I was in my second year of journalism, a mere 19-year-old who had just started my first internship at the Westmount Examiner. It was a really exciting time – I was finally seeing my name in print. I went “on assignment” and covered Canada Day events in Westmount Park, the Montreal Fringe Fest, and I got to meet some of the borough’s most celebrated characters who have since passed away. It was about a month before Christmas and my editor Wayne sent me to cover the Toy Tea, an annual toy drive that took place at Ogilvys and collected new, non-violent toys for kids who were spending the holidays in one of the many battered women’s shelters across the city.

I wasn’t quite sure what I was walking into. I was still at the stage of my budding career where I got butterflies before interviews and would find myself rehearsing my introduction repeatedly in my head (“should I say ‘hello, I’m an intern with the Examiner’ or ‘I’m a reporter with the Examiner’?”). But from the moment I stepped off of the elevator onto the 5th floor of Ogilvys, and could hear the faint sound of little ones signing “Jingle Bells,” I was hooked.

That was 11 years ago, and now, I anxiously await my Toy Tea invitation to kick-start the holiday season. I often go solo, enjoying being absorbed in my own little wonderland, but I’ve brought friends and their children. In years past I’ve collected toys from my generous co-workers and this year my mom added a bagful of goodies to my own heap.

Beautiful Tudor Hall is always bustling with students from the local schools who turn up to sing and entertain, and gobble the sweet treats on the long table in the centre of the room in-between “sets.” Santa and Mrs. Claus are there with their jolly smiles while moms proudly show off their impeccably dressed babies, who are decked out in holiday dresses and little V-neck sweaters. Giant glittery white and silver snowflakes float above the heads of singing children and the “oohing” and “aahing” of proud parents and grandparents.

But the very best part of all: the room of toys that is possible because of local Montrealers’ extreme generosity. Each year the walls of toys seem to grow wider and taller, and the list of shelters benefiting from the cause also lengthens. Representatives from these battered womens’ institutions are always at the event, including some of the moms whose children will be receiving toys. Everyone comes together, from the girls of Sacred Heart to the mayor’s wife, all in the name of celebrating the holidays together. For that one snippet of time, with the carols and rum balls and tea in porcelain cups, all is right and peaceful in the world. It’s one of those incredibly feel-good events that is really about the true spirit of the holidays, and I am proud to be on that guest list every year!

And when things get hectic throughout the year, I dream of my little Christmas cocoon, tucked away on the fifth floor of Ogilvys department store, where the only thing that matters is being kind to those around you…