LAC LA BICHE - For Pat Boon-Anderson, co-founder of the Lac La Biche Festival of Trees, this past weekend was a time to reflect on 13 years of the popular annual event, which started in 2010. It was also time for community members and other event volunteers to acknowledged Boon-Anderson her work.
Forging a vision
Boon-Anderson, who serves as chairperson for the Festival of Trees organizing committee and who retired earlier this year after teaching more than 35 years at JA Williams High School (JAWS), said organizers knew that it would take time for the community to understand the vision they had for the festival from the beginning.
“Now, 13 years later, the amount of assistance the committee gets through volunteering, donations etc. is proof we have the support and commitment to continue to grow our Festival of Trees into the best in Alberta,” she said.
The 2023 Festival of Trees featured 68 Christmas trees that were donated by local businesses and community organizations. According to Boon-Anderson, this is the highest number of trees in the history of the event. The full weekend event that took over the Bold Center also featured the Christmas Shopping Extravaganza, Fabulous North Art Show and Sale, a Children’s Festival, musical entertainment, as well as a visit from Santa Claus.
POST clippings in a scrapbook
On Sunday afternoon, the weekend full of activities and excitement came to a close with the names of 68 winners who had placed tickets into boxes next to the trees being drawn. After, Boon-Anderson was recognized for her dedication and commitment to the Festival of Trees and was presented with a scrapbook containing photo memories from each year of the festival dating back to 2010. The scrapbook contains specially re-printed pages of articles, advertisements and photos published in the Lac La Biche POST and Lakeland This Week over the years.
“I cannot wait to look and read the past stories of the festival,” she said. “I am humbled by my recognition I have been given this year by this community.”
A boost for community spirit
Boon-Anderson continued by saying that while the trees, events, and money that the annual event raises are important, what makes the Festival of Trees truly special is that it brings the community together. She praised the local children who volunteered for many of the events over the festival weekend. This included supervising bouncy houses, making cookies, serving tea to seniors, and playing bingo with them, and dressing up as elves and the Grinch and walking around socializing with the large crowds who came to the Bold Centre.
“Although on the surface it looks like it is about the trees and the money, it is really about the community working together to create a legacy of memories and opportunities for the children,” she said.
Looking ahead to next year
No sooner did the 2023 Festival of Trees end when the organizing committee began the process of preparing for next year’s event. Boon-Anderson said it takes until February for organizers to get everything figured out.
“The committee needs to debrief this festival and continue to set the direction for the next,” she said.
More volunteers needed
While this year’s Festival of Trees was a success, Boon-Anderson said the organizing committee did run into a bit of difficulty securing the volunteer group to host some of the events. As a consequence, the program was not complete until just before the festival got underway.
At the last minute, two activities were cut, but she is hopeful they will be back up and running for next year.
“Some organizations are finding their volunteer list is getting smaller,” she stated. “We have a lot of new people and families to the area. I would challenge them to put their names forward and volunteer for an organization that is dear to their heart.”
The winners of decorated trees from the 2023 Festival of Trees were:
Cory Beniuk - EDS Group Inc
Lori Labonte - Lac La Biche Museum
Laura Quintal - Marczak's / Boston Pizza
Mel Glazerman - Cougar Fuels
Andrew Polturak - Birch Hill Interiors
Tristan Eriksson - Hope Haven Women's Shelter
Carmen Lyons - Ted's Automotive
Lac La Biche County Mayor & Council - Natasha Downes
Daniel Sokorinski - LLB Farmers Market, Ag Society and Billy McDonald Rodeo
Roy Stevenson - Calnash Trucking
Jocelyn oullette - LLB Regional Health Foundation
Sandi Bow - Lakeland Chiropractic & LLB Heritage Society
Rosaire Charest - La Biche Inn
Ginette Labonte - The Cooperators
Gwen Beniuk - Kingdom Cats
Kaire Kershaw - Enbridge
Alta Lindenberg - Main Street Salon
Madison Diesel - LLB Firefighters Society
Carmen Cyre - Gail Broadbent Prof. Corp.
Elaine Landstrom - Wolfe and Moon Market
Caitlin Beniuk - Goldnen Sands
Kaitlyn Soroka - Remax
Sue Shewchuk - St. Catherine's Parish
Joann Charest - Modern Wears
Randy - Marilyn Brezinski - Generations Eye Care
Lenore Cardinal - Community Learning
Clayton Vezeau - LLB Soccer Assoc
Lee McFarlane - Sparkle - Shine carwash
Randy-Nancy Hupka - Councillors Pare, Monda, Johnson
Maggie Fayad - Rich Lake Rec and Ag
Emma Holota - Canadian Natural
Marian Ewaskiw - CF-LLB
Melissa Laboucane — Independent Grocer
Simone Skoglund - LLB Art Club
Mike Broadbent - Reminiscence
Jason Beniuk - LLB Roofing
Lucy Theroux - Drop Dead Gorgeous
Julie Genoud - Edge Energy
Ron Cadieux - Ironside Sales
Donna Fabbro - Fortis
Therese Duhamel - Venture Home Hardware
