November 19, 2013

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Your guide to Festival of Lights, Ladysmith Christmas events, shopping & dining

Warm Your Hands Warm Someone’s Heart

We need your support! Enjoy a delicious cup of Hot Chocolate by donation at our booth in front of our office at 528 First Ave. All proceeds go to our local NANAIMO HAVEN HOUSE. Please help us make this year the best ever! It’s our 9th year supporting the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation at Light Up.

528 First Ave.

Ladysmith Branch Helping You is What We Do 250-245-2252

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Ladysmith Chronicle

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Thursday, November 28, 2013

Table of Contents 4 Welcome to this year’s Festival of Lights 5 Remembering the setup workparty in photos 6 Community a big part of Festival of Lights success 7 LDCU sponsors spectacular fireworks display 8 Cement truck is covered in thousands of lights 10 Our photo contest winners 11 Some favourite Light Up memories 12-13 Schedule and parade information 14 Gord Cargill’s signs help point the way 15 Mike Battie comes home to entertain 16 Readers submit their favourite photos 17 This will be Fred Izon’s first Light Up off the stage 18 Hydro employees make volunteering a family affair 19 New infrastructure helps with setup 20 FOL Committee moving forward collaboratively 21 Takedown workparty set for Jan. 26 22-23 More events to celebrate Christmas

Publisher: Teresa McKinley publisher@ladysmithchronicle.com

Editor: Lindsay Chung editor@ladysmithchronicle.com

Production: Doug Kent production@ladysmithchronicle.com

940 Oyster Bay Drive P.O. Box 400, Ladysmith, B.C., V9G 1A3 Phone: 250-245-2277 Fax: 250-245-2230 The Chronicle does its best to ensure content accuracy. The Chronicle is not endorsing any product or business contained within.

Produced by:

Sponsors:

Thank You The Ladysmith Festival of Lights members and directors would like to take this time to say thank you to all the dedicated volunteers.

Our 26 years of success would not have been possible without the continued support we have received from the 100’s of volunteers.

Also to the businesses and organizations who have continuously given their support we would like to acknowledge our sincere appreciation.

Support from the Province of BC

Spectacular fireworks presented by:

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A welcome message from Ladysmith’s mayor

I would like to extend the warmest of greetings from Ladysmith Council to our residents and our visitors.

The Ladysmith Festival of Lights — now celebrating its 26th year — is a valued and much-loved month-long event in our community.

We applaud the efforts and vision of the Festival of Lights Committee and the hundreds of volun-

Ladysmith Chronicle

teers for all the time they have dedicated to decorating our town for the Christmas season.

I hope that the festivities, the parade, the fireworks and that magical moment when the whole town lights up create warm memories for you and your family. We have much to be thankful for.

Rob Hutchins, Mayor

A note from the Festival of Lights president

Wow! Here we are again, ready to put on the 26th “Light Up” party.

So many community volunteers have come together once again to help make Ladysmith a beautiful destination for the Christmas season. I am very proud of our volunteers and staff for all the great ideas and help, and I am sure you will be pleased by their efforts.

Many thanks also to our many sponsors and inkind support. Without their help, we would not be as beautiful this time of year.

Come join us as we celebrate another successful Light Up. Cliff Fisher President, Festival of Lights Society

LADYSMITH FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS 2013 The Ladysmith Festival of Lights is such a special time of year in our community.

We offer heartfelt thanks and congratulations to the organizers of our Festival of Lights, and the hundreds of volunteers who give countless hours to transform our Town and create a magical wonderland for all to enjoy.

To our residents, friends, neighbours and visitors we extend warm wishes to you and your family for a most delightful and memorable holiday season.

Mayor and Council

Town of Ladysmith

Thursday, November 28, 2013

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Volunteers play a huge role in the Festival of Lights — way before the lights are turned on. Every year, volunteers from the community and local businesses help string lights and set up decorations to get Ladysmith ready for the Festival of Lights during a volunteer workparty. Clockwise from top left, volunteers from Vancouver Island Powerline Ltd., Drew Chisholm and Charlie Schaal participate in this year’s workparty Nov. 3.

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Ladysmith Chronicle

Community such a big part of Festival Lindsay Chung

story without the continued community support from the Town of Ladysmith, local services clubs, church groups, city and public works staff, businesses and, of course, Ladysmith residents who support us with funds to operate and volunteer in helping to plan, put up lights and decorations each year. Over the years, the ever-increasing core of volunteers and our community’s spirit have helped to make Ladysmith famous for its annual Light Up party and community pride. For all this continued support, the Festival of Lights organizers are extremely grateful.”

