The fourth annual festival of trees encouraged individuals to take the time to appreciate what’s special during the busy Christmas season, said Amanda Balyski, an organizer.
The trees, brightly lit and hand decorated in different themes, lined the walls of the Trinity United Church in Preeceville from December 5 to 7. The trees were exhibited while Christmas music played, hot apple cider was served and great fellowship was enjoyed in a tranquil setting geared towards enjoying the Christmas season.
“We had 200 individuals who took in the festive of trees, said Balyski. It was well attended and really got people into the spirit of giving.
“It was a relaxing for people to take the time to remember what Christmas is about and it brought us all together.
“The Christmas season is a busy time of year and the festival is a time of sharing, visiting and donating to worthy causes, all surrounded by the spirit of Christmas,” she said.
Businesses, organizations and individuals that participated in the tree decorating event included: home care with donations going towards Shelwin House; Trinity United Church with donations going to Filling the Gap; Crossroads Credit Union with donations going towards the Preeceville School classroom libraries, and Home Hardware, with donations going towards Filling the Gap and Gifts for Children.
Anna Russell created three little trees with donations going towards Indspire (Indigenous Education is Canada's Future.) The charity is an Indigenous-led registered charity that invests in the education of Indigenous people for long term benefits of individuals, their families and communities, said information accompanying the display.
Michelle and Paige Hanson created a tree containing ornaments with autographs by Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Hostel Long Term Auxiliary featured a tree with donations towards the long term care and the Preeceville Club 60 had a tree with donations going to the club.
The Preeceville Economical Committee decorated a white Christmas tree in memory of Bill Simpson. Simpson's grandchildren created decorations for the tree and donations were to go to the Paws and Claws animal rescue. The Preeceville Library decorated a tree with donations going towards the library and the Preeceville School decorated a tree in a Panther pride theme and the donations went towards the school library.
The Preeceville Fire Department created a fun tree decorated with fire gloves, a helmet, boots and fire hose. Donations from the tree went towards the department.
The Grace United Church tree had the donations going to the Family Resource Centre. The Preeceville Lioness’s tree donations went to the Filling the Gap project, while the Family Resources’ Christmas tree donations went for children's gifts for the Christmas hampers. The decorations for the tree were made by Sturgis and Preeceville Kindergarten students.
Residents and staff from the Anaka House from the Mackenzie Society created decorations for their tree.
The Preeceville and District Heritage Museum had a tree entered in the festival with donations going to the museum. Staff of the Preeceville Canada Post office decorated a tree with special Santa letters and instructed that donations were to go to the Community Foundation for Children.
The Preeceville Nursery School's tree donations went to the Saskatchewan Children's Hospital.
Trees that were entered and auctioned off in the silent auction were the trees created as the Rider tree, Preeceville School, long term care, Preeceville Museum, Club 60, the three little trees and a flower arrangement donated by the Flower Mill.
