Innisdale's annual Athletic Banquet, complete with awards, fine food, and fun, was held on June 8th, 2011. Organized by the Athletic Society to recognize Innisdale's talented athletes, the banquet was once again catered by Innisdale's own Hospitality and Tourism program. Led by devoted teacher Mr. Fraser, the Hospitality classes have hosted several banquets throughout the year, including the Barrie Royals, Barrie Elites, Emily Post (DECA) and the recent Athletic Banquet. Hospitality also helps with Social Justice and exchange student events, as well as staff meetings.
Occasions like the Athletic Banquet take the entire day to prepare for, with students getting volunteer hours for helping after school to ensure everything runs smoothly. The time is worth it, though. "Banquets are what keeps us going," says Hospitality student Sarah Carr. "It's how we pay for our classes (materials)."
Students in the Hospitality courses have plenty of positive opinions about the experience, which ranges from learning about safety guidelines to cooking delicious dishes. The banquets especially give new perspectives: "You get to socialize and meet a lot of new people, from different schools and communities," says William Zhang, who has helped out with several Hospitality events. "Mr. Fraser is an awesome supervisor," he adds.
The menu for the night included multiple appetizers, pasta with alfredo and tomato sauce, potatoes, salad, apple crisp, and more. Everybody who attended had a great time, and enjoyed awards and presentations organized by the Athletic Society while dining on food prepared by the Hospitality and Tourism program.
"It's always fun to get together and see all the athletes meeting again for one last time," says Dan Scott, who is also in the Hospitality course. The guests had a good night as well, despite the stormy weather outside. "It was amazing!" Emily Dennis exclaimed. "Just such a good way to end my high school career."
Kealey Clarke also expressed her appreciation, "It was a great night to recognize the accomplishments of Innisdale's fantastic athletes and coaches." Congratulations to all the talented athletes and thank you to the Athletic Society and the Hospitality and Tourism program!
