a little game to play. Then in the morning we open our stockings and wait for our family to wake up so we can open our presents. That’s what Christmas means to me. Santa you rock!

Marlena LockeAge 9

To me Christmas means spend-ing time with your family. And it sometimes means going on vaca-tions. And it means having a spe-cial dinner. And Christmas alsomeans joy, love and peace. And Christmas is also a time to put up your Christmas tree. And it also means putting up your Christmas decorations. And it also snows. And it’s kind of about Christmas parties too. And Christmas is also about friendship. And sometimesChristmas is about having fun.

Nikki AquinoAge 9

Christmas mean seeing my fam-ily and all have dinner. Unwrapingpreasents and seeing what you got.One of my favorite things to do is decorate the Cristmas tree red, blue and greean decoration’s. Oneof the thing’s I like to do is count down the day’s on the advent cal-ender. Decorating your house I’simportant couler is one thing youneed a lot of my house has a lot.

Tristyn BouverAge 9

Chrismas means family and lots and lots and lots of love andpreseints. Kids/tenagers comeing tovisite there family and haveing a big Christmas dinner. The only way u’ll get presants is if you’re verry verrygood and you listen very very well.On Christmas eve night you’ll here a loud lauge that sounds like this….HO HO HO – MERRY CHRISTMAS!Then when you wake up in the mor-ning tey’ll be thousands of presants under the tree. He’ll also fill up you’re stocking if you have one. Wellthat’s wat Christmas means to me!

Aneka Jean Anton ChukAge 9

Season’s GreetingsThursday, December 23, 2010 Alberni Valley Times • 3B

Merry Christmas From John, Trisha & All The Staff

Victoria Quay & Southgate Road • 250-723-9323

8:30 am to 12 noonEvery Saturday

at theHarbour Quay

ExperienceExperiencethethe

ExtraordinaryExtraordinary

Producers committed toProducers committed to bringing Valley residents thebringing Valley residents the very best they have to offer.very best they have to offer.

All the local vendors at the Farmers Market

would like to wish everyonea Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year all the best in 2010

Christmas through the eyes of a child

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Family is what Christmas means to me. My brother always comes home for Christmas. We always play road hockey if it is not snowing out-side. I remember once my brother Jarett took a slap shot from the point and made a hole in the net.

Family is extra special at Christmas time. One of my favourite traditions is having a snow ball fight with my family. I really want to get a new sled and go down my big hill. That would be fun. I love going racing with my friend his sled is really fast.

I see him whiz pass me. For some reason my sister always

gets the coldest snow on the side of my yard. Whenever I come inside from sledding I always drink nice and warm hot chocolate. I alwaysgo down really big hills with my brother. I really like sledding in deep snow.

My favourite thing to do atChristmas time is having snow ball fights. I love eating dinnerwith my family. I love eating tur-key with stuffing in it. All my relatives come to eat at my house.We usually eat and watch a movieat the same time. You can alwayssmell the turkey from downstairs.We always get Christmas crackers.I love giving presents to my unclebecause he gives me one too. Eat-ing Christmas dinner with my family is a great tradition.

Jimmy HassallAge 10

Grade 5

Christmas means family to me.At Christmas all my family comes.We always eat a large dinner withmy family. My family alwayswatches a movie after the dinner.Most of them leave at 10:30. I liketo play with my cousins. We dofun stuff at my house. My mom’sbrother brings a present for every-body. We stay at home most of thetime. But we some time go to my uncles house. My family means a lot to me. One of my favoritethings to do at Christmas is to decorating the tree.

Every Christmas my dad and sister decorate the Christmas tree.The tree is dark green with pointy ends. I love to put the star or angelon top of the tree. After the tree gets really shiny and sparkly with the lights. We always get the Christmas tree from Zellers.I like building the tree. It comes in 5 different parts. It’s coveredwith green and red lights. I loveto decorating the tree. One of my favorite Christmas traditions is snow games. I like to play snow games with my sister. I like to play tag games. My favorite game is to play snow ball tag. I like the softsnow sound. I like going sledding. It is my favorite thing to play.

Shawn RaiAge 9

Grade 4

Family is what Christmas meansto me. I like to have Christmas dinner at their houses and play attheir houses too. I barely get to see my grandma and grandpa. Eachday we go to someone’s house to open presents. We always makecards for people. I like to hear my family laugh and smile at Christ-mas. My favourite tradition is Christmas Eve. It is really hard to go to bed on Christmas Eve. Every year we have a family dinner. I’m really excited for opening presents.I like to watch Christmas moviewith my family. Christmas Eve is always a lot of fun. We always open presents at my family’s houses. Weplay tag before we open presents. I always get cars from my uncleGreg. I really like getting Lego. Iplay hide and go seek in the dark with my cousins. I love openingpresents at my family’s houses.

Seth ValleeAge 9

Grade 4

Season’s Greetings4B • Alberni Valley Times Thursday, December 23, 2010

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How the real Santa Claus ended up living in Alberni ValleyFLORENTIA SCOTT FOR THE TIMES

There are people playing Santa in Port Alberni who go to great lengths to hide their true iden-tity from the children who sit on their laps and gaze at them with tremulous awe. But Roy Gunter-Smith doesn’t worry about that. Because the children that he vis-its at Christmastime know who he is, and know that he’s the real Santa.

His first Santa gigs were in Vic-toria, helping out a friend who runs a day care centre in her home. As he and his wife Kathy stay with this friend when they’re visiting the provincial capital, one little boy saw him, out of costume, sitting at a computer checking his e-mail. The child came closer and watched careful-ly as Gunter-Smith typed, calling out when he saw the first letter of his name on the screen. When Gunter-Smith asked him what the matter was, the little one said that when he saw the first letter of his name come up, he wanted to see if he was on the “naughty” or “nice” list.

“They all know me as Santa, even when I’m not dressed as Santa,” he said. “They ask where I keep the reindeer and if they can really fly.”

Gunter-Smith usually plays Santa for his grandchildren. One

year, the children came into his bedroom and noticed the Santa suit strewn around.

The conclusion they reached was that their grandpa was the real Santa. They shared their dis-covery with all the children in the neighbourhood, and soon a com-plex mythology grew up around Gunter-Smith. For instance, it became known that he only wore the red suit at parties. The rest of the time he dressed just like everyone else.

His granddaughter Vanessa delighted in showing her play-mates where Santa’s par ty clothes were stored. The next day, a little boy asked his grand-mother if she knew that the real Santa Claus lived just next door. The child knew he was the real Santa because he had seen the hat in his closet.

In fact, there is something dis-tinctly Santa-like about Gunter-Smith’s bearing. His hair, bushy beard and eyebrows are nearly white and his cheeks are rosy. Careful dieting has trimmed his girth somewhat. After all, it wouldn’t do for Santa Claus to be modelling unhealthy diet-ary habits to young children, would it? His eyes twinkle mer-rily, whether handing out gifts, flipping burgers at his bi-weekly community barbecues, serving up meals for the needy at the Bread

of Life or relating his globe-trot-ting adventures.

Gunter-Smith has made sever-al appearances as Santa in Port Alberni, for quilters’ children at the Pincushion, for great-grand-children of Fir Park residents and for Elim Pre-School.

His Santa suit is handmade by Mrs. Santa Claus, Kathy Gunter-Smith, who hovers around tak-ing pictures. After a little girl, pointing to the spats pulled on over his shoes, leaned over to Kathy and whispered that Santa’s shoes appeared to be broken, he acquired a pair of shiny black boots.

“I do it to help friends and to have fun with the kids, that is, the ones who don’t go catatonic when they sit on my lap,” he said. “Some of them are just terrified. I talk quietly to them, ask if they’ve been good, and ask what they want for Christmas.”

Some children know exactly what they want and rattle off their lists confidently, as their nearby parents listen nervously to requests for ponies. Some appear to have been coached.

