Eleanor Sinclair‘s Christmas wish is to see the Hudson Bay rail line to Churchill fixed. While she knows Santa won’t deliver her wish this Christmas, a holiday concert and a food hamper lifted her spirits Sunday.
“What everyone is doing to help Churchill is really so cool and greatly appreciated,” Sinclair said, sitting at a table with her family at the Town Centre Complex. The gym was packed with people.
The Manitoba Metis Federation chartered in a plane Sunday, bringing with it 110 Christmas hampers, about 200 toys and a dozen musicians and volunteers to throw a party for the community. Santa handed out gifts.
“There’s 110 families we know without a doubt, they’re going to have a full Christmas turkey dinner on their table,” said David Chartrand, President of the Manitoba Metis Federation. “I hope what resonates here before we leave is they realize they matter.”
The celebration was a massive relief for a community where food prices have jumped since flooding damaged its rail line in May, cutting its rail service.
“Right now a jug of milk in Churchill is $12 and before the train went out it was $6. And it’s $12 with the subsidies that are applied to it already,” David Daley, the President of the Chamber of Commerce in Churchill. “The school I’m pretty sure lost almost 40 kids from families moving away.”
About a dozen musicians and volunteers lead the audience sing Christmas carols, lighting up the faces of people in the crowd.
“Wonderful. Great music. Great entertainment. It was just wonderful,” said Rhoda Demeulles.
On Wednesday, close to 60-thousand pounds of supplies is expected to arrive in Churchill on cat train sleighs via ice road.
“I don’t care what time it comes here I got my cow bell ready to greet them,” Sinclair said.
