Regimental Christmas luncheon raises money to fund Christmas dinner for 500 homeless people
By Laureen McMahon

Everyone is invited to a gala turkey-and-all-the-trimmings luncheon Dec. 9 to celebrate Christmas with the British Columbia Regiment, the Duke of Connaught's Own (DCO), at the regimental drill hall at 620 Beatty Street in Vancouver.

Tickets are $35 each. To reserve, e-mail Gayle Hawthorne at ghawthorne@shaw.ca or call 604-421-1521. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m.

Proceeds to homeless

Proceeds from ticket sales will go to providing a Christmas lunch Dec. 11 for Vancouver's homeless population. Proceeds will also go to support bursaries, commemorative events, and other special events sponsored by the B.C. Regiment Association (DCO) Charitable Trust.

St. Patrick's and Archbishop Carney Regional Secondary students will again be on hand to serve the guests for the Saturday lunch along with young people from B.C. Regiment Cadet Corps and regimental association members, said HMajor Ted Hawthorne.

21st annual feast

This is the 21st year that the B.C. Regiment Association has hosted Christmas lunch for the homeless, he noted.

"We are planning to welcome about 500 people to sit down to dinner on the Saturday. Any leftovers will be turned into sandwiches to feed people on the Downtown Eastside," HMajor Hawthorne added.

There will be a silent auction and door prizes, he said, thanks to the generosity of supporters of the regimental association. Sponsors for the lunch for the homeless include the archdiocesan Catholic Charities Men's Hostel and the Salvation Army.

lmcmahon@rcav.bc.ca.