“I want peace on Earth, good will to people of all races and creeds and a Lego set,” seems a bit rehearsed to Gunter-Smith.

“One little boy just said he didn’t know yet,” he said. “I thought that was cute.”

The real Santa Claus sits with two-year-old Ashton Whipp at a Fir Park gathering for great-grandchildren of residents. [FLORENTIA SCOTT, FOR THE TIMES]

What does Christmas mean to you?

Page 5: Season's Greetings supplement

Season’s GreetingsThursday, December 23, 2010 Alberni Valley Times • 5B

Season’s GreetingsSeason’s Greetings

from Citizen Advocacy Society

No matter how you say it, we hope that yourholiday is perfect in every way.

With thanks for your generous support. Ed Alain Andy Kam Denis Lars Ted Brad

3120-2nd Ave. 250-724-5221

No matter how you say it, we hope that your holiday is

perfect in every way.

With thanks for your generous support.

Phone: 250-724-3241 Fax: 250-724-7117 Toll Free: 1-800-830-1066 4907 Argyle Street, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 1V6www.macdermott.com

Happy HolidaysHappy HolidaysHappy Holidaysfrom all of us!

CelebratingCelebratingourour

102nd102ndAnniversary!Anniversary!

ProudProudsupporter ofsupporter of many eventsmany events

ininPort AlberniPort Alberni

All of us at MacDermott’s Insurance wish

our family, friends and clients a safe, healthy and happy

Holiday Season and a prosperous

New Year.

All of us atAll of us at MacDermott’sMacDermott’s Insurance wishInsurance wish

our family, friendsour family, friends and clients a safe,and clients a safe, healthy and happyhealthy and happy

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Seeing similarities in traditional holidaysFLORENTIA SCOTT FOR THE TIMES

Decorations, Santa Claus, Christ-mas carols, greeting cards and the frenzy of last-minute shop-ping are familiar and comfortable signs that one year is ending and another beginning for those of us raised in North America.

But Sandeep Pannu, whose Canadian experience is just four months old, has never experienced Christmas before.

Pannu is a Sikh, from the Punjab region of India. She only knows one person back home who celebrates Christmas. Pannu, her family and most people in her community have their big seasonal festival of Diwali in November. Sikhs, Hindus and Jains observe the five-day holi-day throughout the world.

Diwali is actually short for Dee-pawali, a Sanskrit word meaning “row of lamps.” Called the “fes-tival of lights,” Diwali proclaims the victory of good over evil, the uplifting of spiritual darkness.

Like North Americans, Punjabis celebrate their big holiday with special foods, gifts and decora-tions. Families share sweet dishes like gulab jamun, which is a sweet, deep-fried dumpling, or barfee, which is like fudge.

Homes, businesses and temples are decorated with candles and oil lanterns. Party crackers are given out. Most Indian businesses begin their financial year on the first

day of Diwali.“Children like to buy new dresses

and give relatives sweets and gifts in the evening, so we can see the lights,” Pannu said. “We go into the temples to pray and light the candles. We give presents to close relatives only and celebrate with a special dinner with our immediate family only.”

She enjoys the Christmas decor-ations, which she finds “very pretty,” especially the lights, which remind her of Diwali.

“The lights are the same as Diwali, but a little bit different,” she said. “We don’t have animals or plants in our displays, just lights.”

Pannu came to Port Alberni to live with her aunt. She intends to stay. She is working four jobs right now. She is a trained esthet-ician who works one day a week at Capelli’s. She also cleans rooms as a chambermaid at Timber-lodge, babysits and works as a seamstress.

“This town is very quiet,” she said. “It looks very nice and the best thing is that many people here are helpful.”

The big snow dump in Novem-ber was the first time Pannu had ever seen snow. Even though she slipped and fell while walking to English classes at Literacy Alberni, she still loves it.

“It’s very good – very pretty,” she said.

Sandeep Pannu is excited about her first Christmas, and is already enjoying some of its traditions. [FLORENTIA SCOTT, FOR THE TIMES]

Brady CurrieAge 8

Caleb MarshallAge 8

Alex SimpsoAge 8

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KRISTI DOBSON FOR THE TIMES

Most families in Port Alberni will experience the thrill of seeing their children’s eyes light up when they wake up Christmas morning and see what is under the tree.

Few people, though, have the opportunity to see that same wide-eyed wonder of a child whose par-ents cannot afford to buy them much.

For The Salvation Army’s Cap-tain Neil Wilkinson, the Christ-mas season is more than just a busy time at his job, it is a lifestyle all year round. Giving back to the community is his passion as a pastor of The Salvation Army Church, his mission as his service

to God and his duty as a parent to share with his family.

Wilkinson and his wife, Crys-tal, both pastors at The Salvation Army Church, were appointed in July 2004. Wilkinson grew up in a small farming community in Ontario, so the transition to Port Alberni was not difficult.

“I already had the small town feel in me, and I appreciate and value that,” Wilkinson said.

Christmas for his family is wrapped in rich tradition. The family, including two sons, ages 12 and 16 and one daughter, 14, attend the church candlelight service on Christmas Eve.

“After visiting family and friends there, we go home and open our

one Christmas Eve present, usu-ally pyjamas so we can have new ones to wear in the morning,” Wil-kinson said.

His role, similar to Santa Claus at this time of year, brings joy to the family.

“So much so that it doesn’t feel like work,” he said. “It is who we are.”

Wilkinson admits though, that it feels like a double-edged sword when the need in the community

is so great that it becomes over-whelming. At the same time, he said it is humbling and emotional when he and his wife can fill in the gap and provide for the less fortunate.

Each year, Wilkinson meets a few new families who have never had to ask for help before. They come in meek and shy, but their gratitude is often demonstrated by tears of joy.

Later in the year, when their situation has changed for the bet-ter, he has seen them return to help out as volunteers.

He is not alone in his Santa-likerole. It takes an army of volunteer“Santa’s helpers” throughout the season.

The largest fundraiser is the annual kettle campaign, which takes place over 30 days. There are five kettles out daily for 10 hoursper day, totalling approximately 1,600 work hours.

Inside the donation depot, thereis a buzz of activity all month with workers sorting food and cloth-ing donations, assembling ham-pers, and then helping with their distribution.

As an advocate on behalf of thecommunity for those in need, Wil-kinson is humbled and pleased by Port Alberni’s generosity.

“The community stands behind us every year,” he explained. “AndI am pleased to be able to do this with integrity.”

Season’s Greetings6B • Alberni Valley Times Thursday, December 23, 2010

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Sharing Christmas cheer with Valley

Christmas for Salvation Army Captain Neil Wilkinson and his family is wrapped in rich tradition. Giving back to the community is their passion. He and his wife are pastors at The Salvation Army Church. [KRISTI DOBSON, FOR THE TIMES]

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Travis SmithAge 8

Maya GiesbrechtAge 8

Hunny Lucas Age 8 Me and my friend the snowman are putting up a Christmas tree.

Kaleb GalenzoskiAge 8

Page 7: Season's Greetings supplement

I believe Christmas is spend-ing time with friends and family. I sing songs and play games. On Christmas I sit around a tree and give presents to my family. We frolic with our new toys. I love to give presents to my family. That is what Christmas means to me.

Hunter BuxtonAge 9, Grade 4

To me Christmas means mem-ories. Every year when we decorate the tree I say “Hey, I remember this.” Most of our decorations are home made from school and at home. Every year before Christmas me and my brother have to do a room clean out. When I go through my room I remember the toys I got last year. My cousin Bobbi has a lot of my old toys. When I go over there I remember my childhood. Even sometimes I get new toys and they remind me of my old ones.

That’s why memories are import-ant to me at Christmas.

Christmas morning is my favour-ite part of Christmas. On Christmas morning I love to get up early. One Christmas morning I got up at 5:00 am! When I get up I’m not allowed to open presents till my mom and dad get up. We aren’t allowed to open our presents till we open our stock-ings. When I get up early I always look over the presents. Every single Christmas I watch Rudolph the red nosed reindeer. It’s a great movie!

