Festival of Trees celebrates Canadiana

Busloads of chatty, energetic kindergarten children are getting into the Christmas spirit skipping down the stairs of the Shaw Conference Centre to see the Festival of Trees.

Their eyes open wide as toonies on entering the grand cavernous hall and fingers start pointing at the stands of sparkling trees.

Parents just smile. They too remember their first magical memories of the festival and revisit that first innocent joy through their charges’ eyes.

Christmas is all about tradition, and the festival – now in its 32nd year – has attracted several generations. In its two-pronged role of launching the Christmas season and generating about $1 million annually for much needed medical equipment, it is an unqualified success.

The festival’s host body, The University Hospital Foundation, is fundraising this year to purchase a $3.3 million dollar stroke ambulance that will service rural areas. The ambulance is on display at the festival until Sunday, Nov. 27.

In a nod to our nation’s upcoming 150th anniversary, this year’s theme is Experience a Canadian Christmas.

Tartan ribbons, Hudson’s Bay colours, toques, beavers, maple syrup, polar bears and double-doubles. These symbols of Canadiana are scattered in every corner and there is no doubt as to our “True North Strong and Free” identity.

As in past years, the festival showcases 100 plus trees as well as 200 additional items such as wreaths, garlands, statues, quilts, mantelpiece accessories, candles and cute stuffed animals.

The designer creations range from hand-made and traditional to exotic and whimsical. While many pods in past years burst with bling, dazzle and extravagance, this year’s festival creates a more subdued, muted vibe.

“It’s supposed to be homey, friendly and warm. Some of our trees outside the Gift Shoppe even look stark,” said Diane Stokes, chair of the outside design committee.

Immediately inside the entrance doors is the focal Canadiana pod titled the Wow Pod. One massive pyramid-shaped tree is hung with hundreds of pairs of skates and a flock of loons swim at its base. Next to it is a slightly smaller teepee-shaped tree constructed from hockey sticks. Both draw eye-popping stares and gasps of delight.

“People love to skate and it’s very representative of who Canadians are,” Stokes said.

However, the design interpretations of the Canadian experience are extraordinarily varied, a testament to the imagination, creativity and craftsmanship of festival contributors.

One of the top standouts is a white and silver Upside Down Christmas Extravaganza, an inverted Christmas tree. The brightly lit topsy-turvy tree, although odd in appearance, quickly captivates with its graceful tendrils swaying in the breeze.

“It’s elegant and shimmery and if I had a big house, I’d put it in my entrance,” smiles Stokes.

In the pod next to it, Reclaimed Christmas is a green tree shoved inside a stepladder for support with a block of pallets installed as a foundation.

“It goes from elegance to constructionism. They’re completely different, but they’re still beautiful and unique.”

Six St. Albert designers and groups contributed to the mélange of creativity.

Moriganagh McNally designed two works: Siku, a snow-covered tree built with white foam and ribbons, sparkly baubles, and antlers; and Loon Spirit, a floral arrangement that won gold.

The white, black, red and plaid floral arrangement is inspired by the Chippewa legend of the loon as the Creator of the World.

McNally describes the arrangement as, “My two loons act as the vases for the project ... Exploding from their bodies and backs is a representative wilderness of flowers and First Nations colour elements. Their tails, in part, are constructed to trail and evoke movement, and are complemented by bursts of white pine as well as botanicals, stylized feathers, jewels, beads, flowers and ribbons signifying not only our First Nations, but our Métis people as well.”

Clearly impressed by the project, Stokes adds, “What I admire about Moriganagh is that she puts a lot of effort into a project and she does a lot of research.”

Local teacher Brandy Gelinas also added her creative touch with two trees including Joyeaux Noel, a five-foot tree swathed in whimsical red balls, white ribbons and birds.

Quilter Sharon Monk instead sewed Wintery Runner Tree, a quilted five-foot tree fashioned from five table runners and strung together with lights. Monk also carries home a gold ribbon in the Creative Artwork category.

The Optimist Beavers, Cubs and Scouts banded together for True North Strong and Free, a playful five-foot green tree with hand-made toques, candy canes, wreaths and bows.

The Sturgeon County Youth Council once again created a rustic nature tree complete with feathery owls, birdhouses, furry reindeers and big balls while Lisa Shorten added four soapstone carvings to the festival’s beauty.

Small children (and big ones too) will enjoy the Centre Pod, a fenced in corral representing Santa’s North Pole back yard. It’s easy to imagine the night before Christmas as the spectacle-clad jolly elf robed in green and red stands next to his sled packed with shiny presents.

Across from Santa, pointed-ear elves, having completed their yearlong labours, playfully slide down a mountain of snow while reindeer paw through the snow searching for munchies prior to the big trip.

And if you happen to wander in the Gingerbread House area, check out St. Albert’s Over the Top Cakes creation. While the majority of gingerbread houses range from log cabins to log chateaus, award winning pastry chef Jennifer Gray baked The Avengers, Eh, complete with superhero Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and Black Widow.

Entertainment also runs throughout the entire festival. On Saturday, St. Albert’s Visionary Centre for the Performing Arts debuts its talent at 4:55 p.m. while DanceCo presents its dancers at 5:55 p.m.

Stokes closed the interview by saying, “It’s the start of Christmas. The festival gets everybody in the Christmas spirit. Look at it. It’s magical. I’ve been doing it all year and it really gets me going.”