If you enjoy checking out awesome Christmas light displays around Burnaby, make sure the Duplessis home is on your list.
Each year, Joel Duplessis transforms his front yard into something even Clark Griswold would be proud of. The display is known to have drumming soldiers, a five-foot-tall flamingo, Rudolph, peacocks as well as a 14-foot Santa peeking over the roof.
New this year is a full-sized sleigh and reindeer on the front deck “to help set the scene,” wrote Duplessis in an email to the NOW.
“The tropical parade has been moved and spiced up to add a little more colour and a snowman feature wall has been added. Our large cedar trees are decorated and the trunks are wrapped in hundreds of lights. Once again, a must-see display this Christmas season to help put everyone in the Christmas spirit.”
Did we mention it’s all set to music? (Turn your radio to 92.3 FM to listen in.)
The home is at 8222 Burnlake Dr. The lights will be on from 4:30 p.m. to midnight every day from now until Jan. 7. The family will once again be collecting donations for B.C. Children’s Hospital.
Need ideas for a gift?
Burnaby volunteer Shelagh Armour-Godbolt is asking folks to consider donating to Shiloh Place Orphanage in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The orphanage, founded by Coquitlam resident Chantal Kasongo, is in need of foldable tables, Bibles and hymn books.
Tax deductible receipts are available for donations of $25 or more. People can also donate online at shilohplace.ca/donate.
For the last two years, Armour-Godbolt has worked with Kasongo on her project, helping her spread the word.
“I am touched by Chantal’s long-term commitment to the needs – practical and spiritual – of the people in her former home community,” said Armour-Godbolt in a press release. “Chantal contributes a great deal to the improvement of lives in the DRC.”
Kasongo has used her personal savings and raised funds locally to work on developing her site plan for a village-type orphanage.
For more info, call 604-937-5305 or email [email protected].
Watching salmon spawn
Local dignitaries took part in a salmon tour around Stoney Creek earlier this year.
Organized by the Stoney Creek environment committee, the tours encourage people to get out into nature.
On one occasion, Kennedy Stewart, NDP MP for Burnaby South, took part, as well as representatives from Terry Beech’s office. Other attendees included staff from Parkland Refinery, Fortis B.C., Kinder Morgan and Watershed Watch.
“One of the best things about being a streamkeeper is that everyone recognizes the benefits for the local community and learns what the Stoney Creek environment committee does to bring back salmon to the urban environment,” said John Templeton, president of the committee, in an email to the NOW. “It’s also very important to educate the youth as they are our future streamkeepers.”
Templeton noted the tours started last year and proved to be very popular.
This year’s salmon return isn’t as high as previous years, he noted.
New art space
The NDP MLA for Burnaby North has transformed her constituency office at 1833 Willingdon Ave. into a space where Burnaby artists can display their work.
On Nov. 25, Janet Routledge was joined by ministers Shane Simpson, Katrina Chen and Melanie Mark, MLAs Raj Chouhan and Anne Kang, Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan and wife Kathy Corrigan, some Burnaby city council members and school trustees for the official opening.
“We believe the office should be a community office space,” said Routledge. “Having the display of local artists is a way to connect the community to the artists.”
Artwork will be rotated every few months, she added.
Send community items to Tereza at [email protected].
