ST. PAUL – The Christmas spirit is well and alive at the ACFA Régionale de Saint-Paul, as the organization transforms the ACFA building into more of a festive haven for upcoming holiday events.
"When people come for all their Christmas parties or their Bingos . . . they would get that sense of Christmas coming," said Dany Anne Fournier, president of ACFA St. Paul, during a decorating event that took place on Nov. 28.
Fournier said ACFA is hosting events free for the community to attend this month, including Noël avec les Noëls, to be held at the ACFA building on Dec. 20. The event will feature a local family who will be performing music in French.
"We're going to have a booklet so everybody can sing along," said Fournier, stressing the event is not only for the Francophone community.
She said she hopes the event will be an opportunity for the Francophone community to share its culture.
"Everybody is welcome."
A Christmas Bingo is also set to take place on Dec. 13.
Free gym activities with St. Paul FCSS
St. Paul ACFA also teamed up with Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) to provide free access to its gym facility twice a month – once in the morning and once during the evening – filled with different toys for families to enjoy.
Kim Ouellete, Family Resource Network Coordinator in St. Paul, said the "Run, Jump, Skip" event gives families the opportunity to bond with each other, because many parents in the community.
"We see quite a few parents come out, so that's always great to see them come with their kids and have fun together," she said.
Fournier said families do not have to be Francophone to attend.
"It's open for everybody that wants to come in, bond with their children, and have a place to stay where it's safe . . . clean . . . [and] warm."
No registration is required, but parents can reach out to either organization for more information.
