After a successful first year, the Community Tree Lighting Ceremony outside City Hall is back for a second.
This year’s ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 4, with the tree lighting planned for 7 p.m. Beau ‘Lac’ Funeral Home is back as the title sponsor. Co-owner Marianne Turcotte said getting involved again was an easy decision.
“I really found that it was something our city was lacking,” Turcotte said of last year’s event. “(It) was truly just bringing people together and being inclusive of all people during the holidays. It’s just an opportunity to bring the community together and really come back to the reason for the season.”
Wednesday’s event will include more than just the tree lighting. There will also be a performance by the Prince Albert Children’s Choir, a Santa Letter Writing and Colouring event inside City Hall, and hay bale rides, hot chocolate, and s’mores outside.
The Prince Albert Downtown Improvement District (PADBID) has brought in two wagons for the hay bale rides this year instead of one after lineups lasted until after 9 p.m. at last year’s event. Lake Country Co-op has agreed to provide hot chocolate and members of the Prince Albert Fire Department will run the fire pit for roasting marshmallows.
Members of the Prince Albert Raiders, Prince Albert Mintos, and Prince Albert Bears will also be at the event handing out candy canes.
Turcotte said the community support has been great.
“I think it just really reiterates just how amazing our community is and how everybody wants to come together for the betterment of one another,” she said.
“I just think it’s going to be such a special event. We really hope that it represents the tangible focus of inspiration and hope for our community. We’re just really looking forward to seeing everybody come out and come together, especially for some of the younger community members who so eagerly anticipate Christmas and its arrival.”
Ward 7 Coun. Dawn Kilmer helped organize this year’s event. Like Turcotte, Kilmer said the event was incredibly popular last year, which made bringing it back another easy decision.
“We are hoping that it becomes annual, and we just keep going,” Kilmer said.
“It should be a really fun event…. I love when our community gets out together and sees each other face to face. Joy is spread through community gatherings and chatting with people. It gets us out and brings a feeling of hope and togetherness in experiencing one special thing.”
