More than anything else, Thanksgiving is a celebration of a bountiful harvest – which is one reason why Bradford West Gwillimbury’s rural schools have always celebrated the coming holiday with a harvest luncheon.
The lunches are community events at Sir William Osler Public School in Bond Head and Honourable Earl Rowe Public School on Line 12, Bradford West Gwillimbury. Both are rural schools, drawing many of their students from the surrounding farms and agricultural lands.
The harvest lunch at Earl Rowe is a cooperative effort. Parent volunteers cook up the turkeys, prepare stuffing and gravy, and serve the students in the gym – but the students are involved as well.
“They made coleslaw, they made cranberry sauce, they made all the cookies, they buttered all the buns and peeled the potatoes,” said principal Christopher Kemp. “This has been just a fantastic process. I’ve never seen anything like this in all the schools I’ve been.”
He thanked all of the volunteers, the Hambly family for their donation of potatoes, carrots and onions, and Reali’s No Frills for its contribution towards the grocery bill.
“I’m looking forward to turkey today!” he said.
Everyone at the school was asked to bring their own cutlery and plate. The kids could choose what they wanted for lunch – turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, corn, coleslaw, buttered rolls and dessert – served up by their parents and grandparents. Teachers were also invited to join the feast.
At Sir William Osler, it was the parents who prepared the whole luncheon of turkey with all the trimmings, coordinated and organized by mom Shayne Patry Vatrt. Again, the community provided its support, including Jason Verkaik of Carron Farms who contributed the carrots, and Shane Singh of Springh Farms who donated the potatoes to ensure there was enough for everyone.
And the older students did their part by lending a hand to ensure that all of the younger children had a full plate to celebrate Thanksgiving.
