Media Advisory | Dec. 20, 2002
UBC Volunteers Bring Canadian Holiday Spirit to International
Students Far From Home
- Event: UBC Christmas dinner for international and
domestic students living in residences who can't go home
for the holidays.
- Date/Time: December 23, 2002. Dinner seatings at
12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
- Place: International House auditorium, 1783 West
Mall, (north end of campus, off NW Marine Dr.)
- Parking: Rose Garden Parkade, off NW Marine Dr.,
or meter parking at the Museum of Anthropology off NW Marine
Dr.
International students who can't get home during the Christmas
break will still get a taste of the holidays at UBC's annual
Christmas Dinner.
Both seatings for the popular annual event are already sold
out. Around 250 students will be treated to a traditional
turkey dinner and dessert as well as a visit from Santa and
a round of Christmas carols.
"We're trying to provide some Christmas spirit to students
in residence, and convey some Canadian holiday experiences
and traditions to those students who aren't Canadian,"
says Debbie Aikens, chair of this year's UBC Christmas Dinner.
More than 40 volunteers, including retired UBC staff and
faculty and members of the UBC RCMP detachment and Fire Department,
donate their time to make the dinner possible, including decorating,
cooking and serving students. For several years, a UBC professor
has volunteered to take on the role of Santa, with some help
from his daughter.
"She's the elf that is growing older and older, but
still wants to help out," says Winnie Cheung, executive
director of UBC's International House. "The dinner is
a great way to bring the university community together every
year."
This is the ninth year that UBC has been organizing the dinner.
Students pay $2 to help defray costs.
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Contact
Winnie Cheung
International House
Tel: 604.822.3264
Hilary Thomson
UBC Public Affairs
Tel: 604.822.2644
E-mail: hilary.thomson@ubc.ca
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