If you’ve ever driven down Highway 18 between Westlock and Clyde anytime over the last month, you’ve probably seen the Boychuk home.
It’s almost impossible to miss – their countless number of Christmas lights illuminates the dark night on the north side of the highway at Dungannan Road.
And it’s been that way since 2008 when the family of six first decided to set up the display of luminous Christmas critters, elves and lights.
“I don’t know how many [lights] there are,” said Robert Boychuk. “I don’t know how much I’ve spent.”
While their family home has arguably one of the biggest Christmas light displays Westlock County has to offer, what it has in quantity, it also has it in quality. And that’s no fluke as they’ve had lots of practice.
“We used to make big parade floats for the Christmas parade in Thorhild, and so we would have this great big float that we’d spend hours and hours putting together and the parade was over in five minutes,” Michelle Boychuk said.
“Our kids were small at the time, so Robert decided that instead of doing it that way, why not do it at home and the kids can enjoy it for the whole season … we’d bring the parade float home and just plug it in the front yard.”
The massive display doesn’t go up overnight and the Boychuk’s four daughters, Caitlyn, 10, Chiara, 12, Chelsea, 13, and Cheyenne, 17, play a pivotal role in the set up each December. Robert’s sister Audrey Victoor and her son Christopher, 29, also help get the display up-and-running.
The family says the lengthy process of decorating the yard brings them together.
Adding to the display, each year, they’ve amassed a small army of tin soldiers, reindeer and a more-than-impressive display of lights this year, a special tropical display. This year, the girls even got to design their own displays.
Maintaining the Christmas decorations is its own task as the inflatables deflate, storage containers fly away and light bulbs burn out.
When asked why the family keeps up the hard work, Robert says the reason is simple.
“Every year, I think, maybe, I don’t have time for it, but when it comes down to it, my philosophy is that it’s easy to do nothing, but it’s more satisfying when you do something for the community,” he said.
“Going home and putting your feet up on the couch doesn’t give you the same satisfaction as accomplishing something in life.”
But what started as an investment in family time has turned into an investment in the whole community.
“We get a lot of comments and people who stop by and ask if they can walk through the yard. We try to oblige everybody. There’s lots of people that pull in and take a look,” Robert said.
“I always felt bad for the truck drivers,” she said. “You always see them out on Christmas … it always brings some happiness to them. They’re always honking their horns as they drive by.”
Robert admits the most satisfying part of the experience has been watching the community enjoy the display — fond memories of finding gift bags on his doorstep, seniors busing in from Westlock to admire the display and year-round well wishers.
“It’ll be August and you’ll bump into somebody at the grocery store and that’s the first thing they comment on. The whole motivation is bringing joy to people, young and old, from all over the place,” he said.
And while Westlock residents can expect the Boychuk’s lights to keep shining until well into the New Year, Robert says he has a special surprise in store for next year.
“I can’t spill the beans, but I already know what’s [coming up next year]. It comes from a well-known Christmas song. We actually have a pretty big display that I’ve got in my head, because it’s all got to be built, it can’t be purchased and it’s all a hand-made process,” he said.
