Wasaya to distribute 2,700 turkeys

Wasaya Airways will be distributing about 2,700 turkeys to its 26 service communities during the annual turkey run, including a turkey for each household in its 10 member communities.
“Usually we look at a seven to nine kilogram turkey,” said Tom Morris, president and CEO of Wasaya Airways. “As well, we do a candy run for the kids. Usually when we land in a community, the school kids come out and we give them candy.”
A group of 20 Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School students helped prepare some of the 3,500 bags of candy and an orange that will be distributed to the 10 Wasaya member communities during the turkey run, usually held during the second week of December.
“As well, we always have Santa Claus along on the flight so when the kids come down Santa Claus hands out the candies to the kids in the First Nation communities,” Morris said. “We’ve been doing this for more than 10 years.”
Morris said the turkey run is a unique event that allows Wasaya to demonstrate social corporate goodwill during the festive Christmas season “so at least every family can have a Christmas turkey dinner.”
Some of the DFC students who were helping package the candies remembered when they used to receive the bags of candy.
“I used to get these candies before when I was a little kid,” said Michael Gray, a student from Deer Lake.
Carla Mawakeesic said the candy was usually handed out at a community feast.
Sponsors included Pelletier’s Auto Body and Powder Coating, Valhalla Inn, Business Development Bank of Canada, National Car Rental and the Township of Pickle Lake.