Sask. Summer Snack program organizer recognized as a Hometown Hero
For the past 10 years, Candace Gabriel has helped thousands of families every summer through the Summer Snack program.
"On a crazy busy day we can have 50 kids at one of our parks," said lead coordinator Candace Gabriel.
Most kids are often hungry. It's why Candace Gabriel decided to take part in the summer snack program. It's a need Gabriel understands first hand having kids of her own. The program helped her 14 years ago.
"Taking the pressure of one meal off of me was just amazing and it's what allowed me to stay in Saskatoon," said Gabriel.
The Summer Snack program was created 33 years ago when two school teachers came together to help kids during the summer months knowing most depended on the school lunch program.
When the program originally started, seeing 50 kids in a day was considered a busy day. Today, the program serves eight different parks with at least 50 kids at each park.
Gabriel's passion for giving back has been passed down to her daughter who now helps out as well.
"It's amazing to do something so meaningful and so big especially with my mom because my mom has always been my biggest supporter," said Aurora Gabriel
"She told me mom I want to give back. I want to help them out because they helped me out. It was such a proud mom moment," said Gabriel
In 2020, the program was able to feed more than 11,000 people in two months. This year the number rose to more than 13,000.
"It's complex, we don't limit our meals only to kids. You know there are adults who may come and partake. They usually always let the kids go first and they usually help with the clean up. Almost always they are polite and there's no arguing. There is a huge need," said Don Macdonald, president of the Saskatoon and District Labour Council.
For Gabriel, it's the kids' smiles and stories that keep her coming back year after year.
"We want to be positive role models in their lives and get them to learn to love their community and give back." said Gabriel.
Macdonald believes Gabriel is the glue that keeps the program running.
"She is highly respected by the community and the kids always look forward to seeing her again every summer. She really is the heart and soul of the program.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
Residents of northern Alberta First Nation told to shelter in place
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.