LAC LA BICHE - Sure, it's leaning a little — but engineers and experts who have been called in to look at Lac La Biche's downtown giant Christmas tree say its footings will stay securely planted in its specially-constructed boot.
The big spruce tree that towers approximately 40 feet above the downtown Main Street is decorated with hundreds of holiday lights. The tree is topped off with a large metallic star. That star has started to lean a little closer to the ground over the last week, causing some residents to question the tree's safety.
A local committee of volunteers who organize the annual Lac La Biche Light Up event — which includes the cutting and relocation of a large spruce tree to the downtown location — appreciate the concerns, but say they tree and its well-fortified brace pose no obvious danger.
"The tree is sitting in a specially engineered sleeve that sits five feet into the ground," said committee spokesperson Heather Stromquist.
Gusts hit tree
Recent strong winds, with some gusts upwards of 80 km/h, did cause organizers to take additional measures this year, as some movement of the tree was noted. Stromquist says municipal crews used heavy equipment to gently push the base of the tree to a more vertical angle. A compound was also used inside the metal sleeve to better secure the base. Stromquist said engineers inspected the tree and passed along an all-clear
"It has fortified what was already strong and engineer-tested," Stromquist told Lakelandtoday.ca. "According to all the information we currently have the tree is safe."
When it comes to the bend at the top of the tree, Stromquist and the organizers say that's more of an aesthetic thing.
"The top was already bendy when we got it," she said, explaining that the local owners of the property where the tree was cut from said the giant conifer's top had broken off years before and the re-growth always looked a little different.
The tree is expected to shine though the holiday season. A planned take-down is expected after the Ukrainian Christmas celebrations in mid January.
The downtown trees have been part of the Light Up celebration for the past several years, and have drawn a lot of community support.
Tall, healthy trees are harvested from the properties of residents already looking to have trees removed. Local tree experts like Tree Monkeys, along with Lac La Biche Transport crews cut the tree and transport it to the downtown location in front of the Northern Lights Public Schools sub-office. Lights on the tree are strung using Fortis transmission crews. The official light up of the downtown tree is done at a special celebration honouring the junior citizen of the year. This year's award recipient, Ainsley Kruk, flicked on the tree lights at the November 26 event following the annual downtown Christmas parade.
