On Dec. 2, with no appreciable covering of snow in southern Manitoba, 99 guests gathered at Winnipeg’s Viscount Gort Hotel to celebrate the annual Christmas Flin Flon Luncheon, complete with turkey and all the trimmings.
Helping us celebrate 30 years of gathering once a month to meet old friends, and welcome new ones, were folks who had been attending for all 30 years.
Margaret Woods is recorded as attending the very first Flin Flon Luncheon in Winnipeg back in October 1986. Brenda (Warren) Solilo was another 30-year attendee. In fact, Solilo was instrumental in beginning this tradition when the group met at the Grill Room in Eaton’s Store.
For 25 of the 30 years, the group has made the Viscount Gort their home. This was a banquet facility that was centrally located and easy to reach whether you lived in the north, east, south, or west areas of Winnipeg. Staff at the Viscount Gort have welcomed us warmly throughout this long tenure.
The luncheons have evolved over time. They began with a group of 25 to 30 folks and were held the first Friday, eight months of the year. Eventually this was reduced to six months: three spring luncheons (March, April and May) and three fall luncheons (October, November and December).
Now our numbers range from 55 to 90 guests depending on the month. The December luncheon always has the best attendance.
Several people have chaired these luncheons. Brenda Solilo was the first chairperson. She was followed by Joan Nelson, Margie Dempsey, Joni Hanson, Dave Negrych and Pat Stefanchuk.
At the present time, Eunice Petrychko is the secretary, Dennis Goodwin treasurer, and Ruth Brown membership. We have at least eight members who phone folks to remind them of the upcoming luncheons.
Prior to this month’s luncheon, we honoured Brenda Solilo for her leadership in beginning this tradition. We presented her with a leather-bound journal and a lovely corsage. Margaret Woods was given a souvenir Randy Whitbread calendar.
Several door prizes were awarded, including Flin Flon travel mugs, calendars, cookbooks, Bert Stevens’ autobiography, and gift baskets of chocolates, cookies and candy. The grand prize was a wreath made by Doreen Edmunds.
First-time attendees were Frank and Blanche Gira, Eric and Doreen Burr, and Barb Hall
Others in attendance were: Eunice Petrychko, Brenda Solilo, Dennis Goodwin, David Highfield, Ruth Brow, Maxine Merrell, Cyndy Woods, Art Gauthier, Julie Telenko, Claire Ashmore, Janet Hebert, Lena Boychuk, Doug and Lucille Evans, Don Collins, Margaret Kingdon, Steve and Lavinia Novak, Bonnie Novak, Brian Mondor, Doug and Jean Meakin, Doreen R Edmunds, Pearl Waly, Dave and Joanne Negrych, Elaine Mack, June Bohemier, Moira and Lloyd Frankenberger, Darlene Foster, Marie Norton, Lottie and Gilles Desroches, Helen Smallwood, Bonnie McFeeters, Sharon Hughes, Bert Stevens, Sandy Gauthier, Heather Robbins, Gordon Thompson, Richard Lyons, Eve-Anne Kristjanson, Doris Allard, Larry Brown, Elaine McCrimmon, Carole Burnett, Gordon Spring, Davilyn Dembinsky, Kay De Jong, Lisa Cardell, Julie and Terry Leefe, Gary Neumann, Del Cheale, Joe Greenberg, Sharon (Kenny) Trosky, Wayne Warren, Vada and Ed Gardewine, Ralph Lambert, Ron Struch, Pat and Nazir Ahmad, Bev Harris Gray, Bob Toutant, Jack and Jo Ann Turner, Paul Birston, Bill Russick, Lil and Tim Puritch,Glen Duncan, Ron Monson, Margaret Woods, Phil Gies, Jenny Allbutt, Mari-Jean Nachtigall, Marj Evason, Maureen McCaig, Bernie Van Bentham, Pat Stefanchuk, Shirley De Waule, Karen McArthur, Jan Robertson, Miles St. Godard, Kathy Choptain, Carol Sebring, Rees Jones, Ellinor Prentice, Ian Robertson, Roy Walker and Brenda Gluting.
