If they light it, will they come?
Georgia Lyons sure hopes so.
The second-year student at McGill University in Montreal, who’s been studying remotely at her family’s home in Anmore, has enlisted most of the neighbours on Ravenswood Drive to light up their homes in an effort to brighten spirits this COVID Christmas.
Lyons said the “Candy Cane Lane” is an extension of the village’s own seasonal display at nearby Spirit Park that attracts visitors from across the Tri-Cities. As of Dec. 7, when everyone on her street will flip on their lights until 10 p.m. (11 p.m. on weekends), they’ll have even more reason to make the drive for a holiday experience they can enjoy safely from their cars.
Lyons said after months of missing the connections with her schoolmates, she wanted to get to know her neighbours better and turn some of the pessimism about the pandemic into a positive bonding experience.
“It’s been a hard year for everyone,” she said. “There’s still some good that can come from it though.”
Lyons said most of the 20 homes on Ravenswood were receptive to her idea, and the decorating began in earnest.
She said many seem to be making an extraordinary effort as everyone looks for a season of normalcy and a reason to celebrate.
“If everyone goes all out, it will be quite a sight.”
Best of all, the show isn’t just raising residents’ electricity bills. Lyons is hoping visitors will contribute to fundraising page she set up to support front line healthcare workers who’ve been reeling from the strain and stress of dealing with the public health crisis for so many months.
