Peter Shokeir | [email protected]听
The World Tree is lighting up Jasper and bringing festive cheer to residents for the fourth year running in Robson Park throughout the holiday season.
Approved by the Municipality of Jasper in 2018, the grassroots initiative is organized by volunteer trio Penny Bayfield, Marcia DeWandel and Traudi Golla.
DeWandel said the community鈥檚 response to the tree has been positive over the years.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been great, actually鈥攍ots of support, lots of smiles, the school kids have been coming out and decorating,鈥� she said.
鈥淭he hope is that it will become a tradition and what people will look forward to in the holidays. So, yes, we haven鈥檛 had anything on the negative side of things, that鈥檚 for sure, so it looks pretty good thus far.鈥�
Golla explained why the organizers decided to call it the World Tree.
鈥淲e were thinking of doing it as a community tree, and our community is not just composed of Christians,鈥� she said.
鈥淚t has all sorts of different faiths and different cultural groups, and we wanted to make a centre where all of Jasper, everyone in Jasper, can go to and celebrate in his or her way.鈥�
Bayfield said the three of them originally paid for the tree, but they have received support from GoFundMe and donors such as the Jasper Fire Brigade.
The World Tree is usually harvested locally, although organizers had to buy a tree one year.
Staff from the Municipality of Jasper set up this year鈥檚 tree on Dec. 2.
鈥淥ur goal is that we actually plant a tree and have one growing as our World Tree forever and ever and ever in our park,鈥� Golla said.
Golla noted how students and teachers appreciated having the World Tree located close to the schools, while library visitors and tourists were also able to enjoy the lights.
The lighting of the World Tree is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 10.
Last year, the formal lighting event was cancelled due to COVID-19.
This year鈥檚 event will begin with a winter lantern walk from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., followed by the welcome and decorating from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and then lights on until 8 p.m.
Warm cider and treats will be available, and ornaments will be available by donation, but people can bring their own ornaments to decorate the tree.
All proceeds will go to Santas Anonymous.
