Le Sapin a des boules, the French-dubbed version of holiday classic National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, has been gathering a cult following in Quebec for decades. For the past few years, Montrealers have been participating in special screenings, filling theatres and dressing up as their favourite characters.

The season of giving continues as the Ma Mawi Chi Itata centre hosted their 23rd annual Christmas hamper drive Saturday, bringing holiday cheer to 200 indigenous families across Winnipeg.

“The Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre translates from Ojibwe to we all work together to help one another, so this is really part of what Ma Mawi Wi is and it’s important that at those times when families most struggle that were there to help support them,” said Tammy Christensen, Executive Director, Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre.

Along with the 200 Christmas hampers full of all the fixings for a holiday dinner, over 500 gifts were handed out to ensure each child in the household has a surprise to open on Christmas morning.

“You see these little faces at the door, and they see you coming to deliver them and see you carrying the toys and they’re so excited they want to open the gifts right away,” said Marion McKenzie, a Volunteer.

“I get so emotional every time we talk about the hampers because it’s so important for our community,” added Marion.

“Getting to do this part with our community and then going out to deliver and see the impact it has on people; it just means the world and it’s my favourite time during the holiday season to get to do this,” said Katie McKenzie, a Volunteer.

The McKenzie’s, who have this day marked on their calendar each year, were joined by dozens of other volunteers who spent their morning preparing the hampers at R.B. Russell High School. Once all the boxes were packed and ready to go, volunteers from the community lined the streets in their vehicles to deliver the hampers to the designated households.

“It tells me Christmas spirit is live and well and it’s just wonderful to see so many of our volunteers but also so many young children today here helping. I think it’s just a wonderful message for those families and I think they’re getting so much out of it, as much as our families will,” said Christensen.

“To see their smiling faces when you go to the doorway and they receive their packages, it’s just the best feeling, that’s my Christmas,” said Brian, a Volunteer.

With the cost of inflation, Christensen says they’ve seen an increase of families in need, making this annual event even more important during the holiday season.

“It’s a tough time of year we’ve seen the economy, the cost of living has risen so it just makes it a little bit more challenging for families and this year again it’s just wonderful to be able to provide those families with a full packed Christmas hamper,” said Christensen.

Following another successful Christmas hamper drive, the Ma Mawi Chi Itata Centre say they plan to continue this holiday tradition for many years to come.

The post Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre’s 23rd annual Christmas hamper drive appeared first on CityNews Winnipeg.

Baseball Hall of Famer and former Toronto Blue Jays Rickey Henderson has died at the age of 65, according to multiple reports.

Henderson spent 24 seasons in the major leagues with nine teams including 44 with the Blue Jays during their 1993 championship season. His playing resume also included stops in Oakland, New York with both the Yankees and the Mets, San Diego, Anaheim, Seattle, Boston and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Regarded as one of the greatest leadoff hitters in baseball, he retired in 2003 as the all-time leader in stolen bases with 1,406.

Henderson would have turned 66 on Christmas Day.

The cause of death has not been announced but unconfirmed reports indicate he had been hospitalized with pneumonia.

Calls are growing from within the Liberal caucus for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down as party leader — and some have pegged Chrystia Freeland as their choice to replace him.

With temperatures plummeting this weekend, agencies that serve Ottawa's homeless population say they're ready to help.

The ice road connecting Dettah and Yellowknife has opened to light traffic, the territorial government said. It's the road's earliest opening in a decade.

In an emailed statement, Alberta Health Services said that the Stollery will have gaps for three nights as physician shifts go unfilled, but added it is trying to fill the shifts.