Christmas morning is awesome when everyone is asleep but me. When I get up I can smell the smell of the Christmas treats. That is why I love Christmas morning! Christmas Eve is really fun to me. On Christmas Eve we always go to my Aunty Lyyn’s house. We watch to see where Santa is on the computer.

On Christmas Eve my brother and

I get one present. We always get pyjamas. At my Aunty Lyyn’s house I can feel the warmth of the fire. All of my family comes to my Aunty Lyyn’s house. We go there for din-ner with the family. When we go we get one present form every member of the family. My Aunty Lyyn wraps the presents all fancy. She puts rib-bons and other stuff on them. They are really hard to open. That’s why I truly love Christmas Eve!

Gabrielle EyfordAge 9

I believe Christmas is spend-ing time with friends and family. I sing songs and play games. On Christmas I sit around a tree and give presents to my family. We frolic with our new toys. I love to give presents to my family. That is what Christmas means to me.

Hunter BuxtonAge 9, Grade 4

To me Christmas means peace.

We find peace when we sit by the Christmas tree and sing carols. We bring peace to each other as a family. As we share happiness we share love. The warmth of the fire brings feelings of joy.

My Mom’s angel that hangs on the tree is a symbol for peace on earth. Peace is what Christmas is all about. Decorating the tree is my favourite thing to do. We have a big Santa that sits on top of the tree.

My mom has some shiny glass spheres to hang on the tree.

Another thing we put on the tree is a mini bedded spider that Linda made me. There is one decoration that I found when I was digging in the backyard when I was 5 years old.

Decorating is really fun. My favourite meal of the year is the giant Christmas dinner.

One of my favourite things is the

wonderful smell in the kitchen. Creamed corn is a very tasty appe-tizer. For the main course is the delicious, succulent turkey. Next up is the stuffing. The stuffing is usually stuffed in the turkey. Final-ly, my mom dishes out the plump apple pie. I feel like a stuffed tur-key after I’m done eating. Very full! Christmas dinner always comes with a surprise in store.

Kalis CurrieAge 11

I think that Christmas is spend-ing time with family, having hot chocolate and watching a movie. Christmas is having dinner by the fire singing songs and telling stor-ies. Christmas is decorating the tree and having fun. Christmas is making cookies and milk for Santa. Christmas is about lights shining as bright as they can glow. That what Christmas means to me.

Emma AudetAge 9, Grade 4

FLORENTIA SCOTT FOR THE TIMES

Before the maamaxnii, or Europeans, brought Christian-ity to the Alberni Valley, First Nations people did not celebrate Christmas.

But, the Tseshaht people did have a special way of marking the end of one year and the start of the next.

According to Irene Robinson, family literacy co-ordinator at Knee-waas, who shared the knowledge passed to her by her mother, Kathy Robinson, the Tse-shaht prayed all day to the Naas, the Creator. Many, including the Robinsons, continue the practice to this day.

“You pray for safety and for good things to come. You do this twice a year, on the longest day and the shortest day,” Robinson explained. “I don’t know if you’d call it a cele-bration. It’s recognizing that the year is changing. It’s not some-thing that’s done as a band, but is done individually.”

And, if you’re not free to spend the entire day alone in prayer, then you pray whenever you can. There is no specific wording or shape to the praying.

“Sometimes prayer is in a song. Sometimes it’s in words. There’s no correct way or wrong way to say a prayer,” Robinson said. “Whatever you’re feeling in your heart, you say that. That’s your prayer.”

Robinson’s mother remembers when the Tseshaht first started

celebrating Christmas in the 1930s and 1940s at T’iipis (Polly’s Point), when Watty Shewish was chief.

“Everything happened at the chief ’s house,” she said. “He invited everyone to his home and fed them dried fish, candies and Japanese oranges that he got for

25 cents a box at K Charlie’s Store. There was singing and dancing.”

Later, when Adam Shewish was chief, he would buy turkeys. Everyone would go to the Somass Hall to celebrate. Parents would bring gifts to give to their children at the event.

These days, the band holds a bigChristmas supper, where Santa comes and distributes presents to the little ones.

“We celebrate Christmas just like everybody else,” Robinson said.

She remembers when she wasyoung, they sang hymns and car-ols in the church on the reserve. In the 1960s, the nativity scene was re-enacted in the Tseshaht language, with a canoe on stage.

Today’s Tseshaht reflect the diversity of beliefs present in the broader society. Some are Christian, some have returned to traditional practice, others aren’treligious. But, Robinson feels thattraditional First Nations beliefsare compatible with what mostChristians believe.

“Our beliefs are pretty parallel in how you conduct yourself,” shesaid.

“You treat people fairly withlove and respect. You don’tdo anything to them that youwouldn’t want done to you or yourchildren. If someone is homelessor alcoholic, you don’t look downon them. You take them into yourhome and you feed them.”

Season’s GreetingsThursday, December 23, 2010 Alberni Valley Times • 7B

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LIttle Jorja John and her mother, Brooke Frank, are looking forward to Christmas. [SHAYNE MORROW, TIMES]

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Page 8: Season's Greetings supplement

Season’s Greetings8B • Alberni Valley Times Thursday, December 23, 2010

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Looking back on meaning of family Christmas in 1951 BY RON FROLIC

How could I have imagined what the future had in store for me, back in Regina, 1951?

We had just moved into a larger house across the street from my grandfather’s place. That in itself was an emotional experience.

December had arrived and along with it were the blustery winds of winter. The tem-perature had dropped that night to a snow-crunching -36 C. As Mom and Dad made preparations, I knew it would be a special time for me.

Being five years old, I had not yet experi-enced “a magical night.”

After supper, my brother and I were sent to our room to tidy up and put on our pyjamas while my dad set up the Christmas tree in a pail of wet sand. I remember see-ing him cut limbs off the bottom of the tree and insert them in other locations within the tree to fill thin spots. Mom would take a few of the branches to make decorations around the house such as a wreath for the front door.

Yes, winter had arrived. The frost had cov-ered the lower portion of the wood-framed storm window, which gave us some extra protection from the cold. If you put your palm on the layer of frost, the fantasy swirls and sparkles would melt leaving the impres-sion of your palm, fingers and thumb.

Looking through transparent holes in the frost, one could see the full moon, painted on a ceiling of black, and twinkling stars. The snow was fresh and seemed to blanket the city in a frosting of white. The roof and trees appeared as ghosts on the horizon.

We heard the familiar voice coming from the living room. It was Mother. My sisters had completed the dishes and all seemed ready for the Christmas pageantry to begin.

We rushed down to find the tree standing tall, naked and smelling like a fresh forest rain. Dad had carried up from the basement the old apple box, full to the top with pre-cious decorations.

Mom was the one to orchestrate the activity. She had a creative side to her. Jobs were delegated. Dad checked out the three strings of lights. The slightly pointy, glass light bulbs of green, blue, red, yellow and white had to be screwed back into their sockets along the strand and plugged into the wall to be sure all would light up. Added to this delight were strange, tall bubblers, and lights that would twinkle. I was fascin-ated by this spectacular display, and was told it had to do with the heat of the bulb. I can hear my mother now, “Ronnie, don’t touch that bulb! It’s hot. You’ll burn your

fingers.” You know, she was right.The lights were wrapped around the tree.

Each one had to be secured to a branch so it could be seen clearly. Some were unscrewed and a foil of sorts placed around it, which brightened its effects.

Next came the garland, prepared the day before out of popcorn and strands of col-oured paper glued together to form a long,colourful chain link.

The glass balls and figurines were care-fully unwrapped and inspected. They musthave been precious, because only my moth-er and sisters were allowed to handle them. I was told, “This one’s from Grandma, and that one is from Aunty Kate.”

