The lunchroom at the Baker Community Centre on Franklin Avenue buzzed with around 40 seniors on Feb. 11.

Handmade paper snowflakes and ornate crockery in cabinets lined the walls, hovering delicately above the animated lunch crowd. The expanded group of seniors is enjoying a busy lunch after two years of Covid-19 restrictions.

The meals were cancelled during nearly all of 2020, and for most of 2021 there was a limit of 25 people. It was not until Oct. 2021, with an exemption from Health Canada, they could host up to 40 people for lunch.

Kim Doyle, executive director of the Yellowknife Seniors Society, works with a group of volunteers to pull it all together. She emerged from a plume of steam in the kitchen wearing an apron.

SA国际影视传媒淭he coatroom is there; do you want some lasagna?SA国际影视传媒� Doyle asks.

In the space of less than an hour, Doyle plays kitchenhand, server, master of ceremonies and cupid SA国际影视传媒� handing out individual packets of Smarties to the patrons, and wishing each of Happy ValentineSA国际影视传媒檚 Day in advance.

SA国际影视传媒淲e wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be able to do this without Kim,SA国际影视传媒� said Margaret Beckwith, 75.

Most weeks, Beckwith enjoys lunch on Friday with Esther, Hugh, Shirley, and Frances.

On todaySA国际影视传媒檚 menu is saucy lasagna, a crispy lettuce salad with ranch, and soft brown bread rolls. A plate of ValentineSA国际影视传媒檚 Day-coloured baked treats was for dessert.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou canSA国际影视传媒檛 get a meal for $6 anywhere in Canada,SA国际影视传媒� said Hugh Wetmore, 76. His favourite lunch they have ever served was Atlantic Salmon with bannock.

The others on the table nodded in agreement.

SA国际影视传媒淚n fact, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the lady who makes it,SA国际影视传媒� he pointed to another table.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a good socializing event. Some of us donSA国际影视传媒檛 go anywhere but here. For many, this is their one event of the week,SA国际影视传媒� said Wetmore.

What did they do during the pandemic? The group collectively shuddered: SA国际影视传媒淪tayed home.SA国际影视传媒�

Beckwith, who attended the centreSA国际影视传媒檚 Zoom exercise classes SA国际影视传媒� taught by Doyle SA国际影视传媒� is very happy the lunch is back.

For months, the lunches were stopped due to pandemic restrictions. They now have special permission to host up to 40 patrons in tables of six. Each person must sign in, sanitize their hands and wear a mask when not seated.

While the patrons enjoy coffee and dessert, Doyle announces the weekSA国际影视传媒檚 news on a microphone, including annual membership fees coming due SA国际影视传媒� $15 for those 50 years and older, and $20 for an associate member aged 19-49.

Doyle announced that lawn bowling is back in February and art workshop are upcoming SA国际影视传媒� date to be confirmed. Service Canada will offer a Zoom event related to taxes and finances in late February.

She then drew two raffles and the members of the table proved very lucky: Shirley won $49 and Esther some HersheySA国际影视传媒檚 chocolates.

Doyle also welcomed the presence of the Yellowknifer, giving patrons an opportunity to giggle over a recent newspaper headline: SA国际影视传媒淚t was the morning tea discussion,SA国际影视传媒� Doyle said, smiling.

Lunch is over but theySA国际影视传媒檙e not done yet. After this, the lunch crew will sit in the coffee room and wait for the others to finish cleaning up. Then, they will go and play Aggravation.

On Monday, some of them will meet again for exercise class, that is, if they donSA国际影视传媒檛 see each other at Tai Chi over the weekend.

In addition to the Lunch with a Bunch on Fridays, YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Seniors Society hosts several activities every week, including line dancing, yoga, book club, bridge, curling, and carpet bowling.

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