A Black Diamond family is sharing Christmas joy at Oilfields Hospital.
Anne and Ron Lalonde set up their impressive Snow Village in the hospital’s lobby, after the miniature buildings, trees and people sat in boxes for the past four years following a move into a smaller home.
“I started it 35 years ago,” Anne said. "Just a piece at a time.”
The Snow Village grew, and now has everything one would expect to find in a developed town.
Anne said that seeing similar displays, with the buildings all lit up, is what sparked her interest in starting a village of her own.
From the first house, a snowman and some trees, the collection grew to what it is today.
“I only intended for it to be so big, but it just kept growing,” she said. "I just thought it was neat in the house."
Each year, the village grew, helped along by a gift or two for Anne's birthday, and at Christmas.
When Anne and Ron moved to Black Diamond from Calgary five years ago, they no longer had space to set up the display.
“We downsized when we came out here, and it just doesn’t fit," Anne said.
Daryl Lalonde, the couple’s son, raised the possibility of setting up the display at the hospital and hospital management were all for it.
“They said, ‘People will enjoy it,’ and they have,” Anne said.
The Snow Village was set up at the hospital over a weekend in November. It measures 20 feet long and four feet wide, and 18 power bars are used to light it up. Material to support the display was donated by the local Rona store.
Anne said there have been a lot of nice comments, and anybody who comes into the hospital will see the village.
“Folks have really been enjoying it,” said Janet Scott, a staff member at the hospital.
The family hopes the Snow Village brings happy memories and warm holiday feelings to all who see it.
It will remain on display at the hospital into the new year.
