By Brigitte Smiley, Communications Manager,
D Comm, CFPSA Ottawa
(613) 996-6393 smiley.brigitte@cfpsa.com

Tara Gromoll from CFPSA stands in front of a triwal full of decorations destined for Bosnia.   From left to right: Claude Bertrand, Cpl Nicolas Tremblay and Bob Fardais from the CMTT are happy to be helping out.   (Photo by Sgt Madeleine Reid) Sgt Madeleine Reid and the Canadian contingent in Sinai really appreciated receiving the gifts.   (Photo by Michelle Bourdon) Cpl Theresa North, Cpl Nancy Trider, Cpl Jennifer Burton and MCpl Edith Scott of Velika Kladusa, Bosnia opening their Op Santa boxes on Christmas day.

Photos by Lyndon Goveas

As the temperature went down in our Canadian cities, the atmosphere warmed up for the holiday season. Our streets and trees were glowing with lights, our houses decorated with bows, jingle bells and ornaments, and our stores and restaurants bustled with people joyfully anticipating the traditional holiday season. All of these preparations help to make December so much more comforting for us here at home. These are the joys and comforts that the people of the Deployment Support of the Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency (CFPSA) wanted to share with our valiant Canadian Forces (CF) members who are in bases and on ships far away from home.

We know that our deployed military personnel had to give up a lot for us to enjoy these comforts so, in the true spirit of this season, some modern day elves worked very hard to send them a little piece of home. Shirley Penny from Deployment Support gathered as many bows, fiber optic trees, lights, jingle bells, ornaments, garlands, peanuts, chips and licorice as she could. "We do this," she said, "because we feel for the men and women who are away from home during this holiday season."

"I hope that it takes their mind off the operational duties and gives them some stress relief," said Tara Gromoll who spent numerous hours packaging the decorations. Also part of this effort were the workers at Ottawa Central Material Traffic Terminal (CMTT) for the Canadian Forces and 25 Canadian Forces Supply Depots who happily packaged and loaded the holiday season cheer on to planes and boats destined for all deployed personnel.

We sent these special tokens of our appreciation to help in the festive celebrations that took place in messes, barracks and offices far from home.

Another holiday project, the aptly named Operation Santa Claus, sent gift parcels to deployed personnel around the globe. Special thanks must be given to all the Canadian companies who so graciously donated their time and wonderful products to make this possible.

Cheers to all and a special thanks to our CFPSA "elves".