Bulletin - December 2024
The holidays are a time for connection, celebration, and community — and MetroWorks delivered all that and more this December! From Ampersand Café’s participation in the Evergreen Festival Hot Cocoa Trail to heartfelt holiday parties hosted by Stone Hearth Bakery, OPTIONS, and Newcomer Women programs, we celebrated the season with food, fun, and festive cheer.
Ampersand Café Joined the Evergreen Festival Hot Cocoa Trail
This holiday season, Ampersand Café was a proud participant in the Evergreen Festival's Hot Cocoa Trail, serving up a cup of festive cheer with our Merry Berry Cocoa! This rich and creamy hot chocolate was elevated with a swirl of raspberry purée, making it a must-try holiday treat. For the duration of the Evergreen Festival, we sweetened the deal by offering 15% off both the Merry Berry Cocoa and a treat of your choice when purchased together.
Missed out on this festive favourite? Don’t worry — we’re always brewing up something special. Stay in the loop by following us on social media for exclusive deals, new menu items, and even coupons!
Facebook: The Ampersand Café
Instagram: @theampersandcafe
Celebrating the Holidays with Newcomer Women & Money Path Atlantic
On Thursday, December 21, the Newcomer Women Program and Money Path Atlantic came together to host a festive holiday party for participants and their families. The event was a heartwarming celebration of community, culture, and holiday traditions.
Participants shared treats that are traditionally made for special occasions, many of which were lovingly prepared over an entire day. From crispy samosas and savoury patties to golden fried dough and sweet Greek cookies, the spread was a culinary journey across cultures, leaving no guest without a smile.
Adding to the festivities, staff held a raffle with care packages filled with essentials like skin and hair care items, soaps, and sweet treats, making the season even brighter for attendees.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, shared their traditions, and made this celebration truly special. Your generosity and joy brought the spirit of the holidays to life!
Stone Hearth Bakery’s Festive Holiday Feast
On December 5, Stone Hearth Bakery hosted a holiday party that brought together staff and participants for a day filled with food, fun, and festive cheer.
The holiday meal, expertly prepared by Chef Rob and his talented team, featured turkey, ravioli, and seasonal vegetables. Over in the sweets kitchen, Scott and his crew delighted everyone with a decadent selection of desserts and pastries that left no crumb behind. The food was so irresistible that some participants even came in on their day off to join the feast — and let’s just say there wasn’t much left over!
Adding to the fun, everyone got in on the holiday spirit with a classic guessing game: “How many M&M’s are in the jar?” The lucky winner walked away with both the jar and bragging rights.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this celebration such a memorable one. The holiday joy and delicious food reminded us of the warmth and connection that define the Stone Hearth Bakery community.
A Magical Tradition: The OPTIONS Program Holiday Party
The OPTIONS Program Holiday Party is a cherished annual tradition that brings warmth and joy to the season. This year, the staff transformed the multipurpose room into a festive wonderland, decorating the space with twinkling fairy lights, colourful tablecloths, cheerful centrepieces, and holiday pictures on the TV screens.
Participants gathered to enjoy a beautifully prepared chicken dinner, with staff taking on the role of gracious hosts. From filling glasses with punch to serving hot plates of food, clearing dishes, and delivering desserts, staff made sure every detail was handled with care.
This event is more than a meal — it’s a celebration of community and connection. For both participants and staff, it’s always a highlight of the year, filled with laughter, gratitude, and holiday cheer.
Festive Fun at the MetroWorks Staff Party
No holiday season is complete without the MetroWorks Staff Party! This year, the festivities were full of holiday cheer, with an ugly sweater contest, a wreath-decorating competition, a spirited singing challenge, and of course, plenty of delicious treats.
The OPTIONS and Administration teams pulled out all the stops, transforming the lobby into a festive space and organizing the event to perfection. Stone Hearth Bakery delighted everyone with their signature sweets, and the rest of us were happy to sip eggnog and soak in the holiday vibes.
A highlight of the afternoon? The singing contest, where willing staff were to belt out at least two lines of a holiday song — but with a twist: the song couldn’t be in English. With French, Spanish, Russian, Swahili and more, the room was filled with laughter, smiles, and applause.
Of course, no party is complete without a little friendly competition, and the wreath-decorating contest delivered some unexpected drama. CEO Dave Rideout gave a heartfelt speech to close the evening, which somehow managed to end with him explaining his own riddle-laden wreath. Maybe he thought he was explaining his creative vision, but the rest of us could see he was still a little salty about not taking home the winning prize. Yes, his wreath had many cloves of garlic, and no, they somehow didn’t have anything to do with his riddles.
All in all, the MetroWorks Staff Party was a time to remember, full of good humour, and great community.
Ugly Sweater Contest Contestants & Winner!
Wreath Decorating Contest!
As we close out another year, these holiday celebrations remind us of the power of community, the warmth of shared traditions, and the joy of connection. Whether it was a cup of hot cocoa, a beautifully decorated wreath, or a meal shared among friends, each moment reflected the heart of MetroWorks. Thank you to everyone who made these celebrations possible and to those who joined in spreading holiday cheer. Here’s to even more joy in the year ahead!