Fisher says that when he and his wife moved to Ladysmith eight years ago, they thought they needed to volunteer a bit to get to know their new community better.

“We have lived in several communities in Canada over the years, and nowhere have we found such a caring and supportive community of volunteers,” he said.

To learn more about the Festival of Lights, visit the society’s new website at www. ladysmithfol.com and like the Festival of Lights on Facebook.

THE CHRONICLE

For a quarter of a century now, Ladysmith has come alive with thousands of shimmering lights throughout town from the last Thursday in November until the third Sunday in January.

The Ladysmith Festival of Lights began in 1987 when Bill Fitzpatrick and a couple of Ladysmith merchants agreed that new and more festive street decorations were needed to complement Ladysmith’s successful heritage/revitalization project.

The early focus was to not just decorate Society, Ladysmith is even considered the the downtown core, but also to make peo- “Light Up Capital of Vancouver Island”! ple aware of what they had in their own Community support plays a huge role in downtown and to shop locally. This was making all of this happen. soon changed to include Coronation Mall “There is so much community pride in the and then to expand to the blocks surround- Festival of Lights Light Up and the seasonal ing the downtown area. lighting display in our town that it becomes Over the years, the Festival of Lights has a focal point for folks and businesses to become a tradition for many local families volunteer their time, crane trucks and their and people from afar who make a point of ideas every year,” said Cliff Fisher, president returning to Ladysmith each year around of the Festival of Lights Society. “This famthis time. According to the Festival of Lights ily event would not have become a success

Congratulations to the volunteers and organizers of the 26th Annual Ladysmith Festival of Lights....

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Thursday, November 28, 2013

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Sponsoring fireworks ‘the right thing,’ LDCU Ross Armour

THE CHRONICLE

Ladysmith and District Credit Union (LDCU) will play a pivotal role in the Festival of Lights for yet another year.

Once again, the credit union is sponsoring the annual fireworks display taking place immediately following the conclusion of the parade on Light Up night.

“We’ve been sponsoring the fireworks for about five or six years now,” said John de Leeuw, CEO of the credit union. “We used to donate money anyway, but after BC Hydro pulled out on its sponsorship, somebody knocked on my door and here we are.”

De Leeuw’s first Festival of Lights was 18 years ago, and he says it’s a great way to “kick off the Christmas season.”

“My oldest daughter, who’s been here since she was four, went away to university one year and came back and said it didn’t feel like Christmas to

her because she wasn’t here for Light Up night. It’s a great showcase for our town and another opportunity for the credit union to prove itself as a credited corporate citizen of the town.”

The sponsoring of the fireworks display is something the credit union retains as of utmost importance following regular talks at the boardroom level.

“We take our responsibility as a corporate citizen of Ladysmith very seriously,” said de Leeuw.

“If something is important to the community, then it’s important to us. It (sponsoring the fireworks) is just the right thing to do.”

De Leeuw recalls at his first festival, there were around 20 floats in the parade, compared to last year, which had “between 60 and 70.”

The lights are turned on at 6:30 p.m. the night of Light Up, with the parade beginning at 6:45 p.m. Fireworks will be set off from Aggie Fields between 8-8:15 p.m., approximately.

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Ladysmith Chronicle

One hundred man hours or more go into decorating cement truck Lindsay Chung

THE CHRONICLE

One of most jaw-dropping sights in the Light Up Parade has to be the cement truck covered in thousands of lights.

This year will mark the fourth time a driver from Cumberland Ready Mix has driven the hour and a half down to Ladysmith to take part in the parade.

Cumberland Ready Mix owner Keith Tatton says they were invited four years ago to take part in the parade, and they received such a wonderful reception that they’ve been coming back ever since.

Cumberland Ready Mix started decorating a cement truck in 2007 for the Cumberland Christmas Truck Parade. hoods,” said Tatton.

“It was a very short parade because there The truck mostly sticks close to home, as weren’t a lot of entries,” recalled Tatton. Ladysmith and Campbell River are the only “We had spent an incredible amount of parades to which it travels. hours decorating the truck.”

Tatton says children are dazzled by the The driver who had decorated the truck, truck, and elderly people love it when the Rod Woods, asked if they could bring it out truck arrives at care homes. For him, the in the community and drive it around more cutest reaction they get is that little chilsince they had put so much work into it, dren will start dancing when they see — and they started driving the cement truck and hear — the truck. to different neighbourhoods in the Comox “The second or third year, we put in a reValley and started receiving invitations to ally big sound system, and we crank out various local events, explained Tatton.