What was the big deal? They all lookedold. There were special decorations to hang on the tree, decorations that told of leaneryears, years when even a dollar was scarce and if you had one, it was saved or doledout in a miserly way. Decorations made out of old Christmas cards formed into a cone in which were placed a few hard candies,stars that were three dimensional, made of scraps of coloured paper, walnuts covered with shiny, silver paint and a wire insertedto hang them on the tree. Our Christmas inheritance, saved from the war years andthe bleak years of the Great Depression, were reminders of Christmases, which were happy occasions but with few or no presents.

Finally, out came the bag of silver tinsel. Separating them, we all took turns layingstrands of glittering silver over the surface of the tree.

The tree was pushed back into the corner. Dad placed the angel on the top of the tree,and Mom covered the base of the tree with a white fluffy sheet. The tree was plugged in and the room lights turned off.

It was then that I noticed that the rec-ord player had been quietly turning out Christmas songs, I’m Dreaming of a WhiteChristmas, Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeerand Deck the halls.

Presents were placed under the tree.These I knew were from my family. Whatwould Santa bring? Would it be the electric train I saw at Eaton’s, or would it be the tri-cycle from Simpson’s?

I’d been mostly a good boy. “Santa wouldunderstand those forgetful moments,wouldn’t he Mommy?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” she said, now off to bed. Santa can’t come unless you’ve climbed into bed and gone fast asleep. So off you go!”

That night when I plunged myself underthe covers, I could still see through theclearing in the frosted window and I’m sure I could hear, “Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.”

Joseph Ramstad Age 9

My family is getting together and building a snowman on Christmas.

Rayna Ben-nie, age 6

Page 9: Season's Greetings supplement

Season’s GreetingsThursday, December 23, 2010 Alberni Valley Times • 9B

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At the Bread of Life, it’s all about givingKRISTI DOBSON FOR THE TIMES

Cindy Sjoholm enjoys the gift of being surrounded by two fam-ilies at Christmastime.

At this time of year, when offices everywhere are taking part in Secret Santas and holi-day parties, Sjoholm is helping to keep people in her workplace warm and fed.

“I get to be Santa Claus all year round because of Port Alberni,” Bread of Life administrator Sjoholm said.

Last year was the most mem-orable Christmas of the three years Sjoholm has been with the organization. She had just moved and was still living out of boxes. With no decorations hung and without family in town, she went to the Bread of Life. This time, not as an employee, but to spend time and festive cheer with the clients.

The Alberni Valley Bulldogs had “decked the halls” and a big turkey dinner was prepared.

“That was Christmas,” Sjoholm said. “It was so full and the place was mayhem. It wasn’t a job that day. I was able to stand back and observe.”

She saw the same man who comes in each year for his job of buttering the buns and the smiles on the children’s faces when they received their toys.

For some, Sjoholm said, that Christmas dinner is all they have.

Their g ratitude, however, is demonstrated year-round. Sjoholm remembers one man who came up behind her and pulled out the label at the back of her shirt.

“I turned around and he said, ‘Made by an angel, just like I thought,’” Sjoholm said.

Her office is full of gifts of paintings, poems, cards, angels and ornaments. Originally own-ing one or two Garfield figurines of her own, she now has a collec-tion over-flowing a shelf.

In return, Sjoholm gives the gift of a listening ear and shoulders to cry on.

“We give a lot of hugs here,” she said. “There are some ser-

ious problems, and people come in to unload and leave. I am here to listen to them.”

Sjoholm rarely has to look far to see random acts of kindness from residents wanting to help the less fortunate. This rings true even more at this time of year.

Three years ago, Sjoholm was dealing with a badly leaking roof by trying to lead the water

down a string into a bucket. A local business man saw her and made a donation. The following year, he came back and made a $10,000 donation, specifically for the roof fund.

“I thought I read the cheque wrong,” said Sjoholm, adding that she sat down and simultan-eously knocked everything over on the table. “With some fund-

raising, we were able to make up the difference.”

Community groups, schools and individuals are also gener-ous and creative in their giv-ing. Eighteen classrooms in the Alberni school district collected donations and put together giftbaskets. Because of the num-bers involved and the respect for confidentiality, the students were not able to meet all of therecipients, but Sjoholm chose six single women who would person-ally be given their gifts.

“One [of the women] was so tough, I told [the students] they’d break her heart,” Sjoholm said.

The Bread of Life is a Christian-based organization, run solely by donations.

There is no external income or government funding, which allows Sjoholm to freely giveitems to those in need without leaving a paper trail. She works with a community network, including counsellors and mental health workers, and is often thego-to person for anyone in crisis. She is able to provide food, tents,baby items and other necessities in a hurry.

The organization also providesan in-house nurse station three days a week, and a doctor is available on Fridays.

Meals are provided out of dona-tions and food drives and any extras are available to take home over the weekends.

Once again this year, the soup kitchen will be decorated, a tree put up and a turkey served. But for most who attend, it will be just another day. Although their gratitude may come in silent ges-tures or not at all, they feel luckyto live in a community like Port Alberni among hardworkingpeople like Sjoholm.

Bread of Life administrator Cindy Sjoholm spends the Christmas season helping to keep Alberni Valley residents in her workplace warm and fed. [KRISTI DOBSON, FOR THE TIMES]

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Grace Holmquist, Age 8 - Family getting together on Christmas.

Page 10: Season's Greetings supplement

Season’s Greetings10B • Alberni Valley Times Thursday, December 23, 2010

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Christina McCaig can still remember the excitement she felt on Christmas morning when she was a child. She will be 92 years old in May.

“I just remember it being a good time. It was very exciting when I was a child,” McCaig said.

To the 91-year-old, Christmas isn’t quite as exciting as it used to be but she still loves the holidays.

McCaig grew up on a farm near Wetaskwin, Alta. She remembers the days leading up to Christmas when she was always busy baking with her mother.

“I guess you’d call it a tradition. There was lots of food. There were tarts and my mother made mince meat and pies,” McCaig said.

For many people, the excitement leading up to Christmas includes decorating the house and the tree. But for McCaig, that wasn’t the case. When she was a child, it was common for parents to decorate on Christmas Eve while the children slept.

“My mom and dad never did any decorating until Christmas morning. It was always a surprise when we woke up,” McCaig said. “They decorated the ceilings, walls and the tree while we slept. My poor mom never slept. I would have been in a bad mood.”

McCaig said she remembers racing to the tree every Christmas morning with her brother.

“We were always neck and neck,” she added.

On Christmas day, McCaig and

her family would spend most of the day at their neighbour’s house.

For McCaig, one of her most memorable Christmases was when she was around 12 years old. Her parents bought her a horse saddle, and the following year she received jingle bells.

“I can still remember the sound they made when I trotted off to

school,” McCaig said. “Those were two of my better Christmases.”

McCaig moved to Port Alberni about six months ago from Vic-toria. She is now an Abbeyfield resident.

“My son and daughter live here at Sproat Lake so I thought it was best to move here.”

[email protected]

91-year-old woman still feels excitement during Christmas

At the age of 91, Christina McCaig can still remember the excitement she felt on Christmas morning when she was a child. [SIOBHAN BURNS, TIMES]

SIOBHAN BURNS ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES

For 83-year-old Erika Mayr, the

basic traditions of Christmas haven’t changed that much since she was a child.

“Christmas was very conven-tional, as far as I remember,”Mayr said, adding that she and her family exchanged gifts and there was always a Christmas tree that they decorated together.

“On Christmas Eve we had a celebration of gifts and the Christmas tree was lit,” she said.

Mayr will be spending Christ-mas with her family and friends at Abbeyfield throughout theholiday season, which is some-thing she is looking forward to.

Mayr moved to Port Alberni in1951 from Germany and has lived in the Valley ever since.

She has been an Abbeyfield resi-dent for five months.

