Although Mother Nature was not cooperating, 118 people showed up to celebrate the Christmas Season at CANB – Moncton Northeast’s Christmas Membership Dinner Meeting.  Those attending the event were treated to a delicious buffet at the Four Points by Sheraton.  Although records do not go back to the beginning of the Membership Meeting tradition, the number equalled the 119 who participated in the 2013 Christmas Event.

The Christmas Dinner Meeting also doubles as the Association’s opportunity to raise funds for its Building for the Future Fund.  Through the generosity of both donors and bidders the Silent Auction held raised $4545 for the Fund.  This amount exceeded by $2,000 the largest amount raised through the Silent Auction in previous years.  Since 2009 the Association has used the Fund to support local area high schools in purchasing consumables and small hand tools for their construction related vocational programs.  Since its inception the Fund has donated over $90,000 to 27 schools in the region from Sugarloaf in Campbellton to Caledonia in Hillsborough.

Also noted at the meeting was the upcoming Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) which will be held in Moncton June 6 to 8 of next year.  The Skills Canada National Competition is the only national, multi-trade and technology competition for students and apprentices in the country.  Every year, more than 500 young people from all regions of Canada come to SCNC to participate in over 40 skilled trade and technology contests.  By providing a forum where Canadian youth can compete against each another at the national level, SCNC provides hands-on work experience related to skilled trades and technology careers.  Through these competitions, Skills/Compétences Canada also seeks to raise awareness about skilled trades and technology sectors to all Canadian youth and their influencers. Students must compete at local, regional and provincial/territorial events to gain their place to represent their province/territory at SCNC.

For a peek ahead to the 2016 competition and a look back at the 2015 event, follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/user/SkillsCanadaOfficial

As the Meeting concluded it was announced that Atlantic Cat & The Cat Rental Store will be issuing an invitation to Moncton Northeast Members, their Employees and their Families to attend at Family Skate at the Moncton Coliseum on January 24 from 2 to 4 pm.

Merry Christmas to all!