TORONTO, Dec. 13, 2012 /CNW/ - On Thursday morning 25 refugee families and children at the Christie Refugee Welcome Centre got a taste of the holidays as they celebrated their first Christmas, Canadian-style.
Petting woolly animals, sipping hot chocolate and munching on Christmas cookies, the children were also surprised by visit from the jolly old man himself.
"This is fun," says 12-year old Alex Ogunlana, who just arrived from Nigeria two weeks ago. "I never saw Santa."
Juno-nominated alternative rock band Sky Terminal rocked a fun set of Christmas carols as well.
"This is a great holiday celebration," says World Vision Gifts spokesperson Hugh Brewster. "And it shows the difference World Vision Gifts is making in Canada and around the world. By giving gifts through the catalogue this Christmas, you can help people all around the world, including right here in our backyard."
Along with an assortment of gifts that reach countries around the world, World Vision Gifts, Canada's largest source of alternative gifts, has charitable gift options that help people in Canada overcome poverty as well. These presents are the perfect gift for someone on your holiday list and what's more, they provide lasting hope and opportunity for families. Find out more at www.worldvision.ca/gifts
Video with caption: "Video: World Vision's Hugh Brewster at a festive Christmas party held by World Vision Gifts at the Christie Refugee Welcome Centre. ". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20121213_C8898_VIDEO_EN_21956.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20121213_C8898_PHOTO_EN_21956.jpg&clientName=World%20Vision%20Canada&caption=Video%3A%20World%20Vision%27s%20Hugh%20Brewster%20at%20a%20festive%20Christmas%20party%20held%20by%20World%20Vision%20Gifts%20at%20the%20Christie%20Refugee%20Welcome%20Centre%2E%0D%0A%0D%0A&title=WORLD%20VISION%20CANADA%20%2D%20Refugee%20children%20celebrate%20first%20Christmas%20in%20Canada&headline=Refugee%20children%20celebrate%20first%20Christmas%20in%20Canada
Video with caption: "Video: Children have fun feeding sheep at a Christmas Party held by World Vision Gifts at the Christie Refugee Welcome Centre. The party was attended by 25 newly-arrived refugee families and students from a nearby school. ". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20121213_C8898_VIDEO_EN_21957.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20121213_C8898_PHOTO_EN_21957.jpg&clientName=World%20Vision%20Canada&caption=Video%3A%20Children%20have%20fun%20feeding%20sheep%20at%20a%20Christmas%20Party%20held%20by%20World%20Vision%20Gifts%20at%20the%20Christie%20Refugee%20Welcome%20Centre%2E%20The%20party%20was%20attended%20by%2025%20newly%2Darrived%20refugee%20families%20and%20students%20from%20a%20nearby%20school%2E%20%0D%0A&title=WORLD%20VISION%20CANADA%20%2D%20Refugee%20children%20celebrate%20first%20Christmas%20in%20Canada&headline=Refugee%20children%20celebrate%20first%20Christmas%20in%20Canada
Video with caption: "Video: Scenes from a Christmas party held by World Vision Gifts at the Christie Refugee Welcome Centre in Toronto. The party was attended by 25 newly-arrived refugee families and students from a nearby school. ". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20121213_C8898_VIDEO_EN_21958.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20121213_C8898_PHOTO_EN_21958.jpg&clientName=World%20Vision%20Canada&caption=Video%3A%20Scenes%20from%20a%20Christmas%20party%20held%20by%20World%20Vision%20Gifts%20at%20the%20Christie%20Refugee%20Welcome%20Centre%20in%20Toronto%2E%20The%20party%20was%20attended%20by%2025%20newly%2Darrived%20refugee%20families%20and%20students%20from%20a%20nearby%20school%2E%20%0D%0A%0D%0A&title=WORLD%20VISION%20CANADA%20%2D%20Refugee%20children%20celebrate%20first%20Christmas%20in%20Canada&headline=Refugee%20children%20celebrate%20first%20Christmas%20in%20Canada
Image with caption: "Children enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and cookies at a Christmas party held by World Vision Gifts at the Christie Refugee Welcome Centre in Toronto. (CNW Group/World Vision Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121213_C8898_PHOTO_EN_21946.jpg
Image with caption: "Santa visits refugee children at the Christie Refugee Welcome Centre in Toronto as part of a World Vision Gifts party. This is their first Christmas in Canada. (CNW Group/World Vision Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121213_C8898_PHOTO_EN_21948.jpg
Image with caption: "Children feed a goat at a Christmas party held by World Vision Gifts at the Christie Refugee Welcome Centre. Twenty-five newly-arrived families as well as students form a nearby school celebrate together. A goat, like the one in this photo, is one of the most popular gift items from World Vision Gifts. (CNW Group/World Vision Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121213_C8898_PHOTO_EN_21966.jpg
SOURCE: World Vision Canada
CONTACTS:
World Vision:
Genevieve Barber, 905-565-6200 ext. 2176, [email protected]
Julia Rim Shepard, 905-565-6200 ext. 3898, [email protected]
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