‘Ottawa’ More Than 1,000 Enjoy Annual Turkey Dinner at Sir Guy Carleton
Audrey Nakogee walked in to the community Thanksgiving dinner staged in the cafeteria of Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School on Sunday and flagged down a passing student. “Where’s the lineup?” she inquired.
“No lineup,” said the student volunteer. “We serve you.” Nakogee was quickly ushered to a table and asked what she’d like to drink. Within minutes, she was delivered a steaming plate of turkey and all the trimmings.
Nakogee was among more than 1,000 people served at the annual turkey dinner organized by the indefatigable Ed Mahfouz, a retired teacher. It’s the 25th year he’s rounded up students, teachers and other volunteers to serve a Thanksgiving meal.
Some diners, like Nakogee, were looking for company. “It’s my first time here,” she said, looking around the cafeteria of the school her son attended. He’s 18 now, and just moved back to live for a year with his dad at the Fort Albany reserve on James Bay, where Nakogee was born and raised.