Culinary students from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology were dishing up compassion for Boyle Street’s annual Thanksgiving dinner for vulnerable people. For many students, it’s a labour of love cooking, stirring, sautéing, and basting turkeys as well as all the classic sides. “It’s nice to give back without, you know, a spotlight in a way,” student Riley Macinnis said. Friday’s preparations were the first big test of kitchen cooperation for the NAIT students. Chayce Taylor, also a culinary student, says working on a massive project with like-minded individuals is great practice. “It’s really fun to work with them, because I can absorb some of the skills that they have from previous experiences,” he said. And the class has a lot on their plate. On Sunday, some 700 Boyle Street patrons will head to the Alberta Aviation Museum for Thanksgiving dinner. Instructor Erin Howe says it’s been months of planning. “Sunday morning, we’ll have students and staff come in to do the big heat and get everything ready for Boyle Street to pick up,” she said. She says the students are getting both culinary experience and learning about how to make someone’s day. “They don’t know where to start sometimes … We’re creating that opportunity for them.” The final dinner will be served at 11 a.m. on Sunday. “You get this feeling of accomplishment and you just know that you’re doing a good thing for the community,” Taylor said. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Curtis Goodrum
