The Festival of Trees is a big deal.
Granted, the festival itself is not solely a Barrhead event but even so, for seven years now, our community has made charity the focus of this particular night and every year continues to be an even greater success than the one before it.
True, this year has had its ups and downs — the county recently joined others in a declaration of a municipal agricultural disaster, the price of oil has plummeted and a wildfire ravaged our neighbours, but despite all of these negatives, our community banded together and donated $30,917.40 through its charitable auction of Christmas trees, wreaths and other items.
Unlike last year, where much of the $51,000 collected went towards construction of the town’s new aquatic centre, the majority of the funds accumulated Nov. 26 will go to support local organizations such as Barrhead Animal Rescue Service (BARS), the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) and others.
And some of it will go towards the new pool as well.
As Dave Sawatzky points out in the story on our coverage of the event on Page 4 however, the funds raised were for charitable purposes.
The amount donated is certainly less than it was last year, but the community deserves kudos for its efforts.
You all give so much.
Had the price of oil not tanked and the summer’s wildfire season not ravaged Fort McMurray — another example of the community coming together admirably — the night might have been different but as festival organizer Kristine Bryant says the same story Sawatzky is quoted in, it was still a good night for charity.
All of the trees, wreaths and other items auctioned off were of the highest calibre of quality, and the night’s entertainers — comedic legend Mike MacDonald and opener Emily Verden, did not disappoint.
Verden herself still has a ways to go to reach the level that MacDonald is at of course, but given enough stage time, she will, of that we have no doubt.
The wreath constructed by the members of the Barrhead Art Club, which fetched $2,200, as well as the fire department’s tree, which garnered $700, were certainly worthy of the No. 1 and No. 2 people’s choice winner spots respectively, and we at the Barrhead Leader look forward to next year’s festival.
Well done Barrhead, well done.