Christmas songs,” said Tatton. “The driver They also started taking the truck to care kept playing the Chipmunks singing Christhomes, and it grew from there. The truck, mas carols, and it drove me nuts. I said, which also plays Christmas carols, now ‘why do you have to do that?’ and he said goes to some elementary schools and ‘just watch.’ I went out with him one night, sometimes gets invited to specific neigh- and when they saw the truck arrive, the bourhoods or events, starting Dec. 1. kids all started dancing.”

“We try to get out as many nights as we Tatton estimates they put, at minimum, can and try to do different neighbour- 80 to 100 man hours into decorating the ce-

Doug Routley, MLA

Thanks to Ladysmith for 26 years of lighting up the holidays!

Jean Crowder

Call Toll Free: 1-866-609-9998

Nanaimo~North Cowichan

Community Offices #1 – 16 High Street | Box 269 Ladysmith BC V9G 1A2 T 250.245.9375 | F 250.245.8164

Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Cowichan

Duncan: 126 Ingram St.

Nanaimo: 77 Victoria Cres.

jean@jeancrowder.ca

ment truck each year. Woods and Jill CarrHilton, who drove the truck in last year’s Light Up Parade, do most of the decorating, and Tatton says that this year, the truck will be adorned with about 14,000 standard lights and maybe 1,000 miniature lights.

The million-dollar-question of how they get the truck’s drum to turn with all those lights on it is actually a $100 question. Tatton says he gets asked that often, and his answer is always: “if you give me $100, I’ll donate it to charity, and I’ll tell you.”

The charity in question is the Care-A-Van, which provides mobile medical services to homeless people in the Comox Valley.

Cumberland Ready Mix started collecting donations for Care-A-Van last year. Tatton says nobody had to donate, but if anyone gave $5 or more, they would receive a chocolate bar bearing an image of the truck, custom-made by Courtenay’s Hot Chocolates.

www.jeancrowder.ca

Unit 112 50 Tenth Street Nanaimo BC V9R 6L1 T 250.716.5221 | F 250.716.5222 douglas.routley.mla@leg.bc.ca www.dougroutley.ca

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Thursday, November 28, 2013

After more than 35 years in the jewellery business, Lee’s Goldsmith will close their doors FOREVER!

Store Closing

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Store hours: Mon - Sat: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Sunday : Closed

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Ladysmith Chronicle

Warmly wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas

Photo contest winners!

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Thank you to everyone who submitted their favourite photos! In top photo, Anita Noon captures the cement truck in the parade.

In the middle, there’s a photo of Nikki, Mommy and Snowman, submitted by Jo Ann Grsic, who says what she enjoys most about Festival of Lights is the gathering of friends. Above is a photo by Stacey Crossley of the fireworks over First Avenue. We can’t wait to see what you share with us after this year’s Festival!

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Thursday, November 28, 2013

Making memories in Ladysmith My first Light Up was in 1998. I’d been fold at least to the beauty. in town and at the Chronicle a month — Mitch Wright, Chronicle staffer 1998and already knew a lot of people, but a 2004 lot more recognized me as “the Chronicle *** guy” after I’d spent the evening inside the This year will be our fourth Ladysmith parade ropes, pointing my camera back at Light Up since we moved here in 2010. Evall the folks looking on. It was a great way ery time we go, we are never disappointed, to get an unofficial introduction to so many even in the rain! Armed with umbrellas, people in the community. I missed 2004’s rain coats, hats, mittens and hot chocolate, festival after leaving the Chronk to accept we take our place along the sidewalk and a brief exile for work in Victoria, so my first wait for the countdown. When all the lights Light Up as just another face in the crowd come on, it’s fantastic! Little Ladysmith was in 2005, and I discovered it’s a very dif- comes alive! The parade of floats, trucks, ferent perspective watching the festivities and cars is adorable, and the general vibe with your own eyes, rather than through a within the crowd is very special. For our camera lens. family, we especially love the live music Another Light Up moment that stands and the fireworks, but it truly has someout came one year after the crowds had all thing for every age. We look forward to it dissipated and it began snowing. I walked every year. downtown sometime after midnight, just — Stacey Crossley, Ladysmith me and my faithful furry friend Sam, to find *** First Ave surprisingly deserted. I’m typically Every parade I’ve ever been involved a bit of a Grinch, but found myself marvel- with since I’ve been in Ladysmith has ling at our main street all alight, the snow been towing the Coast Guard Auxiliary adding both a muting effect to any intru- [now Royal Canadian Marine Search sion of sound and an enhancement 100- and Rescue] boat behind a trailer and it

parked outside my house 24 hours before the parade, decorating it with lights, making sure kids don’t climb on it in the night.

