Christmas shopping opportunities will certainly abound in the Norval area this weekend.
St. Elias The Prophet Ukrainian Catholic Church and Norval's St. Pauls Anglican Church are teaming up for the first time since the pandemic to host Christmas markets on the same day.
Both events will kick off at 9 a.m. Saturday (Nov. 25). The Norval bazaar will end at 1 p.m. and the Ukrainian Advent Market at 3 p.m.
Norval Studios and Gallery is also getting in on the action and is hosting its own sale on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Resident artists will have their works on sale, as well as complimentary refreshments. Visitors can expect jolly old St. Nick to visit while they shop.
The collective market efforts have historically been called Montgomery Christmas in honour of famed former Norval resident, author Lucy Maud Montgomery.
“When we began Montgomery Christmas in 1993, all the churches participated. And the Ukrainian Church was one of the ones that came on board with us,” said Kathy Gastle, people's warden at St. Paul's Anglican Church.
“We are so happy that the Ukrainian church will be having their delicious lunch. We will be sending all visitors up there for lunch.”
St. Elias’ market will be a symphony of Ukrainian sights, smells and tastes. Some of the attendees and volunteers will be in cultural apparel. Ukrainian food and gift items will be on sale for visitors to take home.
“There will be a cookie bar, so we have people baking their specialty cookies,” said Irene Galadza, one of the organizers of the Advent Christmas Market.
She hopes to further entice visitors with items like Christmas decorations that are a play on the Easter eggs traditionally sold in the spring, scarves, jewelry, hats and T-shirts.
“It's just nice to connect with the community. The community is very involved with our parish and, in different ways, they've been extremely supportive,” Galadza said.
St. Elias’ Heritage Road domes dominate the sky over Halton Hills and Brampton. However, a 2014 blaze destroyed the edifice. Two years later, the church was rebuilt. The congregation held its first mass since the fire in the fall of 2016.
The community has also had to contend with the war in Ukraine. Galadza said that she and her congregation are glad to be part of the same community that helped them during these times.
“When our first church burned down, there was so much support. Lots of calls from people in the area, lots from Georgetown," Galadza said, noting local residents have also volunteered to house new people coming in from Ukraine due to the war.