Penticton city councillors share their festive season traditions

PENTICTON – We asked Penticton’s politicians to share their memories about their Christmas traditions, what they remembered most fondly about Christmas with their families and what traditions they follow from year to year.

It’s a busy time for everyone but two Penticton councillors took the time to reply to our questionnaire to give residents a bit of insight into their Christmas past.

Penticton city councillor Helena Konanz

Penticton city councillor Helena Konanz says her family enjoys games of crokinole and cribbage during the holidays. That’s been the tradition the last few years, anyway.

Her favourite holiday song is Bing Crosby’s White Christmas, while It’s a Wonderful Life tops the traditionally-watched movie list for Konanz.

Christmas in the Konanz household isn’t complete without egg nog and Lindt chocolates, says Konanz, describing a typical family Christmas as a child as one where her family would gather around the tree on Christmas Eve listening to Christmas music, drinking egg nog and choosing one present to open early.

“We’d then hang up our stockings and head to bed,” she says.

Her favourite Christmas memory is playing a game of tennis after church on Christmas Day when her family lived in Southern California. A nice day might involve an afternoon at the beach while her mom prepared turkey dinner.

Penticton city councillor Andre Martin

For fellow city councillor Andre Martin, cribbage is a favourite family game at Christmas time.

Martin enjoys hearing Little Drummer Boy during the Christmas season and has made an annual favourite out of the movie Scrooge every Christmas.

A favourite Christmas food in the Martin household is tourtiere.

Sitting around the fireplace with a hot drink that includes cinnamon is a holiday tradition in the Martin family, while his best holiday memory is taking all the kids to a warm vacation spot.

“No presents, just listening to their reflections, hopes and values on Christmas morning,” he recalls fondly.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.