One time, we had the boat in the parade, and we were sitting on the boat on the back of a trailer with everyone, and the guy driving the truck was supposed to take us back, but he made a mistake and ended up driving us on the highway with all our lights and music. We were sitting totally illegally on the boat in our Coast Guard Auxiliary uniforms as cars rushed by us.

Every single Light Up has been playing with the boat the day before, singing at the top of our lungs very bad jolly sailor songs. [The parade] is the only time we get our little ones onboard. We’re getting a new boat, and now we are going to buy a bigger trailer so our bigger boat will fit.

The Light Up parade is one we won’t miss.

— Nick Epp-Evans, Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue station leader

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Ladysmith Chronicle

26th Annual Light-Up Celebration

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 28 Fun & Entertainment for the Entire Family!

3:00 pm

•Community Spaghetti Dinner

3:00 pm 4:00 pm 4-6:15 pm

•Christmas Craft Fair - Aggie Hall (north First Ave.)

6:30 pm 6:45 pm

•Santa Arrives Downtown to Light-Up Ladysmith!

•Kinsmen Parade - Along First Ave. to Aggie Hall

Eagles Hall - Adults $8; Children under 8 - $5

•Street Entertainment & Food Concessions •Entertainment on Stage Downtown Ladysmith and In-front of Aggie Hall

After the Parade, at Aggie Hall...

*Bob Stuart Park & Aggie Hall light up *Chuck Perrin Christmas Tree *Spectacular Fireworks presented by the

Proud Sponsors

We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia

First Avenue will be CLOSED TO TRAFFIC from 3:00pm until after Light Up. There will be shuttle buses from Transfer Beach and the Churches at the north end of 4th Ave.

WE ALSO ASK THAT PEOPLE PLEASE DO NOT BRING PETS DOWNTOWN FOR LIGHT UP (Ladysmith by-law 1554 Sect, 14(a). Thank You

For more info call 250-245-5888 or see www.ladysmithfol.com

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Thursday, November 28, 2013

PARADE ROUTE

LADYSMITH HARBOUR Parade participants will disperse along Rocky Creek Road, after they have crossed the hiway. NO PERSONS shall get off ANY floats BEFORE they have crossed the hiway and parked along Rocky Creek Rd.

Nanaimo

More visitor parking at Transfer Beach. Shuttle bus provided.

ISLAND ISLAND HIGHWAY HIGHWAY

There will be NO parking or off loading of parade entries between the Round-A-Bout & the Is. Hwy. All entries must go across the hiway to off load.

Chuck Perrin Memorial Tree

N

h

Eagles Eagles Hall Hall

Craft & Artisan Fair

P

Transfer Beach Park Victoria

Parade Line-up Facing North

XXXXXXXXXX

FIRST AVENUE

49TH Parallel Grocery

Ladysmith & District Ladysmith & District Credit Union Credit Union fireworks Aggie Hall Fireworks Display

City Hall

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Spaghetti Spaghetti Dinner Dinner

Bob Stuart Park

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Ladysmith & District Credit Union

SECOND AVENUE

Parking

Parking

ROBERTS ST.

HIGH STREET

BULLER ST.

FRENCH ST.

KITCHENER ST.

P

WARREN ST.

Cemetery

Parking is also available at St. Mary’s Catholic Church as well as the Bethel Tabernacle, both located on Fourth Ave. at the end of Strathcona St.

SYMONDS ST.

Strathco

na St.

THIRD AVENUE

h Handicap Parking is located at the Ladysmith Museum located at First Ave. & Buller St. You must be parked by 4pm

FOURTH AVENUE

Parade Rules: All parade participants agree to abide by these rules by participating in the 2013 Festival of Lights / Kinsmen Parade.

1. All entrants MUST stay within 25 feet of the entry in front of them at all times and no entries can stop during the parade unless instructed by a parade official. There CAN NOT be any interruptions, demonstrations, displays or other actions that will cause any of the entries to stop or unnecessarily slow down during the parade .

2. All entrants MUST follow the rules and directions from all the Kinsmen parade personnel and traffic control people.

3. All entrants MUST cross the Island Highway and proceed to Rocky Creek Road before they stop and disembark from the floats. There is lots of room to park both north and south on Rocky Creek Road. In addition if you wish to pick up from this area you may park your pickup vehicles in this area or at the Government wharf.

4. NO ENTRANTS may throw, handout, or in any way distribute any items including brochures, coupons, candy, flowers, etc. while in the parade.

