The holidays are here, and for the first time since COVID-19, no restrictions are keeping us from going out and enjoying the most wonderful time of the year. 

According to Abacus Data, 21% of Canadians travel for the holidays. This statistic left us wondering what Portagers were doing over the holidays. 

PortageOnline took to the streets to find out. 

Tammy Miller from Portage says that this Christmas will be a special one. 

"For the holidays, we will spend it with my brother and his family and our 11-month-old grandson this year. Which is really exciting since it is his first Christmas." 

MLA Ian Wishart says he is happy to be surrounded by family this Christmas. 

"This year, my whole family will be coming home for Christmas. So it will be a very traditional family Christmas. I want to say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to Portage and the surrounding communities. I hope you enjoy it no matter where you are this year."

Sharron Anderson, whom we met outside of Sobeys, says she will be busy this holiday season. 

"I will be making cabbage rolls and nalysnyky, which are both Ukrainian dishes. This weekend I will be heading to our granddaughters for Christmas Eve. For Christmas Day, we're just going to be doing munchies, and I'll be doing the New Year's Day Christmas Turkey with everybody at my house."

Mayor Sharilyn Knox says that she could not be more excited for the Christmas season. 
"This year, we are going to St. Johns, Newfoundland, to visit with my husband's family. On top of that, I will also be meeting with St. John's Mayor. Mayor Danny Breen is his name. We will sit down and discuss what each of our cities goes through. It will be fun to meet a new mayor." 

From all of us here at PortageOnline, we hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.