Paige Desmond
“That’s what it’s all about is the kids and Christmas,” Barb Turgeon said in explaining the decoration extravaganza each Christmas that adorns the First Street East home where she lives with her husband, Charlie.
“It makes Christmas,” she added, referring to the looks on children’s faces as their parents’ drive them past.
It’s a longstanding Christmas tradition for the couple to have the brightest and most decorated house on the street, bringing delight to both young and old every holiday season.
However, a new tradition was born this year. In the past, the couple undertook the epic task of decorating by themselves, or with minimal help. But in the true spirit of the season, some local elves showed up to lend a hand.
Friends, family, and local firefighters volunteered their time on the weekend of Nov. 22-23 to help create a winter wonderland—placing innumerable decorations and strand after strand of lights.
It was quite the scene as volunteers untangled lights and placed decorations. A “cherry picker” even was brought in to reach the treetops, leaving nothing untouched by Christmas cheer.
Turgeon was overcome with gratitude for the help.
“I just can’t thank everybody enough,” she said, tearing up. “It just makes you feel like people really appreciate you.
“It was just overwhelming,” she added. “Words can’t express how grateful I am.”
Indeed, the task is a daunting one regardless of how many people are involved.
Turgeon described how in their more than 40 years of marriage, she and Charlie have amassed quite a stockpile of decorations—buying new ones every year for at least the past 20.
“We first started with just lights around the house. It just started snowballing,” she laughed.
The trick is to wait until after Christmas and hunt for deals, especially across the river, although she noted there hasn’t been quite as much selection in the last couple of years.
And for a husband-and-wife team with so many decorations, trying to find something unique and special can pose a challenge.
Regardless, there are some old favourites which excite the pair every year.
“My favourite is the horse and carriage,” Turgeon explained, though adding she and Charlie both get great enjoyment out of the nativity scene.
The abundance of outdoor holiday decorations are stored in the upstairs level of the Turgeon’s giant garage, which she admits can be hard to organize despite her best efforts.
The Turgeons delight each year as they watch car after car drive up and stop to admire their efforts, especially around the time of the Santa Claus parade, on Christmas Eve, and on the big day itself.
“It’s just a steady stream,” Turgeon said of the nightly caravans that stop for a gander.
She laughed when recalling how a friend mentioned that, “Grandmas like it, too,” making the tradition fun for all.
The couple see the display as their own special way “to give something back to the town“—a special Christmas gift from the Turgeons to everyone in Fort Frances.
But this year’s wonderland would not have been possible were it not for the selfless help of others, for which the Turgeons are thankful.
“I’m really pleased. It looks beautiful. It’s a little bit of everybody,” she praised. “It makes you realize how many good people there really are.
“It was just overwhelming.”