5. All entrants MUST have at least one adult walker on either side of their float to help keep the crowd back. If the entry is over 40’ then there must be at least two walkers on either side of the entry.

6. All entrants must have festive lighting in the spirit of the evening.

7. NO live Santa Claus characters allowed. Plastic characters, etc, can be used but no live Santa except on the Festival of Lights float.

The Ladysmith Kinsmen & Festival of Lights committee appreciate your support in co-operating with these rules. They are for both the safety of spectators as well as the parade participants. We want the evening to go without any problems.

Thank You

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Ladysmith Chronicle

Sign maker is one of the unsung heroes Ross Armour

the chronicle

If ever the Festival of Lights had an award for an unsung hero, Gord Cargill would arguably be the strongest candidate.

Yet 20 years ago upon arriving in Ladysmith from Calgary, he had no idea he’d inevitably become a vital part of the town’s iconic event. For umpteen years, Cargill, now 72, has been making up directional signs used for drivers on Light Up night, in order to navigate them safely around town.

But it didn’t all start that way.

“Back around 1999, there was a room upstairs from where the library now is and a little something was happening,” told Cargill. “I walked in and introduced myself, and Duck Paterson [now part of Ladysmith’s council] asked me to come to this meeting.”

To that meeting he went and ber and go around decorating he was placed in charge of roof- the rooftops of service stations, top operations for the festival traffic circles, 49th Parallel Groby Brad McCluskey. cery store, credit unions — one Cargill admits he was sur- of the service stations we used prised by the approach but de- to decorate was actually where cided to take up the offer along- Tim Hortons now is.” side his friend Dave Reynolds.

Nowadays, Cargill still has an “We were placed in charge instrumental role with the diof the rooftop operations,” he rectional signs and even makes said. “Basically, we used to up some of his own with a bit of start in the middle of Septem- design work and paint.

“We use directional signs to help people get around Ladysmith on the night of the Light Up,” he said. “I really don’t know how I got into it; it just became part of my job. My son’s got involved recently too, as he works for a sign company up in Parksville.”

Cargill explained that signs are placed “from the liquor store all the way up First Avenue” and are also displayed around many other traffic areas as well as the cemetery and some local churches that are used for parking on Light Up night. The corner of Kitchener Street will also contain one of Cargill’s iconic signs to present an area for handicap parking.

“People often ask me when is it exactly that I put the signs up, as I’m never seen by anybody.

My wife and I start putting the signs up at seven in the morning the day of the Light Up.”

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Thursday, November 28, 2013

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Light Up a homecoming for street entertainer Ross Armour THE CHRONICLE

This year’s Festival of Lights street entertainment will see a homecoming of one of Ladysmith’s own.

Skilled juggler, jester and stilt guy Mike Battie will embrace the Light Up night atmosphere and express his skills to the crowd.

“As well as my juggling, I’ll probably be doing a little bit of stilts as well when it’s light,” said Battie. When it gets dark, I’ll use some fire and I’ll be bringing along some glowing props that look really good in the night.”

Ladysmith native Battie credits his skills to the training he received back in his college days at Malaspina College in Nanaimo, nowadays known as Vancouver Island University.

“I was in the right place at the right time and received some great training for show juggling during my college theatre days.

I was very lucky,” he said.

Battie now lives in Vancouver and is excited to be coming

home for the festival for the second year in a row.

“I love coming home; it’s a great excuse to see the family and all the young people I don’t see very often. I’ve been back for Ladysmith Days too, although it doesn’t happen very often.”

Prior to the 2012 festival, Battie was not involved for the “past 10 years” and says a lesson in the weather last time out will see him better prepared for this year.

“Last year was a little wet, so I have a better idea of what I’m going to do and what I can do this time round,” he said. “You need to be more conscientious with fire in wet circumstances, and I’ll probably also bring a standing tent in case of the weather situation.”

Battie believes the Festival of Lights to be a fantastic thing.

“It’s great to see everybody in the community getting out,” he said. “To see that whole lineup is really cool and it’s really unique to Ladysmith. You don’t see that on any scale anywhere else.”

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Ladysmith Chronicle

Every year, submissions from our readers start flooding in the day after Light Up, and we love seeing the Festival of Lights through your eyes. Here is a photo Bob Dendoff sent of the fireworks during last year’s Light Up celebrations.

Celebration of Light LADYSMITH

Have a Slice with Us during Light-Up Night!

Santa stops here for Pizza!

