Donald
Teuma-Castelletti
BRYSON Dec. 10, 2017
Santa Claus made a special visit to some older fans on Sunday evening, with some going beyond the traditional belief that he’s only for those aged one through 92.
That’s because the Bryson Lions Club held their annual Seniors’ Christmas Dinner that night, inviting all seniors in the area for a free dinner, live music, raffle draw and a visit from St. Nick, too.
“We’ve been doing this a good 40 years now and it doesn’t cost folks anything,” said Lions member and chair of the event, Sheila Racine. “We pick up the seniors and escort them here, then bring them home when it’s all done.”
Despite the weather getting a little rough, especially as the snow levels built up in the afternoon, the Lions Club played host to around 110 guests, feeding everyone a full meal of turkey, meat pie, mashed potatoes, carrots, peas, and stuffing, plus a healthy dose of gravy to drown it in, too.

But before that, Dennis Harrington and Friends, a mash-up of musicians from Bryson, Campbell’s Bay and Renfrew, played classic Christmas tunes as guests arrived, welcoming folks to the dancefloor and even getting an old-time dance going.
“We wouldn’t miss it for anything, we’d have to be really sick to stay home” said Irma Riebertz, a guest to the dinner.
Riebertz and her husband, Wilfred, may be among the most senior of the group, as he’s celebrated his 102nd birthday this year, but they certainly weren’t about to let a bit of weather get in the way of their attendance. Especially, Irma said, when they enjoy every bit of the evening.
“We enjoy the fellowship, the music, the food. I guess we enjoy it all,” she said, laughing.
Which is exactly the whole point of the evening, according to Racine, as the Lions want to make sure their most senior members of the community can enjoy a full Christmas dinner, and not be worried about going out in harsh weather. Racine said the dinner not only brings everyone together at least once over the holidays, but it helps to thaw out seniors’ notions of seclusion and isolation in the winter, especially if they’re offered a ride to and from the evening.
“As the years go on, we lose some and gain some,” said Racine, marking the importance of bringing the group together as often as they can.
Before dinner was served, a quick grace was shared amongst the group and then everyone filed in through the kitchen to get their plates filled up by the Lionnettes. Following the meal and dessert, Lion Ed Gutoskie welcomed priests and Racine up to the podium to offer everyone well wishes for the holidays and new year.
Santa Claus then burst into the room, dancing and sharing his signature greeting with the group. He took to the podium to say that the snow that day sure made his visit a lot easier and that Mrs. Claus couldn’t join him as she was busy keeping the elves in line at the shop. Then he, too, wished everyone a happy and healthy new year.
On top of the meal and gathering, the group always likes to hold a raffle draw and donate the money to a local cause. Raffling off 18 items, they raised $400 this year, to be donated to the Valentine Centre in Campbell’s Bay.
“Our seniors like to give back this way,” said Racine, of the raffle.
The feast is an annual dinner hosted by and at the Bryson Lions Club for around 40 years now, with Racine being chair for about 25 of those dinners. Next up for the Bryson Lions is their wildlife dinner towards the end of January, where folks can expect all sorts of new meal options from deer and moose to even groundhog.