Festival of Trees supports a myriad of projects in Township

Craig Bakay | Dec 18, 2019

Ask anyone on the Villages Beautiful committee and they’ll tell you that the idea is to make the entire Township of Central Frontenac more appealing.

As such, they hold a fundraiser each Christmas season, the Festival of Trees, to raise funds that are distributed to the various hamlets and settlement areas to use as they see fit.

Each year, there’s a central theme that entrants adhere to. This year, it was Down Home Country Christmas.

“One of the best things is it’s for the whole Township,” said committee member Sarah Hale. “We all support each other to make the whole area more attractive.”

Doris Campsall, a veteran of “at least 20 Festivals,” said “it was a dream of Rosemarie Bowick along with Mardie Brown from Arden. The idea of using the festival as a fundraiser actually came about because Bill and Rosemarie Bowick had experience in such things,” said Hale. “We’d tried other fundraisers which weren’t very successful.

“One year, after having the Festival the previous year, we tried a dance. There was an outcry.”

Hale said it’s important to connect the winter festival to summer projects.

“We buy barrels and benches and trees and flowers,” she said. “The various committees decide what to do with them in their communities. In Arden this year, we’ll be focusing on the footbridge.”

“In Parham, we focus on ‘the corner’ (of 38 and Wagarville Road),” said Campsall. “And on the fairgrounds. But there are also projects in Tichborne, Mountain Grove and others.”

“But it’s also to mark the Christmas season,” said Hale.

Brenda McKinstry is a relative newcomer to the Festival of Trees community, but she likes what she’s seen so far.

“I was involved a little bit last year,” she said. “I’m amazed at how much detail and effort is put in. There’s a lot of organization involved too — but it’s all good.”

2019 Winners and the lucky people who drew the winning ticket for them

Large Trees

1st — Memories of Christmas, W.A. Robinson Asset Management – Krista Raymo

2nd — Rustic Cozy Cabin, Township of Central Frontenac – Colleen Steele

3rd — A Rustic Country Christmas, Friday Night Ladies – Laura Wood and Home Made Christmas, Community Living – Ethan Godfrey

Medium Trees

1st — A Cozy Cabin Christmas, North Frontenac Telephone Company – Mike Fraser

2nd — “Country Road, Take Me Home,” Lake District Realty – Rudy Hollywood

3rd — A Sharbot Lake Down Home Country Christmas through the Years, St. Lawrence College Employment Services – R. Cook

Mini Trees

1st — “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” Pin Point Appraisers – Tim Procter

2nd — Glitter all the way, Rural Frontenac Community Services Youth Hub and Kids Club – Natalie Wotherspoon

3rd — Old Fashioned Christmas, Parham UCC Sunday School – the Herns

Anything Goes

1st — Family Gnomes Down Home Country Christmas, Opening Minds Innovation – Betty Ann Blythe

2nd — Owl Be Home for Christmas, Linda Devries – Liz Bonser

3rd — Legend of the Christmas Stocking, Treasure Trunk - Natalie Hickey, and Delicious Traditions, Community Drop-In – Madison Robideux

Baskets

1st — A Cardinal Christmas, Cardinal Café – Margo McCullough

2nd — A Homemade Down-Home Christmas, Sharbot Lake Family Health Team & Community Exercise and Lifestyle Program – Shirley Gunhouse

3rd — The Christmas Remedy, Sharbot Lake Pharmacy – Marie Vinkle

Gingerbreads

1st — A Down Gnome Country Christmas, Northern Connections Adult Learning Centre – Jenn Clark

2nd — An Udderly Amazing Down Home Country Christmas on the Farm, Whan Family – Jack Mclean

3rd — Christmas Fun in the Country, Sharbot Lake 39-ers – the Giroux’s

Wreaths

1st — A Country Christmas at the Farm, Arden Seniors – Mickie ?

2nd — Welcome Home for Christmas, North Frontenac Food Bank – John Lee

3rd — Jingle all the Way, Linda Truchan – Shirley Cuddy

Wall Hangings

1st — Christmas on the Farm, Janice Anderson – Chris Parks

2nd — We’ll All be Home for Christmas, Arden Batik – Chantelle Gilpin

3rd — Christmas, Laurie Love Godfrey Grocery – Leslie M.