On Friday night I had the pleasure of joining more than 400 people at Mayes Cottage for the second annual Mayor’s Barbecue.
Last year when the pandemic hit, we knew that Christmas would be a hard time for some in our community.
Job losses, border closures and separation from loved ones were just some of the challenges people faced.
The Mayor’s Christmas Barbecue was just one way we could celebrate the magic of Christmas with some of those people doing in tough. It was such a rewarding night last year that we decided to do it again.
While there were presents from Santa, the smiles on the faces of those there was the real highlight – it was about creating Christmas memories.
We wanted to create the ultimate Christmas experience and it was a way we could give back to the community.
I was blown away by the support of our corporate partners who really came to the party for the toy drive. Their generosity was over and above, and it wouldn’t have been possible to deliver the presents we did without them. Not only was everyone able to receive a gift on the night, but it also meant there were many more distributed to kids across the city who couldn’t be there.
Christmas is so many things to so many people, but for me the gift of giving is something I really value.
Whether it’s giving someone a box of chocolates or simply giving some of your time to someone who needs a hand, I encourage you take a moment to think about what you may be able to give in the spirit of Christmas.