[email protected]

Newberry remembers a much simpler holidaySIOBHAN BURNS ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES

Ninety-four-year-old Mary Ella New-berry has seen a lot of changes in the way Christmas is celebrated. When she was a child, it was a much simpler holiday.

“I grew up in the country on a ranch in South Dakota. Christmas was very simple,” Newberry said. “We always had a Christmas tree, but we didn’t have stockings.”

Newberry said she remembers open-ing her presents on Christmas Eve, as Christmas day was time for family and friends. And she still believes the holiday is a time to spend with those she loves.

“On Christmas day we either went to relatives or friends for Christmas dinner at noon, or they came to our place,” she said.

Newberry originally moved to Port Alberni over 50 years ago for work. She worked at Woodwards and Zellers and her husband worked in construction. She is now a resident at Abbeyfield, where she has lived for the past seven years.

Newberry is looking forward to spending this holiday with her friends and family at the care facility.

[email protected]

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For Erika Mayr, Christmas hasn’t changed that much since she was a child. The Abbeyfield resident remembers the holiday as ‘conventional’ and is looking forward to her first Christmas at the care facility.[SIOBHAN BURNS,

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Mary Ella Newberry remembers Christmas as a much simpler holiday than it is today. [SIOBHAN BURNS, TIMES]

Page 11: Season's Greetings supplement

SIOBHAN BURNS ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES

Kathleen Green remembers how excited she felt as a child when her dad pulled into their driveway after work one day. At that time his mode of trans-portation was a horse.

“Not many people had a car back then,” Green said.

That was about 84 years ago. Green and her family lived out Beaver Creek then. Times were tough and Christmas was just around the corner.

She remembers that day like it was yesterday, because she knew that her dad was return-ing with gifts from her aunt, who lived out in Cherry Creek then.

“I remember my dad came home from work with two bags full of presents from my fam-ily,” she said.

Green added that times have changed. Back then, her fam-ily decorated the Christmas tree with just about anything they could find.

“My dad would go out and chop down a tree. We didn’t have things like we have today to put on the tree, but we thought it was great,” Green said. “Anything we could get, we’d put it on the tree. It was a great time and we helped decorate.”

Green said that back then, people often decorated their trees with popcorn. She also remembers people lighting candles, but her family chose not to, as they didn’t feel it was safe.

“We didn’t have stockings and we didn’t light candles because it was too dangerous,” she said. “We always had din-ner. It was a roasted rooster, not a turkey, that my mom raised herself.”

Green, who is now 89, said she still loves Christmas.

“It’s a cheery time and it gives everyone a change of thought,” she said, adding that she spends Christmas day at her daughter’s house.

Green is an Abbeyfield resi-dent. She looks forward to par-ticipating in festivities at the care facility as well.

[email protected]

SIOBHAN BURNS ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES

For Joyce van Ingen, who was born and raised in Holland, Christmas wasn’t about presents or decorating. Back then, it was about religion.

“What I remember about Christmas is it was just a religious holiday,” van Ingen said, adding that there was a present exchange but it took place on Dec. 5, the eve of St. Nicholas Day.

This holiday is a festival for children as well as a celebration of St. Nicholas’ birth-day. His reputation is similar to Santa Claus as he is also a bringer of gifts.

Traditionally, St. Nicholas would arrive in late November, and in the days leading up to Saint Nicholas’ Eve, children would put their shoes in front of the chimneys and sing songs. On the morning of St. Nicholas Day, the children would find a small present in their shoes.

Van Ingen said she remembers attending a Sunday school event on St. Nicholas Day and when she returned home the tree was up and decorated with candles.

“When we came home someone had lit the candles. It was all Vix candles at that time. That was the surprise,” she said, adding that the tree was always decorated that afternoon by her parents.

“We were not home. It was a sur-prise, and every year it was some-thing new,” van Ingen said about the Christmas tree.

The 87-year-old has been living in Port Alberni for 60 years now. She celebrates Christmas, but every year on Dec. 6, she thinks about the way she celebrated the holiday when she was a child and just how much it has changed over the years.

At one time, van Ingen lived in Nanaimo for a short period, but she has now been a resident of Abbeyfield for the last three and a half years.

[email protected]

Season’s GreetingsThursday, December 23, 2010 Alberni Valley Times • 11B

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One thing that hasn’t changed about Christmas over the years is the excitement and hype leading up to the big day. For Ben Thomas, his favourite Christmas was when he was an adult and he spent the entire day playing with his son’s toys.

“I remember buying my son his first train set. My wife made me go to bed at 2 a.m.,” he laughed. “My daughter was mad because I played with the train set all day and not her doll and buggy.”

Ben, who turns 82 this month, said he enjoys the holidays and he is looking for-ward to the Christmas dinner.

“I’ve had 80 turkeys so far. That’s pretty nice. I hope to have at least one more,” he said.

And because Ben’s birthday is only eight

days before Christmas, he remembers receiving very little presents for his birth-day when he was a child.

“I never got any presents for my birth-day,” he added. “They were all under the tree.”

For Thomas, who was born and raised in the Alberni Valley, decorating the tree is something that has changed the most.

“I remember the first Christmas tree. They put candles on them,” he said. “I wasn’t allowed near the tree in the living-room. They were worried about it catching on fire,” the 81-year-old said.

Thomas moved to Abbeyfield about one month ago.

“I hope to spend my first Christmas here. I’ll be 82 by then,” he said.

[email protected]

Gifts arrived by horse for Green in 1926

Ben Thomas’ most memorable Christmas was when he bought his son his first train set. [SIOBHAN BURNS, TIMES]

van Ingen’s family celebrated St. Nicholas Day back in Holland

Joyce van Ingen grew up in Holland. She and her family celebrated St. Nicholas Day and presents were exchanged on Dec. 5, the eve of St. Nicholas Day. [SIOBHAN BURNS, TIMES]

Kathleen Green always looked forward to Christmas, even when times were tough. And at age 89, she still loves the holiday. [SIOBHAN BURNS, TIMES]

Beaver Creek family looked forward to delivery from Cherry Creek

Thomas remembers lighting the candles on the tree

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Season’s Greetings12B • Alberni Valley Times Thursday, December 23, 2010

Another great season is in the bag, and we hope it’s filled with good times for you and your family. We really appreciate your shopping with us this past year.

4647 Johnston Road250-723-4811

Season’s Greetings from the Buy-Low Staff

Looking forward to seeing youLooking forward to seeing you inin the New Year!the New Year!

Closed Dec. 25 ~ Re-open Jan. 11th4786 Johnston Rd. 250-723-7241

DIEVERT’S JEWELLERSPort Alberni’s Jewellery Store

Wishes Everyone Merry Christmas& a Happy New Year

Phone: 250-723-0633 4941 Johnston Rd.

Jo-Anne and her staff wish you all a happy, healthy holiday season and all the best in 2011.

We look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

alberni veterinary clinic1850 Alberni Highway, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 8P4

Providing Services in:• Radiology • Internal Medicine • Surgery • Preventative Medicine• Dentistry • Ultrasonography • Nutritional & Behavioural Counselling

For Office Hours or In Case of Emergency Please Call:

250-723-7341250-723-7341

Happy Holidays!!To all our clients and their furry family members thank you for your continued support. Have a Happy and Safe holiday and we hope to see you in 2011. Meow, Meow, Meow and Woof, Woof, Woof. All the best from everyone at the Alberni Veterinary Clinic.

alberni veterinary clinic1850 Alberni Highway, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 8P4

Celebrating Christmas for the fun of itFLORENTIA SCOTT FOR THE TIMES

How do the Chinese and the South Koreans celebrateChristmas? Pretty much the way we do, according torecent immigrants to the Alberni Valley.

Westernization has brought Christmas, with all its trimmings, to the Orient. Canadian Christmas trad-itions don’t hold any surprises for Domenica Song Jaewen and Jeff and Yono Soon, who come from South Korea.

