Seniors pick Morinville’s best light displays

9601 96A Street was this year's winner of the Best Lights Competition.

By Stephen Dafoe

Morinville – The votes have been tallied from Wednesday night’s judging of Morinville’s Best Lights Competition. Seniors from Aspen House and Heritage Place boarded the Town bus Nov. 25 for a tour of Morinville’s businesses and residences, rating each entry on a scale of one to five for window, yard and rooftop displays as well as the overall effect.

Four businesses and 12 residences were nominated this year, double the number in last year’s competition.

After some critical judging, tough competition and plenty of hot chocolate, Morinville’s seniors have awarded first place to Heritage Lodge, second place to High Street Interiors and third place to the Morinville Public Library in the business category. Additionally, three of 12 residences were selected for first, second and third place honours. First place was awarded to 9601 – 96A Street, second place to 9502 – 95 Avenue and third place to 9403 – 104 Avenue.

Each of the residential winners will receive gift certificates from Home Hardware to help them expand and refine their Christmas lighting display.

Morinville’s Marketing and Special Events Coordinator Peggy Gilchrist said the annual bus ride is part of the Town’s commitment to ensure that everything the Town does is as inclusive of the various population groups as possible.

“This is something that the seniors can participate in fully,” Gilchrist said. “They don’t have to worry about the weather and mobility issues. It’s a pleasant evening. They get to meet up with people, whether they know them or not from the other houses.”

One senior who participated in the Christmas light tour and judging is Aspen House resident Julia Turgon.

“Oh, that was just so wonderful,” Mrs. Turgon said after the evening’s outing. “I can’t explain what it was like. It was just so nice. I enjoyed every minute of it.”

Mrs. Turgon said she liked all of the displays, both businesses and residential, and that it made her happy to see so much effort being put into decorating for Christmas.

Gilchrist, who is not a Morinville resident, said it also gave her an opportunity to see how much Morinville residents participate in decorating their homes and businesses. “It’s very gratifying from an outsider’s point of view,” she said.

Morinville residents will get to see plenty of other Christmas lights this Saturday when the Town of Morinville holds its annual Lite Up the Nite event in St. Jean Baptiste Park. The parade commences at 5 p.m., followed by the official lighting of the park and fireworks display.

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