Mayor Eric Woodward has waded into the controversy over Christmas in Williams Park and news the Township was withdrawing support for the annual event, stopping staff from putting up and taking down the holiday lights display at the 91原创 park.
Posting to the , Woodward said he would investigate, that council has not discussed it, nor has 鈥渁nyone directed anything that I know of.鈥�
READ ALSO: No Christmas in Williams Park a possibility, organizer warns
Hundreds of comments supportive of the event and critical of the Township were posted to the society page after Barb Sharp, president of the non-profit society that operates the display, revealed Monday she was informed in a letter that Township staff won鈥檛 be assisting with the event any more.
Sharp told the 91原创 Advance Times because of the late notice, the society faces a 鈥渘ext to impossible鈥� challenge, and would be asking council to reconsider at their Monday, Oct 23 1:30 p.m. meeting.
One commenter, Clay Lindberg, drew a direct response for the mayor when he said 鈥渨e can spend X amount on new arenas and, let鈥檚 face it for the elitist families to play hockey, but take away an inexpensive tradition for the majority.鈥�
Woodward called that an 鈥渆xcellent point,鈥� adding 鈥淚 will look into this, this week, and find a solution for council to consider that benefits the public. Who doesn鈥檛 love Christmas!?鈥�
An unsigned post by the Township to the Christmas in Williams Park page said it 鈥渋s not cancelling this event鈥� and reiterated points made in a statement issued earlier in the day, in response to a 91原创 Advance Times query, that the event cost the Township $55,000, there had been complaints from residents about car traffic, and the 鈥渆nvironmental impacts of idling cars鈥� was a concern.
鈥漇taff are proposing a new walkable event to be held at a more centralized, accessible location in the Township for more people to enjoy,鈥� the post said.
鈥淎ll decorations used for the Christmas in Williams Park event are owned by the Christmas in Williams Park Society and the Society may continue to operate their event at Williams Park if they choose to,鈥� the statement added.
In response, a society post said whoever made the decision was 鈥渟eriously misinformed on the history of this event鈥� which it estimated draws 25,000 people, and averages 鈥渢wo to three鈥� complaints most years 鈥渙ther than the COVID year, where we were the only event anywhere, pretty much.鈥�
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It went on to warn the announcement left them little time 鈥渢o find a project manager, a bunch of volunteers to agree to set up and take down [the lights], a design planner to create how the displays will be laid out, electricians to make sure the wiring and light displays are safely installed and so on.鈥�
Among the supportive messages, Chilliwack resident Rhonda May Rumley said they 鈥渉ave been taking our grandson to this event for the last few years. Township of 91原创, please do not stop this event.鈥�
Sonya Cluff Carich said it has been their family Christmas tradition for the past 16 years. 鈥淚t would be heart breaking to see this event cancelled,鈥� Carich said.
A change.org petition 鈥� has been launched.