“We have big family celebrations for the children, whoare all waiting for Christmas because they know they will get toys,” Jeff said. “We put up Christmas trees in our houses. Santa Claus comes. It’s almost the same as Canada, but without the religious aspect. Christmas is a time when we focus on peace, especially with North Korea.”

The Soons own and operate the Timberlodge and the Seh Mi Japanese restaurant in Port Alberni.

In Korea and China, the dominant religion is Bud-dhism, and the main festival at this time of year is the celebration of the Lunar New Year, which takes placeon Feb. 3 in 2011.

The Chinese lunar calendar is said to be the long-est chronological record in history. A complete cycletakes 60 years and consists of five 12-year cycles.

Legend has it that the Lord Buddha summoned all the animals before he departed from Earth. Only 12 came to bid him farewell. As a reward, he named a year after each one in the order they arrived. Bud-dhists believe that the animal ruling the year in which a person is born has a profound influence on personality.

Next year will be the Year of the Rabbit, a symbol of mercy, elegance, kindness and love of beauty.

In China and Taiwan, Christmas decorations will be up at any time of the year. Because the Chinese Buddhists don’t recognize the religious significance of the holiday, they put up decorations for foreigners andleave them up because they find them beautiful.

Simon Wong, chef at the Golden Dragon restau-rant, came to Port Alberni from Hong Kong over ayear ago.

“We celebrate Christmas the same as here,” he said, except for the snow. “There’s no snow in Hong Kong. I like to go out in it. It’s beautiful, as long as we don’tget too much. I don’t like shovelling.”

Coming from a town of seven-million people, Wongenjoys the elbow-room and relaxed pace of thiscommunity.

“People are very kind. The air is very fresh,” he said. “My children are getting a good education.”

WONG JAEWEN

What does Christmas mean to you?

Dakota Mihalj, Age 6 - Me, my family and our cat putting up the Christmas tree.

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Christmas is spending time with my family. I go our some-where and get a tree. I like decor-ating the tree with sparkles and ornaments. I like Waking up when presents are everywhere. I like going to my Grandma’s house and giving presents. I open my presents and plat with my toys I give presents to my family. I like making sugar cook-ies with my Mom. I give food to the food bank. That’s what Christmas means to me.

Haiden SimpsonAge 9, Grade 4

Christmas is making beautiful decorations to hang in the house and on the Christmas tree. I make these decorations with my mom. They are made of apple sauce and cinnamon. Christmas is also mak-ing delicious food. I make fudge, shortbread, and sugar cookies. I make the desserts with nanny. The fudge is my favorite, but the cookies are really good too. For supper my family makes turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy. I love Christmas.

Alison WeberAge 9, Grade 4

What does Christmas mean to you?

To me Christmas means getting together with family. I sit with my family around the tree and we open the presents. We take turns open-ing presents. I get to open the firstpresent. Christmas is a time to havefun with your family. My family is awesome to be around.

Getting the greenest tree with lots of braches is one of my favour-ite Christmas traditions. The big-gest tree that is the farthest in the bush is the one we look for. Youcan hear the birds chirping really loud. Getting a tree with my family is fun. I help set up Winter Wonder-land with my dad and Greg. I hear people falling and screaming. I go to Winter Wonderland with my mom and dad and my sister. Santa goes around the ice and I go on the sled with him. It is really cold. It smells like pine trees. Going to Winter Wonderland in one of thebest traditions.

Jordan GrootAge 9, Grade 4

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Page 13: Season's Greetings supplement

Christmas to me means presents and family, and Christmas parties. When I think about Christmas it makes my heart jingle, like the song some of my school friends are singing in our Christ-mas concert.

I also like to go online to see where Santa is. Christmas means family and friends get together to have a Christmas feast. I love the roast turkey the legs are my favourite. My mom says that Christ-mas to her means, love, being with fam-ily and friends and being good and nice to everyone. I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and to all a good night.

Liam Tyne Age 8

To me, Christmas is a time when family is together. When you can feel the Christ-mas spirit in the air, and in the smiles of people around you. Days spent decorating the Christmas tree and the house. Wrap-ping gifts for friends and family, listening to Christmas music, making cards, going to the post office to mail parcels, and bak-ing cookies with friends. Seeing Christ-mas light displays inside and out. That is what Christmas means to me.

Shereen PlatthoffAge 12, Grade 8

To me Christmas means family. I love to see people in my family that live out of town. I love to see my grandma and grandpa. I love spending time with my mom, my dad and Oli, my big brother. When I see people that are in my family that I have not seen in a long time I get very excited. Christmas is all about family. I really love to see my family.

I love to make cards with friends and family. Me and my mom make all sorts of cards like Christmas cards. Sometimes just me and my big brother make cards. Me my brother and my mom are the only ones that make cards in my family that live with us. Lots of times we make ten or fifteen cards in a day. Sometimes we light a candle. It smells really good. Mak-ing cards with friends and family is fun.

I love to make snow activities with my big brother. I like to make a snow family and a snowman. Lots of times I make a snow angel. When I go outside to play in the snow it is very cold. A lot of times we play at our house. Me and my brother have snowball fights. I make small snowmen and big snowmen. And the snow looks very pretty when it has just snowed. Making snow activities with my big brother is really fun!!

Madi SpeagleGrade 4, Age 9

FLORENTIA SCOTT FOR THE TIMES

When most of us think of the Nutcracker, we think of Pyotr Ily-ich Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet, which has become a fixture of the Christmas season in our culture.

Most of us probably don’t know that the carved wooden decora-tion that inspired the Russian composer originated in the rural forested areas of Germany. The Erzgebirge mountains of Saxony, where Port Alberni resident Irene Mullere comes from, are home to many fine traditional carvers.

“The Erzgebirge is Christmas land,” Mullere said. “The miners lost their work many hundreds of years ago, so they worked with wood. They make Christmas figures like the Crèche, and the angels in the windows. At Christ-mas time, the town is decorated

with these figurines, it is a won-derful time to go through.”

Mullere hails from the town ofChemnitz, near the Czech bor-der. The region was once a hub ofmining activity, as the Erzgebirge,known as Ore Mountains, werefull of tin, silver and other metals.As the deposits were exhausted,miners had to find ways to divers-ify their economy, much as PortAlberni does today.

The area soon became known forits lace making, weaving and woodcarving. And it is now famous as acentre for wood toys and religiousfigures.

Many European Christmas trad-itions flow from Saxony, includingnutcrackers, Christmas pyramids,carousels made to spin by lightedcandles and wood arcs with can-dles in the windows, representinga mine entrance.

Mullere loves Christmas, but dis-approves of the commercializationof the religious holiday.

“In Christmas, it is shopping timealso,” she said. “That is bad for meto see. That is not Christmas.”

Season’s GreetingsThursday, December 23, 2010 Alberni Valley Times • 13B

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Irene Mullere remembers that as a child in Germany Christmas was not as much about the commercial side and more about the celebration.

Season has different meaning in Germany

Christmas is a time of merriment for seniorsKRISTI DOBSON FOR THE TIMES

Christmas is always an exciting time of year for families and something to look forward to.

Senior citizens have years of mem-ories of festive sights, sounds, smells and tastes that are unique to this holi-day. Once they are placed in an assisted living facility and are at varying stages of dementia, it is important to bring in all aspects of the Christmas season for residents to enjoy.

The seniors and assisted living cen-ters around town are always a bustle of activity during the entire month of December.

Leading up to Christmas Day, Fir Park and Echo Village, Rainbow Gardens, Abbeyfield and Westhaven residents make crafts, ornaments and decorations, which are used to deck the halls of the facilities and to hang on the trees.

Eileen Unger, a resident of Abbey-field, has her own handcrafted figur-ines that she brings out to share in the common area. There, residents are encouraged to participate and help organize events. Unger and Cathie Connell take pride in serving refresh-ments to guests who perform.

One of the most popular events at Abbeyfield is the Christmas readings. Four residents are chosen to read and the stories bring back memories of years gone by for everyone in the room.

