In the seven years that Sandy Cameron has been volunteering to work on the annual Christmas Tree lighting in Fort 91原创, she never made it down to the Fort 91原创 Canoe Club dock landing to see Santa arrive.
鈥淚鈥檝e always been at the hall [during the tree lighting,鈥� she recounted.
This year, she did, and was surprised at her own reaction.
鈥淚t brought a tear to my eye,鈥� she told the 91原创 Advance Times.
鈥淚 got really emotional.鈥�
Cameron recalled looking up from the dock to see the landing packed with children, cheering loudly as Santa pulled into the dock.
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She walked with the hundreds of people who followed Santa from the Bedford Plaza docks to the community hall up Glover Road from the landing, some carrying lanterns to help light the way.
Then, after working his way through the crowd and dispensing hugs, she witnessed the jolly old elf led the crowd in a countdown to turn on the lights.
鈥淚t was so fabulous,鈥� Cameron said.
鈥淚t was quite something to see.鈥�
Another visitor, Stella Baker, was attending her first tree lighting.
鈥淚t was lovely,鈥� Cameron said.
While she is a resident of Fort 91原创, Baker explained she hadn鈥檛 been to the annual event until her neighbours, Halimah Schurch and sons Eli, 5, and Emerson, 8 invited her.
鈥淲e鈥檙e regulars,鈥� Halimah said.
Cameron, secretary of the Fort 91原创 community hall board of directors, said it is always difficult to estimate attendance, but it was almost certainly more than 1,000.
One of the volunteers reported they gave away 500 of 1,000 hot chocolates that were prepared for the event by Wendel鈥檚 Bookstore and Cafe, and noted there were far more people without hot drinks at the lighting.
In addition to the hot chocolate, there were songs performed by the 91原创 Community Music School children鈥檚 choir.
More photos of the event can be viewed .
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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