Christmas Bureau role inspires Lowe
If Kevin Lowe bleeds Edmonton Oilers copper and blue, it’s safe to say the Christmas Bureau of Edmonton propels part of his heartbeat. How can it not? “I really can’t remember what exact year it was,” Lowe says, when asked to recall when he became the honorary chairman of the Christmas Bureau.
As a young defenceman with the Oilers in the early 1980s, Lowe was inspired by Mark Hall, former director of marketing for the team, and Marc Barylo of Catholic Social Services. He accepted the role.
Lowe took a sabbatical from the chairman role when he played for the New York Rangers from 1992-96. He resumed his commitment to the Christman Bureau in 2003.
Lowe, 53, has made countless appearances at “drop-off day,” in which folks are given hampers from the Christmas Bureau.
“It’s a good feeling to see someone leaving with a green garbage bag. And in it are toys for their children, some food and a gift certificate from a supermarket so they can have Christmas dinner,” says Lowe, now the Oilers’ president of hockey operations.
In his role, he talks to local reporters to get the Bureau’s message across, and to encourage Edmonton and area residents to contribute to its goal — this year set at $1.8 million.
Lowe also attends some of the bureau’s big events, so this week his schedule is full. He was up bright and early Wednesday morning to attend the annual Christmas Bureau breakfast at the Westin Hotel.
He was there with his mother, Jessie, who reminded him to attend the event back in 1986. “That was the year my brother Kenny’s daughter was born,” Lowe says. “Mom went right to the hospital after the breakfast to see her new granddaughter.”
There are some new events, too, Lowe says, that fulfil the Christmas Bureau’s legacy of caring and sharing — like Friday at noon.
That’s when the 13th annual Face-Off Against Hunger luncheon is scheduled for the Shaw Conference Centre. Funds are split between the Christmas Bureau and the Edmonton Community Foundation. The event is sold out and will attract 650 people.
Lowe is impressed with how the luncheon has grown over the years. It was started in 1940 by a handful of friends at Jimmy Ray’s, a west-end restaurant at the time.
Over the three decades, Lowe has countless memories of Christmas Bureau events. Now, the proud father of four children who have grown into young adults is relishing seeing his family get involved with the bureau, which is one of the city’s non-profit organizations.
“It’s great to see them help out on drop-off day,” Lowe says.
December is always a busy month. Lowe says he always anticipates a phone call either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
“Someone calls me to tell me we’ve made our goal,” Lowe says. “And that always helps me have a great Christmas.”