OR

TWO ONE

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Food Bank

A Christmas

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FRIDAY

December 20th, 2013 7- 10pm | LADYSMITH EAGLES HALL

Admission $7.50 PLUS a Cash/Food Donation Tickets available beginning November 18 at Resource Centre; Ladysmith Health Care Centre Reception Staff/X-Ray; by calling 250.734.1766 or by emailing lisa.burness@hotmail.com

17

Thursday, November 28, 2013

This year will be Izon’s first as a specator in ages Ross Armour

Izon moved back to town from Horsefly in the Kootenays in 1999, following the death of his This year’s Light Up night will father. He was then approached once again see many-a-person by town stalwart and current scurrying the local streets, but councillor Duck Paterson to beone familiar face is moving come more actively involved. down from stage to street level.

Izon took upon Paterson’s offer For the first time with aplomb and in over a decade, also performed singer and keyat Ladysmith’s car board player Fred show, every August, Izon will attend the for 10 years.

Festival of Lights “I always set up on merely as a spectathe main stage by tor, rather than a the Royal Bank of performer.

Canada (on Light Since 1999, Izon Up night) where performed and Santa Claus is,” entertained the said Izon. “Then I public on the fesused to start pertival’s main stage forming around Fred Izon alongside a couple 4:30 p.m. and then of close friends. would tear down But as is often when the parade said in life, all good started.” things must come Izon has fond to an end. memories of the “I just felt it was time to pass festival. it on to somebody else from the “All of them are great, even town,” said Izon, who is looking when it’s pouring. To see so forward to joining up with the many people come out to the inevitable large crowd come town is something else. The Nov. 28. His loyalties remain nightttime parade is just the strong. best.”

“I did leave a message with This year will arguably be one them to let me know if they of Izon’s more relaxing Festival needed me and it did cross my of Lights in recent times. mind to step back in,” he admits. “This will be my first year Originally from Ladysmith, where I can walk up and down

THE CHRONICLE

❞

The nighttime parade is just the best.

❝

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CHRISTMAS HOURS

Mon to Fri 9:00-9:00 Sat & Sun 9:00-6:00

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Ladysmith Chronicle For the month of December, our entire gallery is turning into a Christmas Gift Shop!

A holiday showcase of fine art and artisan crafts created by LOCAL artists.

This is your opportunity to find that one of a kind gift for your special someone this holiday season!

OPEN DECEMBER 1ST - 23RD, 2013

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Subscriptions only $32 for a year and make a great gift!

250-245-2277

Volunteering is a family affair for Hydro workers Lindsay Chung the chronicle

For the past five years, Brian Gueldenstern of Yellow Point has been making volunteering with the Festival of Lights a family affair.

Gueldenstern, who works as a lineman for BC Hydro, and his children have been volunteering their time to take part in the Festival of Lights setup for about five years now, and they’ve also been participating in the Kinsmen Parade.

Gueldenstern has lived here all his life, and he went to school in the Diamond and then North Oyster.

“I like doing things for the community; I try to help out where I can,” he said.

Gueldenstern started help- unteer their time to help put ing out with the Festival of up the tall steel-frame decoraLights through Brian Benjamin, tions on rooftops with a buckwho is also a lineman at BC et truck donated by BC Hydro.

Hydro. Benjamin’s father, Rick, His son and daughter go in the was a Lions Club member who bucket truck and help with exhelped out with the Festival, tension chords and help put and Benjamin started helping up strings of lights.

Gueldenstern says his family out with his family as well.

“We have kids the same age, and Benjamin’s family are the and our kids were coming of driving force behind the BC an age where it was time to Hydro involvement in Light Up, get them involved,” said Guel- and it brings out a lot of other employees who want to be denstern.

Gueldenstern’s 12-year-old part of it. He thinks about 20 daughter Emma and 10-year- people come out. old son Eric have been volun- “That’s the family thing,” said teering for the setup and the Gueldenstern. “Hydro donates parade all five years. They take the equipment, and we doturns riding in the BC Hydro nate our time and decorate bucket truck in the parade in the trucks and go in the parade. It’s a great way to show alternating years.

“I have a great sense of pride the kids how to help out the in what I do and what we do community.”

Gueldenstern says every year, as a team, all the people coming together to do Light Up he is amazed by how many — it gives me a great sense of people come out for Light Up. “My favourite memory is pride in the community,” said having my kids with me and Gueldenstern.

During the setup in early enjoying the parade,” he said.

November, Gueldenstern and “I’m just always in awe of how other BC Hydro employees vol- many people come out.”

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Thursday, November 28, 2013

New infrastructure makes rooftop decorating easier Staff Writer THE CHRONICLE

New infrastructure designed by Festival of Lights volunteers will make decorating the roofs of downtown businesses in Ladysmith a lot easier.

