Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1489264
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 1 JANUARY 2023 9 COMMERCIAL Making Christmas magical for BOV families ONE of the most eagerly an- ticipated events organised by Bank of Valletta for its people is the annual staff childrens' event. This is a tradition that goes back several years, which had been put on hold due to the pandemic. This year the event was back on the calendar. Children of BOV employees aged 3 to 12 years received an invitation to attend an exclusive experience of the Illuminated Trail at the President's Verdala Palace in Buskett. This year's event was unique in that it gave all fam- ilies the opportunity to attend as one and enjoy the evening together. The event featured spectacu- lar light shows, music, a photo- graphic booth and food stalls. Children were welcomed by the organisers dressed up as Santa's elves in a really festive atmosphere. The whole event turned into an impromptu BOV family affair, as colleagues met colleagues, while children played and ran about. Gift vouchers for a Christmas pres- ent were handed out to make Christmas a little more special. This was not the only activi- ty organised for BOV children this month, as earlier on, BOV children were invited to attend a fun-packed Toi Toi spectacle at Teatru Manoel. This event was possible thanks to the Bank's long-standing support of the Teatru Manoel and its Toi Toi program. Speaking about the event, Charles Azzopardi, Head of the CSR Team responsible for the organisation said, "We want- ed to do something different this year for our people and their families, given that this event had been missing from our calendars for the past two years. The turnout was very en- couraging, and it was honest- ly heart-warming to see our colleagues turn up with their young ones. It was really magi- cal, making this event a memo- rable one for all involved." 'A New Year's Toast' to open the 2023 musical season in Gozo TH E Gaulitanus Choir will be back on stage in Gozo with the 11th edition of 'A New Year's Toast' – its an- nual Yuletide major event, which actually was the only choir-organised event which kept going uninterruptedly even during the pandemic. The concert, which musi- cally opens in style the New Year, is being held, as usual, on January 1 at 19:30hrs at the Kempinski San Lawrenz. The Gaulitanus Choir and its soloists will be in attendance accompanied by the Gaulit- anus String Quartet (leader: Pierre Louis Attard) and Mil- ica Lawrence on the piano. A wide and varied repertoire, indeed a musical bonanza for everyone's tastes, is being presented under the musical and artistic direction of Colin Attard. Entrance to 'A New Year's Toast', which is being sup- ported by the MGOZ's Cul- tural Heritage Directorate, is free and no reservations are required.