Have you ever had “Scrooge-ful” thoughts when it comes to the annual chore of putting up and decorating your Christmas tree?
Magdalen Leung and her host of volunteers never have — and neither have those who make a donation to be part of the Richmond Rotary Sunset Club’s annual Winter Wonderland event that features a veritable forest of 30, uniquely decorated trees displayed in the galleria at Richmond City Hall during the holidays.
“Right now we are putting up and fluffing out the trees, getting them ready,” said Leung, who has been organizing the event for the past 14 years. “It’s a big job.”
Part of that includes getting hoisted — with the assistance of the city’s fire rescue service — high up into the air to decorate a 25-foot-tall tree, which is the centrepiece to the city hall display.
“I get to do that every year,” Leung said. “Luckily, I am not afraid of heights.”
Thankfully, most of the decorating efforts of the smaller trees — which are scheduled to be completed Nov. 29 — fall to those businesses or individuals who sponsor a tree for $1,500. The money goes towards the Rotary club’s array of activities which include scholarships for local high school and Kwantlen Polytechnic University students, a donation to the Richmond Food Bank, an Easter lunch and Christmas high tea for seniors, plus several global relief efforts such as Rotary’s pledge to eradicate polio.
On average, the Winter Wonderland event has raised $50,000 annually.
“People over the years have been very generous,” Leung said, adding that special Saturday concerts featuring local music schools help draw crowds to the site.
The Winter Wonderland at Richmond City Hall is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