This year, the Festival of Lights Society is putting more emphasis on its infrastructure, and the society has built permanent bases for some of its decorations.

“This will eliminate all the cement blocks, wooden pallets and various types of weights and cables that Festival has used in the past to secure the many rooftop decorations,” explained society member Duck Paterson.

Lyle Tassone from Vancouver Island Powerline donated his time and bucket/boom truck Sunday, Oct. 20 to give Festival members a hand in getting some of the platforms up on the Pharmasave roof before the big community workparty Nov. 3.

“With the bucket truck, we were able to get all the new platforms up on Pharmasave,

as well as take all the old stuff off of the Ladysmith Animal Hospital and get the new platforms up on that building,” said Paterson. “The platforms were designed by Fes-

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FOL Committee seeks input from community Lindsay Chung THE CHRONICLE

The end of the Festival of Lights is by no means a time of rest for the Festival of Lights Committee, and once the lights are turned off this year, the committee is eager to gather with other community organizations in early 2014 to plan for the future.

The committee has approached the Ladysmith Downtown Business Association, the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Ladysmith about holding a visioning session after the festival, hopefully in early February.

“The Festival itself was started in 1987 with Bill Fitzpatrick and a few businesses getting together, and it’s now evolved into what it is today, the town lit up and a family affair,” said

Greg Edwards, vice-president of the Festival of Lights Committee. “At this point in time, I felt a collaborative effort rather than a single effort would be appropriate. In the reality of today’s world, we want to protect and enhance the intrinsic values of Festival and see what other people have in mind.”

Edwards says Light Up night attracts about half of Ladysmith’s population of roughly 2013 8,000, plus, depending on the

weather, thousands more from out of town for a total of anywhere from 10,000 to 14,000 more people, and it’s a great opportunity for local businesses and for Ladysmith as a whole.

“For us to attract so many people to our community, that’s where the opportunity comes in,” said Edwards. “How do we showcase Ladysmith? How do businesses see it dovetailing from that? And it’s not just businesses, but Ladysmith in

general — it’s saying ‘were here; we’re open for business; we’ve got a wonderful atmosphere, and lots of people chip in and help.’ How do we bring all these values to the table?”

Edwards envisions working collaboratively to hopefully come up with a five-year plan for moving forward to everyone’s benefit.

“There’s a one-time opportunity here every year, and we as a Festival, we want to protect our values and framework of where it was laid out, and at the same time, enhance the experience for other folks,” he said. “Myself and others felt it was time to incorporate leading groups in the community. We’ve got a great core of people, regardless of which organization you are referring to; they’re all people who want to do the right thing for the right reasons.”

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Thursday, November 28, 2013

Presents

An Old Tyme

Christmas

The Festival of Lights (FOL) Society is always grateful for the volunteers who help take down the decorations at the end of the Festival of Lights every year. The 2014 takedown workparty has already been set for Sunday, Jan. 26, starting at 9 a.m. Volunteers, pickup trucks and bucket trucks are greatly appreciated. “We need your help once again to help take down the many lights and decorations so they can be refurbished and stored so they will be shining bright next November,” says FOL Society president Cliff Fisher. A hot lunch will be provided.

Friday, Dec 6 5-8 pm • Candlelight walk down 1st Avenue, gather at LDCU parking lot at 6pm for a stroll to Symonds street and back up to The Printingdun Beanery.

• Christmas carols, Pantomime performance, live nativity scene, crafts for kids, child minding, visit from Santa • Write a letter to Santa, create an ornament, or listen to a children’s story • Complimentary hot apple cider, roasted chestnuts, warm up by a fire and much more ***New this year... collect six Old Tyme Tickets from participating stores and get a free horse and carriage ride sponsored by Luke and Sue and the LDCU. Come downtown on this wonderful evening to share in the romance of a 1920’s Christmas!

For more information: www.ladysmithdowntown.com

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Ladysmith Chronicle

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Upcoming Christmas events At this time of year, there are so many ways to get involved in your community and celebrate Christmas. Whether you want to get your Christmas shopping done, connect with friends and loved ones, be entertained or stay active, you’ll find something to do this holiday season in and around Ladysmith.

Cedar Yellow Point Artisan Country Christmas Tour

In the spirit of giving each year Safeway expresses their community spirit by donating 1,000 hot dogs and buns to the Festival of Lights

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You will find locally-produced edibles, native art, jewelry, original paintings, woodwork, pottery, fiber arts and more.

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namon buns and hot chocolate and have a chance to win grand prizes and door prizes.

