North

Yellowknife sobering centre ends the year with Christmas dinner

This is the third-annual Christmas dinner run by the Explorer Hotel staff and the first Christmas dinner at Yellowknife’s new sobering centre.

Approximately 90 people enjoy turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes

Approximately 80 to 90 people were served turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing. (Randall Mackenzie/CBC)

Dozens of people at Yellowknife's sobering centre hunkered down on Friday over a hot Christmas meal, thanks to the generosity of one local business.

Armed with ladles, Explorer Hotel staff served up turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes to about 90 people. It's the same holiday meal the hotel serves its own patrons, said the hotel's food and beverage manager, Jean Paquette.

"Some people don't have the advantage to have a nice Christmas dinner," said Paquette. "At least we can give them something."

Explorer Hotel executive director Jean Paquette says he and his staff enjoy serving these meals. (Randall Mackenzie/CBC)

This is the third-annual Christmas dinner run by the Explorer Hotel staff and the first Christmas dinner at Yellowknife's new sobering centre.

The goal is to keep the tradition going for years to come, said Paquette.

"You know [the holidays] are a time for giving," he said. "We know that there's a crowd of people that cannot enjoy the restaurant. So we'd like to bring the restaurant to them."