LAC LA BICHE - On Dec. 15, the Lac La Biche Mission historical site will be celebrating the season with an Old-Fashioned Christmas Bingo event.
According to Christelle Shepherd, the site administrator for the Mission, the holiday-themed afternoon bingo will take place at the old schoolhouse on the national and provincial historic site. The bingo is open to all players aged 18 and older and is the final event planned at the Mission until the New Year.
“The venue will be decorated in a Christmas holiday theme, creating a warm and festive environment,” Shepherd told Lakeland This Week, reminding those bound for the bingo that the schoolhouse is an old building with limited space and stairs that may limit access for some to the bingo room. “We will be able to welcome a maximum of 50 bingo players.”
In keeping with the heritage of the Mission site, an establishment that dates back to the mid 1800s, players will not only play games in a historic space, but they will also be playing with historic pieces.
“We will be using vintage slide cards, a nostalgic touch that harkens back to the Mission's earlier days and has been part of its history for many years,” Shepherd said.
The bingo event will offer up 16 prizes – mainly themed gift bags stuffed with ideas for things like a family movie night or a turkey supper. The bingo will also offer a $100 cash prize to the final full-card jackpot game.
Regular games will cost players $5 per card while jackpot games cost $10 per card. Funds raised from the bingo will go towards ongoing programming and other initiatives at the historic site.
The Lac La Biche Mission, Shepherd said, aims to host a Christmas-themed activity each year. In Christmas seasons past, the historical site, located 10 kilometres from downtown Lac La Biche, has hosted bake sales, a children’s shopping event, and in 2023 for the centennial anniversary of the on-site Mission church, a classical Christmas concert.
“This year, we're excited to introduce Old-Fashioned Christmas Bingo, combining holiday cheer with a fun and nostalgic activity,” Shepherd said.
Other events held through the year to raise awareness and funds to the site have included a snowmobile rally lunch as part of the 2024 Winter Festival of Speed, a family-themed Easter event that featured a petting zoo, egg hunt, and a visit by the Easter Bunny, a Canada Day celebration along with festivities for Alberta Culture Days, which took place in September.
Alongside these events, Shepherd said, the Mission was thrilled to welcome visitors from across the region, Alberta, and even the world for guided tours through the season. Looking ahead to next year, Shepherd hopes to continue the growing interest of the historical site.
“Sharing our national historic site with such a diverse audience is a privilege and a joy,” she stated. “We remain committed to preserving our historic site, sharing its rich history, and creating opportunities for the community to come together and celebrate.”
More details about the bingo can be gathered by contacting the Lac La Biche Mission site directly at (780) 623-3274 or by email: [email protected].
