INNISFAIL – Close to the stage in the auditorium of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #104 in Innisfail, several school children at a craft table were full of excitement for everything around them.
They were, in a large meaningful way, guests of honour on Dec. 18 for the 7th Annual Johns Manville Christmas Community Dinner, now a must-attend event for hundreds of Innisfailians.
One of them was Jayden Buettner, a nine-year-old Grade 4 student from Innisfail’s École John Wilson Elementary.
He was getting help at the crafts table from school principal Angela Warke, who was delighted to be at the event where admission proceeds went towards the purchase of new books for her school’s classroom libraries.
“They (Johns Manville) do a lot to support our Innisfail community, and we are very grateful for the opportunity to be a recipient of their generosity,” said Warke, whose school received $3,970 from the 2023 Christmas dinner. “Focusing on literacy is essential for overall academic development and our students are going to love reading the new books in their classroom libraries.”
When the evening was over the event raised $4,935 from admission donations.
École John Wilson Elementary will receive $4,500 while the Innisfail and District Food Bank will get the remaining $435.
The food bank is also receiving 711 pounds of food from the event, with 500 pounds from citizen donations at the door and the remaining 211 lbs. being Johns Manville’s 18 leftover frozen turkeys.
The company’s community holiday season dinner has been growing in popularity over its previous six years.
There were so many people eager to attend the 2024 version from 4 to 7 p.m. organizers decided to open the doors early.
“We started serving 10 minutes early because people were here by 3:20,” said Cathy Ouellette, group HR leader for Johns Manville, and lead organizer for this year’s community dinner.
She pointed out all attendees would get a meal, even if they could not afford the suggested $10 citizen admission fee, or $20 for a family.
“If someone can't afford $10 we welcome them to come in and have dinner on us,” said Ouellette. “I think it's the atmosphere, sense of community, being with everyone; not only from Johns Manville but the community itself.
“It's a nice evening out, and we're trying to encourage everyone; seniors, families, singles, everyone, that they can come.”
By 4:30 p.m. the auditorium was jam-packed, with long lineups to get their Christmas meal from Johns Manville’s employees who were happy to serve everyone.
All 220 employees are involved in the event. Everyone pitches in one way or another.
“They (employees) donated 45 turkeys, 300 pounds of potatoes, over 100 pounds of vegetables, coleslaw; all the fixings,
cranberries,” said Ouellette. “People either bring in food or donate a turkey or they're here tonight volunteering and helping out during the day for the prep or this evening.
“I think at least 50 of them are here tonight.”
Jeff Andersen is the plant manager at Innisfail’s Johns Manville. He was busy serving dinners on Dec. 18.
He told the Albertan his employees began many weeks earlier with event planning, and when the big day came dozens arrived at the legion early in the morning to begin cooking.
“It is kind of a bit of the farming mentality. Everybody wants to give back. You don't have to ask. You just post a sheet up,” said Andersen of employees’ enthusiasm for the event. “It’s just great, looking at all the smiles and everyone having fun. It’s incredible.”
Many Johns Manville event volunteers remained at the legion until 10 p.m. for clean-up.
The following day was one to prepare another set of donations to vital Innisfail and area non-profits from money donated by employees and matched by the company.
Funds were also raised by employees who volunteered their time to collect and sort scrap metal at the plant, which is brought to metal recyclers for cash, and then added to the donation pile.
This year the Innisfail food bank will receive an additional donation of $4,000.
The Central Alberta Women's Emergency Shelter will get $3,000.
The Innisfail Christmas Bureau will receive $12,768.
“It’s big,” noted Ouellette of the company and employee donations. “It's a great event and great time of year, and we're glad to help.”
