The arrival of a special delivery in Churchill, Man. is giving local families something to look forward to this holiday season, as residents continue to wait for repairs to the townâs railway access.
More than 100 hampers were sent by chartered plane to the northern Manitoba town on Sunday, each of which contained toys and a full Christmas dinner, courtesy of the Manitoba Metis Federation.
"Everyone here is getting a hamper. Anyone we missed, a hamper will be shipped in,â David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF), told CTV Winnipeg.
âThere are 110 families. We know that, without a doubt, theyâre going to have a full Christmas turkey dinner on their table.â
Residents of Churchill have been struggling with soaring food prices for months due to damages along the townâs only supply route, the Hudson Bay railway, which collapsed due to flooding in May.
âRight now a jug of milk in Churchill is $12 and before the train went out it was $6. And itâs $12 with the subsidies that are applied to it already,â David Daley, president of Churchillâs Chamber of Commerce, told CTV Winnipeg.
Without the rail line, Churchillâs economy has struggled. Jobs have been lost, fewer tourists are travelling north, and as many as 40 students have left Churchillâs school.
But a solution could be on the way soon. A new ice road, expected to open up later in December, will provide a temporary winter route to bring supplies into the community.
In terms of a lasting solution, Toronto-based investment firm Fairfax Financial has expressed interest in partnering with First Nations and northern communities to purchase both the rail line and the port.
Churchill Mayor Michael Spence said that model could provide a much-needed boost to the town.
âWe are going through some pain for some long-term gain,â he said.
Lifelong Churchill resident Eleanor Sinclair told CTV Winnipeg that a repaired railway is her only Christmas wish.
The holiday gifts and food that Sinclair typically sends and receives at this time of year by train have been too expensive for her to ship via plane, which is why the Churchill resident says sheâs grateful for the MMFâs holiday hampers.
âWhat everyone is doing to help Churchill is really so cool and greatly appreciated,â Sinclair said.
Along with the hampers, the MMF flew in entertainers to lift localsâ spirits ahead of the holidays, with a party at Churchillâs town centre. Musicians and volunteers led a crowd through Christmas carols before Santa hand delivered 200 toys to the townâs children.
It was a much-needed reminder that the community hadnât been forgotten, Churchill resident Rhoda DeMeulles said.
âItâs just been so hard for everybody in Churchill. We just felt like nobody cared anymore,â DeMeulles told CTV Winnipeg.
â[This] makes you feel better. It makes you feel alive again.â
With a report from CTV Winnipegâs Sarah Plowman
Members of the MMF and volunteers have landed in Churchill with 110 hampers for residents.
â Sarah Plowman (@SarahPlowmanCTV)
Thank you to the MMF for bringing Christmas joy to Churchill.
â Town of Churchill (@TownofChurchill)