Photos - 2013

Christmas Eve Feast 2013 in Photos

On Tuesday, December 24th, 2013, Sons of Italy held the eighth annual Christmas Eve Feast for approximately 450 people from Winnipeg's West End.

Working in conjunction with our major sponsors X-Cues Billiards and Café, Sorrento’s on Ellice and the West End BIZ, the Feast was our biggest ever!  The dinner featured both traditional and Italian favorites and was served at X- Cues, 551 Sargent Avenue. Food was served from 11:30 a.m. to about 2:00 p.m.   Santa and Mrs. Claus were there to add to the festivities.

The dinner is a small way to help those in the community who may find this time of year difficult by providing a hot meal, entertainment and company to share it with.  Some experienced their first Christmas in Canada and for others it provided their only holiday meal.  Along with the plentiful feast provided, everyone left with a gift bag full of treats.

This heartwarming event beautifully demonstrates the spirit of Christmas in the vibrant West End of Winnipeg.  Sal Infantino, owner of X-Cues says: “Seeing the appreciation and joy on everyone’s face is the best gift. I can’t imagine doing anything else on Christmas Eve”.

Event co-chairs Reno Augellone and John Giavedoni from Sons of Italy agree, saying “Christmas is a special time of giving for Italians and we appreciate being able to help the multicultural people in this community.”

We are again amazed at the outpouring of generosity by many local businesses that have stepped forward to make this Christmas Eve Feast an annual tradition, and would like to thank and acknowledge the list of amazing donors -- they make this wonderful event possible -- thank you very much!

Finally, we want to thank the many volunteers that are not only on-site the day of the event (click on pic above), but those that help with advance set-up, shopping, deliveries and planning - their hard work and dedication at a very busy time of year is appreciated beyond what words can express.

Click on a picture below for a larger image and to read the full caption.  Or hover over an image with your cursor to read the caption with the small picture.

images © immagine.ca
49 photo(s) Updated on: January 13, 2014
  • Gifts donated by Wpg Police Assn
  • Typical contents of a child's gift bag (plus they rec'd a wrapped gift and a sled)
  • Typical adult gift bag, containing food hamper, dental hygiene kit and socks, gloves and toque.
  • Set-up "party" can be fun
  • Working hard AND having fun!
  • Some of the amazing volunteers that make this event happen!
  • Food is in the house, and servers are ready for action
  • Those plates are looking good!
  • Ozzie providing Christmas music
  • Pasta and meatballs ... mmmm. Hey, where's the turkey?
  • The pool hall turned banquet hall was packed throughout the serving time
  • Plates are full
  • The girls are waiting to serve some yummy red velvet cake
  • Kids were lined up to see Santa and Mrs Claus
  • Every seat is filled
  • Volunteers bring milk/water/coffee to guests
  • "WOW, I get all that?"
  • A happy child as she is about to eat her Christmas meal
  • Hey, is Santa wearing a new suit this year??
  • Not everyone is happy on the big guy's knee
  • The elves chatted with guests on the way out as they handed out age-appropriate gifts
  • A full tummy AND gifts??
  • Outside, families loaded their gift bags on the gift sleds.
  • Each child received a sled and a gift bag
  • mmm, Santa was giving candy canes
  • Representatives from the Wpg Police Assn (who donated about 200 wrapped children gifts!)
  • This little guy got dressed up for the occasion
  • Everyone was happy with the food
  • We served turkey, pasta, meatballs, vegetables and roasted potatoes
  • Mrs Claus enjoyed the children too
  • Angelo, Franco and their team of elves took Santa pics and instantly printed them for the children
  • Happy faces!
  • This child was ready with a pose
  • Family pics were popular
  • Is there something Santa and Mrs. Claus should be telling us about this little Claus??
  • Smile for the camera
  • This family was waiting for the Hostess to find them seats
  • A full plate, but no smile for the camera
  • Milk, water, coffee and hot chocolate were brought to the guests at their table
  • Their mischievous smiles may make you think they are about to eat, they are actually serving to the tables
  • The event is a wonderful opportunity for families to volunteer together
  • Brothers take a moment to pose
  • Many of our volunteers return year after year
  • Who knew cleaning tables was so much fun?
  • The photography team with studio lights, laptop and 3 photo printers - no waiting
  • Clean-up on aisle one
  • Santa might be wondering how long his knees are going to last
  • All wrapped up to go, with her left-over cake-in-a-cup
  • GALA CTTE (L-R): Front: Sal Infantino, Rosy Infantino, Gloria Cardwell-Hoeppner, John Giavedoni; Back: Dino Petrelli, Franco Petrelli, Santa (Joe Leuzzi), Mrs Claus (Michelle Trakalo), Reno Augellone
Order Sons and Daughters of Italy, Garibaldi Lodge

Copyright 2024,  website by John Giavedoni,  photos by immagine.ca | photography