by Ronda Payne/Special to the 91原创 Advance
Every year, one batch of Christmas trees always sells out 鈥� it鈥檚 the ones at the Festival of Trees at Newlands Golf and Country Club where organizations compete for a variety of honours by decorating and having fun. Now in its 27th year, the event is as popular as ever with the tree decorating and a festive party.
Monique Huurman was putting final touches on the tree for RE MacDonald Stoves when the other participants were in the ballroom at the Thursday Nov. 23 event.
鈥淭his is our second year,鈥� she said, adding of the other decorators. 鈥淭hey were all here early. I like decorating the tree by myself. It鈥檚 for an important cause too.鈥�
Christa Clift, special events coordinator with Newlands said donations will be collected through to New Year鈥檚 Day for the 91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation from the Festival of Trees. Not only was $4,000 raised for the charity on the day of the decorating event, but the public can also view the trees and vote for their favourite by making a small donation which adds to the total.
鈥淚t鈥檚 our 27th year,鈥� Clift said. 鈥淲e only sell 20 trees and we sold out at 20. Plus there is a Newlands tree and a foundation tree.鈥�
Helen Hughes of the hospital foundation thanked participants for their ongoing involvement.
鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing, you鈥檝e been doing it for 27 years,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ver the past 11 years, this event has raised over $34,000.鈥�
Hughes added that the funds from the Festival of Trees will help to replace some of the old beds at the hospital which are no longer functional.
鈥淲e鈥檙e well on our way to replacing them with new smart beds,鈥� she added.
Big winners of the decorating contest were Westland Insurance for Best Corporate Tree, RMC Ready Mix for Most Enchanting Tree, Able in Grove Collision for Best Decorating Team Spirit and Chaberton Estate Winery for Best use of Creative Materials. Each award category was voted on by the decorating teams, but they could not vote for their own tree.
The final award winner will be the Master Tree Trimmer which will be announced after the public has enjoyed the trees and cast their ballots.
One of the winning trees, that of Able in Grove Collision, was decorated by the Fraser Valley Selects Real U-13 soccer team. The girls made their own ornaments prior to the decorating evening and even wore pajamas to do the tree trimming. The owner of the collision repair shop has a daughter on the soccer team, so the opportunity was a good fit.
鈥淲e just thought of them,鈥� Katie Nelson of the soccer team explained how ornaments were designed. 鈥淲e do it like a team bonding thing.鈥�
Vonda Dickman, general manager at notes the trees have consistently sold out each year of the event.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity to support the work 91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation is doing,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 an opportunity to be involved in our community. It鈥檚 a way of giving back to the community and contributing to the health of the community.鈥�
Valley View Funeral Home has been decorating a tree for three years. Zoe Murgg of the company enjoys the opportunity to come together with her fellow staff members and celebrate the holiday season.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a chance to give back, to participate,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 love Christmas. I think I was looking for something to participate in, in the holidays.鈥�
Trees for the Festival of Trees were provided by .