The residents are are not left out of parties. Each facility hosts one for the families and a special day is set aside for the children and grandchildren of staff and residents of Fir Park and Echo Village. It is a time for families to come together during a happy season where giving and sharing fill the air.

Santa makes an appearance, with a sack full of presents to hand out. Each month the Friends of Fir Park Village host a tea for residents, but during December the volunteers make it extra special. They provide entertainment and special Christmas treats.

Community groups and schools always make an appearance to bring some festive cheer to the senior citizens. Alberni District Secondary School and elementary school choirs come in to sing, as do the Barkley Sounds Choir, the Folk Song Circle, Peter Schroeder and various church groups. Each year, the RCMP, dressed in red serge, make the rounds singing Christmas carols. The residents can often be seen sing-ing along and find great enjoyment in the performances.

The Salvation Army delivers Christ-mas messages and Sunshine Bags and the Alberni Valley Bulldogs have a tradition of bringing in teddy bears for each bedroom at Echo Village. The Girl Guides and Brownies come in to various seniors homes to help decor-ate the trees and provide a candlelight service.

“The residents love to see the young faces and share Christmas with them,” said Bunt Cranmer of Rainbow Gardens.

Cranmer has organized several activ-ities including a Rice Krispie Extrava-ganza, a lunch and viewing of the Festival of Trees at the Barclay Hotel, a Christmas-themed movie night and a Christmas carol sing-a-long.

Six years ago, Ron Paulson and Ron Doetzel initiated a special day for sen-iors at the Muliplex for Winter Won-derland. Residents are either wheeled or pulled in a sleigh on the ice, and they are treated to hot chocolate, car-ols, a visit by Santa and a performance from the Mount Arrowsmith Figure Skating Club.

On Christmas Day, residents of the facilities are given gifts and a special meal, or go to a family home to enjoy dinner there. For New Year’s Eve, Echo Village is offering an afternoon of music, entertainment, reflections of the year gone by, and a countdown, complete with the popping of the champaign.

“Everyday there is something going on,” said program director Leanne Fines. “It is a busy time of year, but the residents enjoy it.”

What does Christmas mean to you?

Ashley GrubisichAge 8

Charlie SamAge 8

Portia BernarAge 6Me and my f a m i l y a r e waiting to see Santa.

Page 14: Season's Greetings supplement

My Christmas Traditions: To me Christmas means love. To me Christmas means love, family and happiness. Christmas is a holiday full of fun to be with people you know and love dearly. On Christ-mas holidays I spend time with my family going on trips or playing in the snow. We also go around the table of how are our trips went or where did you go to get you Christ-mas tree and all the holiday gos-sip. That’s why Christmas means love, family, friendship and happi-ness TO me.

Traditional Dinner: On Christ-mas mom and I cook a traditional dinner. One of my favourite dishes are mashed potatoes. I like cook-ing mash potatoes because there easy to make and it tastes good with vegetables. I love cooking dinner with my mom cause of all the smells and decorating cookies, cakes, and other foods. I also like cooking with my mom because is makes me feel happy and warm.

Opening Presents: On Christmas morning I rush out of my bedroom and whisk to the tree. Then I get my mom and bug her to wake up so I can open my presents. Every year my mom pulls out the cam-era and takes millions of pictures of me opening my presents. I’m lucky because I get to open my lit-tlest present on Christmas Eve. I enjoy watching my family’s face light up when they open there gift’s. the best part of all about is wrapping the presents with bows, picking cards and sticking stick-ers everywhere. That’s why I love opening presents on Christmas morning.

Sofia VanpeltAge 9

Christmas means a joyful fam-ily. On Christmas I see smiles and

people full of joy and love. On Christmas I hear endless laugh-ter and squeals of glee. The temp-tation is too great, I just want to SCREAM! Everyone is happy, full of love and joy, and everyone is feels a sensation to rip and tear those sparkly parcels. My family is always joyful on Christmas.

I love decorating the Christmas tree, because I get to see all the decorations. Before Christmas I make decorations like snowflakes, long chains and many more! Some decorations feel very smooth and some are very rough. I love the smooth and shiny ones. On the top of the tree we use a angel. She is very beautiful and sparkly. The lights we use on the Christmas tree are various colors and do not get hot because I have two baby sisters who like to touch. Some lights flash and some don’t. Some flash and turn different colors. I love looking at all the decorations we have set up and the sweet smell of the Christmas tree. I love get-ting to see all the decorations wile

I hang them on the tree.I love Christmas decorating. It

feels like Christmas, it looks like Christmas too. First we lay out are village with many people and a small train, it plays music too. Then we set up our train. You can see some smoke and hear it whistle. I make decorations too. With a couple snips of the scis-sors and the crinkling of paper, you’ve got yourself a snowflake! The Christmas tree is part of the decorating too. The tree gets set up and decorated nicely. Finally it’s finished the village, train and tree. All finished decorating.

Nikita HedinghamAge 10

Baking with my mom is what Christmas means to me. I always like making brownies. My dad always takes a big piece. We can make 46, 32 extra thick or 16 brownies. I always make 16 using 1 out of 4 packs. Me and dad always sneak a piece when mom isn’t looking. Baking with mom is all about Christmas for me.

My favourite thing about Christ-mas is the party my Grammy has every year. The party is on the twenty-seventh of Novem-ber. I always like the taste of the chocolate fondue. There are many things to dip in the fondue, but my favourite part is being able to see all my friends.

Sometime around Chrismas break we get the tree. We put many sparkly ornaments on the tree. The ornaments fall on to the ground and smash in to a million pieces. When they break we don’t get all the pieces all the time. Dad gets mad at me when I drop one. I always bring a one I made at school home.

Gage CameronAge 9

I love my family 100 percent because we share memories. We give gifts and bring people together. I bake Christmas cook-ies with my mom on Christmas Eve. My brother and me love to look in our stockings and unwrap our presents. We always drink hot chocolate with my whole family

on Christmas morning. Family is what Christmas means to me.

One of my favourite Christmas traditions is snow activities. Every Christmas me and my brother have a huge snowball fight. When I go tubing I love the cool breeze in my face. And I always love making huge snow castles. Me and my dad always go and cut down a tree at this cool cool place where you can cut down your own tree and have hot chocolate and you can roast wieners. Me and my brother go and explore all the neat trees and hills. I went with my uncle Marvin too. I always go ice skating with Jordan at Winter Wonderland. When I sled I love going off huge jumps and doing cool tricks. I love snowboarding at Mt. Washinton because they have the best jumps there. Snow activities is one of the best Chritmas traditions.

Christmas morning is another great tradition I share with my family. My favourite kinds of presents are money, Lego and other cool stuff. I always like extra chocolaty hot chocolate on Christ-mas morning. My dad always has steaming roasting coffee. I love unwrapping the crystal bright presents very slowly. Seeing all the different glossy ornaments on the Christmas tree. Christmas morning is one of the best Christ-mas traditions. I wake up at six in the morning to wake up my dad. I watch some cartoon till my dad wakes up.

Greg WiatrAge 10, Grade 5

Family is what Christmas means to me. I go and visit my dad on the main land. I always get to see my family that lives in Alberta. My family gets brought together for a big family dinner. We sometimes look at Christmas photo and family photos. I always hear laughter and joy at my house for Christmas. To me Christmas is all about family.

One of my favourite things about Christmas is Christmas morning. I always open my stocking first. I always feel happy when other people open gifts that I get them. I always get u really early to open my stocking. I always save my advent calendar until Christmas morning. This is why I love Christ-mas morning.

I love going Christmas shopping. I always get excited when I think I get something good. I always get my mom a tea cup. Each year I get my brother a gift card. My favour-ite place to shop is Nanaimo. I always get my family’s presents a week early. Christmas shopping is a fun tradition.

