The ornaments were hung with the greatest of care with the full knowledge that Santa will soon be there for an annual Okotoks Christmas fundraiser.
Participants in the Sheep River Health Trust’s Avenue of Trees were busy decorating Christmas trees at the Okotoks Best Western Plus on Nov. 16.
“We have about six people down here already setting up and we should have about 16 trees done by the end of the day,” said Andrea Mitchell, the trust’s executive director.
Avenue of Trees has service groups, businesses and residents decorating Christmas trees which will be raffled off for the trust. This year there will be 29 trees when the Avenue opens on Nov. 18 and runs until Dec. 16. Ten of those will be selected as Trees of Hope.
Those trees are auctioned and they are given to a family which does not have a tree. It will not be a live auction as in past years but will take place online at Elevate Auctions.
Of course, COVID-19 has crept down the Avenue of Trees, like the Grinch trying to steal Christmas. However, the fundraiser is proceeding as a result of huge community heart and some ingenuity.
The event is typically at the Okotoks Recreation Centre, but to keep physical distancing, it has been moved to the Best Western.
“This year we had to get creative so people can see the trees and we partnered with Best Western,” Mitchell said. “We won’t have to deal with people who are coming in for a swim like at the Recplex for example.”
The trees are in the Best Western’s lobby, breakfast room, and the halls and as well there will be a virtual tour on the trust’s website.
Mitchell stressed masks must be worn.
The trees are unique. Members of the Rotary Club of Okotoks were decorating a tree that not only jingled – it jingle, jangle, jingled.
“The theme is Rhinestone Cowgirl – everything is either sparkle and/or cowgirl related,” said Okotoks Rotary president Agi Zacharias. “And most of the decorations are handmade.”
Rotarian Sandi Kennedy made angelic chaps out of bandanna fabric. As well, tiny rocking horses were cut and decorated. There are some pockets cut off of jeans that got the rhinestone treatment and hung on the tree.
On top of the tree, not an angel, but a red cowboy hat.
The guest of honour at Avenue of Trees is St. Nick. Photos with Santa will still be offered, but there is no sitting on his lap. Santa will be spreading Christmas joy from a physically — safe two metres.
“We have always taken reservations for photos, but this year we have extended the times between each for cleaning,” Mitchell said. “Santa is socially distanced. There is Santa’s chair and a family bench.”
There are 40 photos taken and a USB stick is given to the family.
The cost for photos with Santa is $55.
To book a time with Santa click here.
The Sheep River Health Trust raises funds for medical equipment and health needs in the Foothills area.
For information about the Sheep River Health Trust and the Avenue of Trees go to sheepriverheathtrust.ca
