.png)
A shared ‘elf’ mission: The Martels’ Holiday Gift Shop experience
- 17wingcorpservices
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Jude Martel adjusts his “elf hat,” one he has worn for three years at the Winnipeg MFRC Holiday Gift Shop. Designed for military children ages three to twelve, this event has become a holiday favourite at 17 Wing Winnipeg.
Thanks to Magellan Aerospace’s generous sponsorship of the second year, along with their 15 volunteer elves’ participation, the 2025 event, held from December 3 to 5, served 113 little shoppers and wrapped 455 gifts.
Among Magellan’s volunteer-elves is Mike Bockstael, Business Unit Lead, who finds it a pleasure to support MFRC’s signature holiday event. As a shopping “elf,” he says, “It was uplifting to see the joy and excitement on the faces of the kids and hearing them say how much their family members would love the gift they selected. Volunteering only took a couple of hours in the evening and is nothing compared to the dedication, commitment and sacrifices that our military families do for our great country.”
Sharing this experience as a shopping “elf” is Jude. Once a little shopper himself, he now guides children through rooms filled with gifts priced at $ 1 each. He says it gives him so much joy to help the children choose gifts for their loved ones. He observes how each child differs - some are confident and independent, while others need guidance and encouragement in choosing gifts. His mother, Christina, adds that Jude’s bilingual skills help him assist as many children as possible in their preferred language.
Christina and Jude return as Gift Shop volunteers because, as Christina puts it, “It’s always a positive and fun event.” But there’s more to it than the fun, it’s their family’s commitment to giving back to the community and spreading joy to children and their families this holiday season.
This year, as a wrapping “elf,” Christina treasures the time spent talking with the children, seeing how excited they are for the holidays, learning about their family members, and discovering why they chose each gift. It fascinates her to see the children have the independence to pick and pay for their own gifts. “It’s amazing what the littlest children pick and how they put great thought into the gift and wrapping it, often choosing based on their loved one’s favourite colours,” she says.
She also appreciates that Cameron, her youngest child, enjoys picking presents that remain secret from everyone, and shares that he delights in the hot chocolate in the waiting room, especially when he puts a candy cane in it.
For Serge, the military father watching his family volunteer, the event has a deeper meaning: community connection. He says it’s a great way to stay involved in the community and connect with other military families. It’s also a valuable opportunity for newly posted families to come out and meet others.
Christina notes that the event helps military families with the challenges they face during the holidays. “It can be difficult if a serving parent is away, but even families together are
often far from grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Events like this help ease thoughts of being apart, lonely, or homesick,” she explains.
Above all, the Martels cherish keeping the holiday magic alive, one carefully wrapped gift at a time.
The Winnipeg MFRC extends its sincere gratitude to Magellan Aerospace - Winnipeg. Their generous support and volunteer involvement, combined with the contributions of Winnipeg MFRC staff and volunteers, brought the 2025 season to a successful conclusion, keeping the holiday cheer alive and imparting skills and values that last well beyond the holidays.
Marilyn Camaclang-Sumacot Marketing and Communications Officer