Noah WasdenAge 10, Grade 5

Family is what Christmas means to me. I love to see my family smile on Christmas day. I love sledding with my family and friends. Some-times even my baby brother goes. I love sitting by the fire with my

family, sipping hot chocolate. Imthe second in my family to open my presents. I love to spend time with my family at Christmas.

One of my favourite Christmas traditions is to make cards. I makehomemade cards. I draw pictures on my cards. I put swirls on the edges. I don’t jus give cards to fam-ily, but also friends. I glue stuff onthem like turkey’s or other ani-mals. I make them all by myself. Ilove making cards. It’s my favour-ite tradition.

Sledding is the best thing about winter. I love going really fast with my step dad. I like to get sprayedwith snow. I always wear soft and warm coats so I don’t get cold. I love racing my brother, I alwayswin. When I go sledding, windwhistles through my hair. Thetradition of sledding is fun.

Amber TimmermansAge 9, Grade 4

Family is what Christmas means to me. I like how my cousins come from out of town. I love how wehave a family dinner. I love thesmell of food across the room. It is super fun when you get yourfamily. I love it when I’m with my family on Christmas means fam-ily to me.

Every year my family has a Christmas party. You can smell the chicken across the room. I lovethe taste of the food. I like how many people come. I love watch-ing movies at the party. I like it that all my family and friends are at my house. I love having it on Christmas Eve and I like how the parties are at my house.

Another one of my Christmas traditions is snow activities. Irock at snow ball fights. I have anawesome sled. I make really huge snowmen. I have an amazing snow board. When I am snowboarding I love the feel of the snow on my face. I love my Christmas trad-itions; they are the best in the world.

Tyson DavidsonAge 10, Grade 5

Christmas is the sweet smellingof pine from the sparkling tree.The presents ride in the sleigh with Santa through the fluffy snow. There are tracks of the rein-deer on the ground.

Then I wake my mother and father with my sister and we all run down stairs and I say “look, look, lots of presents!” I jump around with lots of happiness.

We open our presents and weget a TV, toys, a bike, and more! Then we all eat a big turkey din-ner! That’s what Christmas means to me.

Hannah PleyAge 9, Grade 4

I think Christmas is to spend time with your family.

You should feel warm on Christ-mas Day. Christmas is to celebrateJesus’ birthday. Christmas is not about getting presents, it is about spending time with your family and having dinner with your fam-ily. I like to decorate the tree and I like making cookies with my Grandma.

On Christmas Day I like givingpresents to my cousins Chase and Amanda, Uncle Derek, AuntyBrenda, Gramma Jean, GrandpaAl and my Aunty Janice. That is what Christmas means to me.

Kenji BoykoAge 9, Grade 4

Christmas to me is spending time with family and making food likepeanut butter cookies and ginger-bread houses. On Christmas my family and I decorate my house.We eat Christmas dinner withturkey and candy canes and pie after dinner. I give Santa cookies and milk. I wake up a 6:00 so I can open my presents. That is what Christmas means to me.

Dustin ThompsonAge 9, Grade 4

Season’s Greetings14B • Alberni Valley Times Thursday, December 23, 2010

AL’S FEATHERSBE GONE POULTRY

PROCESSING

250-723-8307

Al & Pat Harley would like to wish all of our customers a

safe and happy holidays.

Thank you for your continued support, your business and we

look forward to seeing you in

2011

3101 Bird Avenue250.723.0111

MerryChristmas

Yates Funeral and Crematorium Service

250-723-5859

What does Christmas mean to you?

Abby NelsonAge 8

Lance Swerdfegen, age 8

Lily WallmanAge 8

Page 15: Season's Greetings supplement

Season’s GreetingsThursday, December 23, 2010 Alberni Valley Times • 15B

DE

LIV

ER

ING

OU

R B

ES

T

PPENNYWORTHENNYWORTHALBERNI VALLEY

MAY THE COMING YEAR

BRING ONLY GOOD NEWS TO

YOUR DOORSTEP.

WE’RE PROUD TO SERVE THIS

FINE COMMUNITY AND WE

THANK YOU SINCERELY FOR

YOUR READERSHIP AND

ENDLESS SUPPORT.

WITH GLAD TIDINGS TO YOU AND

YOUR KIN THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

FROM OUR ENTIRE STAFF.

I believe that Christmas is about being with family while Celebrating Jesus’ Birth-day. It’s not about receiving it’s about giv-ing. I want anything but greedy people on Christmas Day. Families spend time together sitting by the fire and drinking hot chocolate. I know that every year my family decorates the Christmas tree with lights and ornaments. Every year I stay up all night waiting for Santa. On Christmas Day we always bake a lovely meal! We have turkey, stuffing and corn on the cob. Are desert is some apple pie, blue berry pie, and ice cream. Christmas is about warm and cheerful thoughts. That’s what Christmas means to me.

Faith HolmquistAge 9, Grade 4

I believe that Christmas is the time of year to gaze at the painted with trees. It is also time for Christmas spirit, like sing-ing Christmas carols and wondering about Santa Claus.

It means spending time with family and

friends, giving and receiving. I love the marvelous feeling when waking up on Christmas morning and seeing all the fan-tastic presents! One more thing I love about Christmas is eating awesome candy canes! Have a merry Christmas AV-Times!

Jayna BurtonAge 9, Grade 4

To me Christmas is about gathering the whole family together. Christmas is play-ing with eh whole, like my cosines, broth-ers, sisters and all my pets. I play with toys that are bran new play with trains drums even candy too. Rote your teeth with the sweet’s candy. I love seeing my family.

Kole CroxenGrade 4

Christmas means bonding with my fam-ily, decorating the wonderful Christmas tree. We put all sorts of decorations on our Christmas tree like…really beauti-ful lights, Christmas ornaments, yummy Candy Canes, and sparkly streamers. The

best part is opening beautiful surpris-ing presents. Christmas is decorating the house. It’s fun just bonding with your fam-ily listening to fantastic music carolers. I love Christmas. That is what Christmas means to me!!

Tanisha KozlowskiAge 9, Grade 4

Christmas is spending time with my fam-ily. We decorate the Christmas tree togeth-er. We bake together and sing Christmas carols. My dad lifts me up to put the angel on the tree. My cousins, my brother, my sis-ter, and I like to go outside and build snow-men and snowgirls. My cousin Sonya likes to make snow angels. I like to build snow forts and snow castles. Then all of us get cold and go inside.

Usually grandma would make hot choco-late. Then we all have a short bread cookie. Then is starts to get late so that means time for bed. My dad tucks us in bed. I can’t wait till morning because it’s Christmas mor-ning so dad puts milk and cookies out for

Santa Claus. I love Christmas!Erika Price

Age 9, Grade 4

Christmas means family to me. I love see-ing my cousins on Christmas. I like decor-ating the tree with my dad and my brother. I like to see hockey games at Christmas sometimes. I love spending time watching movies with my family. Christmas is the best time to spend with family.

I love snow activities. Snowmen are cool. I got hot with a snowball in my eye. I like making snow forts in winter time. Some-times we make snow furniture in my fort. I like to feel snow; it is soft like my cat.

My favourite thing to do at Christmas time is go sledding. One time I went sled-ding on Mt. Aerosmith. One time I was sled-ding I leap on a bump. When I was sledding I crashed into someone. On Mt. Aerosmith we lost a crazy carpet. Sledding with myfamily is really fun in winter.

Gracie CraigAge 8, Grade 4

What does Christmas mean to you?Danielle Schwaier, age 8

Elijah McCool, age 8

Logan, age 8Abbie Dods, age 8

Page 16: Season's Greetings supplement

Season’s Greetings16B • Alberni Valley Times Thursday, December 23, 2010

Kinder Ramsey Sherry Brad Terry

OPENBOXING DAY 11 AM - 4 PM

With Our Happiest Thanks

& Warmest Wishes

With Our Happiest Thanks

& Warmest Wishes