First they lit up Jarvis. Now the committee behind Haldimand County’s premier Christmas festival wants to light up Canada by showing what a little kindness can do.
Jarvis, a small town southwest of Hamilton, was named “Canada’s kindest community” after a nationwide search for “communities that embody kindness” led by Coca-Cola Canada and Community Foundations of Canada.
From a field of more than 600 communities, the winner was determined by how many nominations each town received per capita.
Jarvis won the title — which comes with a $50,000 cash prize — on the strength of Jarvis Light Up, a Christmas festival that started as a house-decorating contest during the pandemic and has since exploded into a month of holiday fun featuring hundreds of illuminated homes and businesses, contests with lucrative prizes, and a giant fireworks show.
The entire festival is free thanks to sponsorship from local businesses.
“We call ourselves a joy movement,” said Jarvis Light Up co-organizer Lisa Nigh during a cheque presentation in Jarvis last week.
“We want people to remember the feeling of being part of a community and giving to a community that does great things.”
Coke donated the monetary prize to the Norfolk Community Foundation, a non-profit that funds community programs in Haldimand-Norfolk. The foundation will forward the cash to the Jarvis Light Up committee to make next year’s festival even bigger and more inclusive.
“We are just ecstatic,” foundation representative Bruce Shoff told Nigh and her fellow organizers.
“You guys have done a phenomenal job, and the word is spreading.”
Stephen du Toit, president of Coke Canada Bottling, applauded the Light Up organizers for “how you touch the hearts and minds of this community.”
“It’s actually unbelievable,” du Toit said of the free festival.
“That’s what a community is — they get together and have these events that leave an impression in people’s minds. Little kids will never forget this event.”
As part of winning the contest, Jarvis will be the launching spot for this year’s Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan, which sees a red Coke truck travel the country spreading festive cheer.
Haldimand Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley credited the local business community for ensuring everyone can participate in every aspect of Jarvis Light Up regardless of their means.
“Our businesses give and give,” Bentley said. “Our community, we’re small, but we have the biggest heart. And we want to bring people together.”
Haldimand-Norfolk is full of caring communities, added MPP Bobbi Ann Brady, “but there’s something a little special about Jarvis.”
Brady noted the volunteers who make Jarvis Light Up happen are not in it for accolades.
“They do it for fun,” Brady said. “And they bring that spirit not only to Jarvis but all the surrounding communities.”
Nigh said the festival succeeds because everyone involved focuses on helping others.
“People feel really good to be part of something bigger than themselves,” she said.
“When you think about giving, everything else falls into place.”