The race starts at 9:30 a.m. at the Frank Jameson Community Centre, and participants can pre-register online at www.cinnamonbunrun.com or register at the event from 8:30-9:15 a.m.

Old Tyme Christmas Share in the romance of a 1920s Christmas during An Old Tyme Christmas and Candlelight Walk, hosted by the Ladysmith Downtown Business Association, Friday, Dec. 6 from 5-8 p.m. along First Avenue.

Get into the Christmas spirit with family and friends as you enjoy a candlelight walk down First Avenue, Christmas carols, crafts, a visit from Santa, horsedrawn carriage rides, children’s stories, carollers, roasted chestnuts and much more. Stores will be open late to help with your holiday shopping.

Yellowpoint Christmas

Spectacular

Now in its seventh year, the Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular is a celebration of Christmas, Cinnamon Bun Fun Run as well as an extravaganza of It’s become a tradition for many music and dance, lights and families who want to get some decorations, laughter and tears exercise and support a good — all washed down with minced cause. It’s the Cinnamon Bun pies and butter tarts.

Fun Run five- or 10-kilometre This year, 15 performances run/walk, and this year, it will take place Dec. 6-21 at the takes place Sunday, Dec. 1 in Cedar Community Hall in Cedar, Ladysmith. the Port Theatre in Nanaimo The run/walk supports the and the Sid Williams Theatre in Ladysmith Food Bank, with an Courtenay. The production feaentry fee of at least five tins tures a Queen tribute, a James of non-perishable food times.

Bond medley and a Sound of Runners and walkers of all ages Music medley, Michael Bublé and abilities are welcome in songs, a nostalgia tribute and this predicted time event, and many classical hits and Christparticipants will receive cinmas favourites.

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Thursday, November 28, 2013

For more information, visit www.yellowpointchristmasspectacular.ca. Secure your tickets by calling the Port Theatre Box Office at 250-754-8550.

that is the Ladysmith Christmas Lights Cruise. This year’s cruise will take place Saturday, Dec. 14 on the Ladysmith waterfront.

Boats will depart the Ladysmith Yacht Club at 6 p.m. For information, contact Mary Marcotte at 250-245-8339. While watching the boats from Transfer Beach, enjoy a bonfire hosted by the Ladysmith Kinsmen Club.

Christmas Festival of Choirs The churches of Ladysmith will present the 37th annual Christmas Festival of Choirs Sunday, Dec. 8 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 1135 Fourth Ave. in Ladysmith, starting at 6:30 p.m.

A freewill offering for the Ladysmith Christmas Cheer Fund will be collected.

Breakfast With Santa Ladysmith Family and Friends (LaFF) will host its ninth annual Breakfast With Santa Saturday, Dec. 14 at Aggie Hall. Enjoy a pancake breakfast hosted by the Rotary Club of Ladysmith, crafts, Santa sing-a-long and a lovely photo with Santa.

There will be two seatings — 8-10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — and tickets are

Ladysmith Fire/Rescue Santa Claus Parade

$6 if purchased before Nov. 30 and $8 after Dec. 1. Children younger than two get in for free but still require a ticket, and tickets are available at the Frank Jameson Community Centre.

Ladysmith Christmas

Lights Cruise

Each year, Mount Brenton Power and Sail Squadron organizes the spectacular lights display

Held on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 4-9 p.m., this fun parade makes its way from Brown Drive Park to École Davis Road Elementary with a number of stops so that children can meet Santa and get their photos taken.

Celebration of Light A fundraising event for the Ladysmith Food Bank, the Celebration of Light is a family-friendly variety concert featuring local entertainers.

This year’s event will take place Friday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. at the

Ladysmith Eagles Hall and will feature a special appearance

by Santa. Entertainers include Ryan McMahon, Skellig, Rev. Up and the Deadbeat Deacons, Dead Byrds, Kendall Patrick and the Headless Bettys, Elf Song (Sandy Jasper and Steve Tozer), Murray Atkinson, and carols by Ladysmith Celebration Brass.

Admission is only $7.50 plus a donation to the Food Bank, and it includes desserts, tea, coffee and hot chocolate. Tickets are available from the Ladysmith Resources Centre, Ladysmith Health Care Centre reception or X-ray staff or by calling 250-7341766 or e-mailing lisa.burness@ hotmail.com.

Polar Bear Swim Ring in the new year with the fastest special event of the year during the 24th annual Polar Bear Swim Wednesday, Jan. 1 at Transfer Beach.

Registration starts at 11 a.m., and the polar plunge is at noon.

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Ladysmith Chronicle

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