5th Annual Community Christmas Showcase (incl.Videos)

Written by admin on 20 January 2014

*2013 Marked the first year, since launching OntarioNewsNorth.com 5 years ago, in which I enjoyed some much needed time off during the Christmas holidays. Though I only took a week off, the coverage from 3 or 4 local events during that time was not published. Feeling these were important events I am still committed to publishing coverage from them, the article/photos/videos below are from one of these events on December 13, 2013. Enjoy!

Our Lady of Lourdes Church Choir. Photo OntarioNewsNorth.com 2013

Manitouwadge Public School’s lone Choir member sang beautifully, all in attendance were impressed with her self-confidence. Photo OntarioNewsNorth.com 2013

MANITOUWADGE, ON – Friday, December 13th, local residents attended the 5th Annual Community Christmas Showcase presented by Nite on the Town Entertainment Series and organized by Natalie Labbee. The event raised funds for the NOTES and collected non-perishable donations for the local food bank. Performances included many returning favourites; Our Lady of Lourdes Church Choir accompanied by Shirley Desjardins on keyboard, Brian Cunningham a.k.a. the “Harmonica Man”, Betty Gillman performing “Magical Manitouwadge Christmas” (full video below) the lyrics of which she has written herself and several others as well as the great Sing-a-long portion of the show. The latter was changed a bit this year as Organizer Natalie Labbee had noticed in past years that people were not participating in the full sing-a-long instead mistakenly thinking it was their cue to leave, she also heard from attendees that they would be more likely to thoroughly enjoy and participate in the sing-a-long if it were not the final performance and so it was rescheduled to take place prior to Labbee and the band wrapping up the evening, and as predicted audience members participated thoroughly. (See video of highlights below).

The 2013 showcase also welcomed many new performers. Bethany Pentecostal Assembly welcomed a new pastor this year and his family took part in the evening in a variety of ways including Tara Ruel’s reading of the “Littlelest Angel” by Charles Tazewell while other new Wadgeians shared their musical talents on stage. As mentioned Natalie Labbee, with Pat Lalonde on drums, Ted Lalonde on guitar and Gunnar Nelson on bass guitar, ended the evening with a selection of classic Christmas song covers (see video below). Scroll past videos to view full photo gallery.

Highlights

Betty Gillman’s “Magical Manitouwadge Christmas”

Popular Christmas Song Covers by Natalie Labbee & Band

PHOTO GALLERY

: Manitouwadge Public School’s lone Choir member sang beautifully, all in attendance were impressed with her self-confidence. Photo OntarioNewsNorth.com 2013