By Sean Delaney
It’s a very special time year and it brought another exceptional opportunity to enjoy a wonderful lunch with some of the seniors in Emery Village - The North Islington Seniors Club.
The ninth annual North Islington Seniors Club Christmas luncheon was held on Dec. 14 at the St.Roch’s Parish Community Centre. The auditorium at St.Roch’s looked beautiful, all dressed up with Christmas trees, Christmas ornaments hung on the walls and beautiful poinsettias sat on every table.
It is also hard not to notice that many seniors were all dressed in their favourite Christmas attire – all looking very festive.
Special guests this year included Judy Sgro with her husband Sam, local Councillor for Ward 7 Anthony Perruzza, and Humber River - Black Creek MPP Tom Rakocevic. Assisting with the celebrations were School Board Trustees Christopher Mammoliti and Ida Li Preti who made the rounds from table to table to wish everyone happy holidays. This year the crowd was surprised by Councillor Perruzza taking to the microphone and singing one of his favourite songs, Bella Chiao. It was an impressive performance as Perruzza possess quite the range. By the end, the reaction of those in attendance let everyone know it was a real crowd pleaser.
Rocco DiGiovanni, President of the North Islington Seniors Club, thanked all the volunteers who helped to make the lunch another success.
Sgro appealed to the luncheon for donations to a special fund on behalf of a very sick child of a member of LiUNA 183 North York.
Sgro is hoping to raise $2.6 million for lifesaving treatment for the child that is only available in the United States.
A basket was circulated from table to table and attendees made generous donations to help this worthy cause.
Thank you to all, you could feel the Christmas spirit was all around.
We wish health and happiness all the Senior Club members in the year ahead.
