The Meota community hall was filled with the joyous sounds of Christmas, Dec. 2. It was again time for the Meota Christmas concert.
As many know we have not had a school here for a number of years and, up until its demise, the concerts were arranged by the schoolteachers and kids. For the second year in a row the guiding lights getting this concert off the ground were Charles and Anne Baillargeon, who put out vast amounts of energy, time and encouragement to get this year's celebration off the ground. Of course they enlisted the efforts of many other members of Meota and surrounding area to assist in the carrying out of their plans.
This year the concert was a wealth of Christmas music often not found in such a humble community. There is a great wealth of talent here as was seen in the presentations of the Meota Men's chorus, members of the Chapel Gallery Singers who came out from the Battlefords and numerous other local folks.
Again this year we were given an extra boost by the talents of Lisa Hornung and Jaya Hoy, two well-known professionals from the Battlefords who graciously gave of their direction and talents to help us reach a little higher level of quality in our performances. Jaya played and accompanied a number of the performers and Lisa gave of her wonderful voice for us to thrill at as well as directing us. We have to thank both of them along with Charles and Anne for their commitment to this joyous event. The men's chorus also thanks Lisa for those efforts above and beyond the call of duty to bring smiles to our faces.
I also know there were many others who helped Anne and Charles decorate the hall and helped with the stage work. Without the efforts of everyone who took part we would not have had such a great performance. We have to be proud of our community for being the staging centre of so much great music.
One extra big highlight of the evening was that it raised just over $1,700 for the food bank. Thank you to everyone for their generosity and attendance.
In canasta play at the Do Drop In Dec. 7, the winning team was Barb Solominko and Vern Iverson.
The Meota Community Centre was abuzz with activity Dec. 8 as Meota ADRA sponsored its annual Santa Claus day. It was a full afternoon starting with a lunch put on by the hall board. After everyone who attended had had their fill of a wonderful meal the entertainment started.
The Meota Lakeshore Lions' chorus started the afternoon's entertainment by giving their usual combination of songs and antics to the enjoyment of the crowd. They sang numerous familiar Christmas carols that the crowd could join in with the singing and got the entertainment off to a great start.
Once they finished, the professional entertainment by Paul Runalls, Sheila Vaadeland and Ned Ramsay followed. They have performed here in Meota numerous times before. This trio put on a great program that included young and old as it involved members of the audience in their songs and antics. These three are all great musicians who have always done a great job of getting the crowd clapping and singing.
Once they finished the Lions' chorus again led in some Christmas carols until they were pushed aside by the entrance of that jolly, old, fat man Santa Claus and Mrs. Santa, to the delight of the children who were all given a chance to express their wishes, and a gift. Even some of the senior members of the community took a turn on Santa's knee. Then, not wanting Mrs. Santa to be left out, I sat on her knee to make her feel welcome. For some reason all she said was something of a grunt.
All in all it was a wonderful afternoon enjoyed by all.
Quote: "Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents." Ludwig Von Beethoven.
