On Nov. 21, The Standard reported that, with Gord’s Place closing earlier in 2019, the popular downtown holiday gathering – the Spirit of Christmas dinner – will come to an end. Taking place every Christmas Day for the past 12 years, the annual dinner attracted 500 diners for a free turkey meal for anyone in need, prepared by students and faculty in Niagara College’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute (CFWI).
Writer Gord Howard writes, “The college was a big player in the event, rounding up donations of food and supplies, packing them, cooking the meal and helping serve.”
Craig Youdale, dean of the CFWI, explains that the event was important to the College. “Anything we couldn’t get donated, the college just purchased itself.”
Without the annual dinner at Gord’s Place, NC will still be active in the community during the holidays. In December, students will prepare full turkey dinner with all the trimmings for 200 children and their families at the Boys and Girls Club in Niagara Falls.
Howard writes that the Salvation Army will plan a Christmas dinner on December 11 at Westminster United Church on Queenston Street, open to anyone, free of charge.
