Montreal Alouettes serve Thanksgiving dinner at Welcome Hall Mission
Posted October 13, 2025 8:43 pm.
Last Updated October 13, 2025 9:57 pm.
A different kind of huddle took place Monday evening as members of the Montreal Alouettes traded playbooks for serving trays, joining community volunteers to serve Thanksgiving dinner at Welcome Hall Mission’s Macaulay Emergency Shelter.
The event marked the 21st year of a tradition that began in 2004, thanks to former Alouettes quarterback and current quarterbacks coach Anthony Calvillo, who was once again on hand to serve meals.
“I think the biggest thing is—at one point, we all needed help,” Calvillo said. “Sometimes in life you’re going to need that help. So I think the biggest thing is we’re just here to give back, but really it’s Welcome Hall Mission who’s here every day. So they’ve been doing a great job. It’s just our little part of helping out on this special day.”
Over 1,000 meals served
Three sittings took place inside the shelter at 5:30, 6:00, and 6:30 p.m., with hot turkey meals served to thousands of Montrealers experiencing homelessness or food insecurity.
Outside the shelter, tents offered coffee and light snacks to those waiting. In total, over 1,000 meals were expected to be served throughout the day.
“We’re serving turkey, and because it’s Thanksgiving—and that’s an important part of it—it’s turkey with all the fixings, and the people will rotate through,” said Sam Watts, president and CEO of Welcome Hall Mission. “There are going to be more than 150 people in this building staying here tonight, and some people who aren’t staying here who are just gonna benefit from the meal. We rotate through the cafeteria so that we can serve as many people as possible.”
Watts described the shelter as a stop on the path to permanent housing. “It’s very important because this is all part of making sure that we help people get back on the road to permanent housing. This is just a stop—like an emergency room—and we’re helping people get back into housing. And a meal at this time of year is gonna be a way of encouraging people and a way of lifting them up.”
Teamwork
Alouettes players were joined by members of Vanier College’s Division 1 football team, who also volunteered to help serve meals.
“It’s great that the team from Vanier is here as well, because that’s all part of that ethos of volunteering, which I think is so important,” said Watts. “It’s an incredible thing to be able to do, and we all should be doing that. Part of what we need to do as people here in Montreal is give back to other people who are struggling. And when you do that, it makes you feel good, but it also really delivers something to the person who is in need—the person who’s struggling.”
For the players, the opportunity to give back after a game — even when tired — was a commitment they were proud to keep.
“You know, it was always challenging because we always do this right after a football game, right?,” Calvillo said. “It’s a very physical, mental part, but the players understand how important it is. No matter if we win or lose, they’ll still come out here and show their support, because this is our community, right?”
‘Winners on and off the field’
Quarterback Davis Alexander brought someone special with him this year: his mom, Natalie, who flew in from Florida and joined the efforts.
“I mean, it’s incredible. It’s a nice thing for us to come out and do and just give back in any way that we can,” Alexander said. “I think that’s what we talk about in our locker room is, you know, we want to be winners on and off the field, and it’s special to be able to be here and supply hot food.”
“I’m so thankful that my mom was able to come down — she flew in. But I kind of told her, like, it’s just something I feel like we would both like to do immediately after the game, and yeah, it’s just — it’s an easy yes for us.”
Natalie Alexander said she didn’t know her son would be volunteering, but was excited to join him.
“I think this is amazing. I did not know that he was gonna be doing this. So when he told me about it, I was really excited to be here because I like to do some of this kind of work in the United States as well. Yeah, we both have a humanitarian heart for the people.”
“For the people that we’re helping today — just always bring encouragement and inspiration into their lives, and just always believe in hope and that things can change and things can get better.”
Giving thanks, giving back
For Alouettes receiver Austin Mack, being part of the Thanksgiving dinner service means everything.
“It’s all about being able to give back. The opportunity to play a kid’s game for a living is a blessing and, whenever I do have free time, just trying to be able to give back to the people that need it the most,” Mack said.
He emphasized the importance of gratitude on this special day.
“It’s Thanksgiving, Canadian Thanksgiving. You know, first it starts with gratitude, but being thankful and, you know, to be blessed with food, to be blessed with a place to sleep and blessed with so many things. And then you put yourself in a place like this and you see people like this and, you know, it just reminds you of how grateful and how thankful, you know, God’s blessed even myself with people I get to work with every day.”
Mack also spoke about the growing participation among his teammates.
“This is my second year doing it. So last year, I mean, the numbers have just gone even up from last year. So to see more guys wanting to be involved and to take it, you know, serious. Like, we just played a game, but it doesn’t matter, right? Let’s make sure we make some time to give back and do what matters most.”
Community impact
The impact of the visit was deeply felt by guests like Denis Bergeron, who received a meal that night.
“I find it super cool that they come to raise morale,” he said. “Everyone is joyful, practical, people are kind, and they let themselves be taken care of. It’s perfect.”
“We ate like kings today,” he added. “It’s been a long time since we had a good meal like this one.”
Bergeron offered a message of reflection.
“People, be careful—because anyone can end up in my place,” he said.
As the shelter quieted down, the message remained clear: a warm meal, a caring hand, and a sense of community can go a long way.
“I just hope people remember it, just where you’re at, you know, just take a moment, be thankful and have some gratitude and see where your feet are and really look. And, you know, some people need some help and a meal just goes a long way,” said Mack.
