Saturday December 12, 2001 will always be remembered as a day of great ECI triumph.  Through many days and hours of planning, the Charity Executive organized a Christmas community gathering.
All the children, and their parents, in the community were invited to partake in the planned festivities and enjoy the spirit of the holidays.  Many came and there was a wide range of children from all areas and of all ages.  Not only was the attendance of the children excellent, but also that of the ECI helpers.  Students from grades nine all the way to OAC came out Friday night and early Saturday morning to blow up balloons, set up tables, lay out food and to, overall, transform the cafeteria into a spectacular red and green palace.
 A variety of activities were set up for the children's pleasures: everything from card making to gingerbread decorating, face painting to ornament making and Twister to Ping-Pong (just to name a few).
In addition to the activities were the wonderful melodic musical stylings of our home-grown musicians including the Senior Stage Band, who played a tune about a favourite "red sweatshirt" and the spectacular chorus of the party participants singing along with their favourite carols.  The entertainment also included a sensational dance number, the magical floating man and even S. Claud himself.
The party proved to be a huge success and bestowed the Christmas spirit on all in attendance.  Each child wore a great smile throughout his/her whole visit and with each game they played and song they sang, they were having fun.
This special event truly displayed not only ECI's dedicated student body and teaching staff but also what enthusiasm and spirit these special people demonstrate toward the world.  Due to the hard work of the Charity Committee and Executive, many children had an extra-special, very merry Christmas and holiday season.