CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT: CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING (& PICTURES!)
Submitted On 28 November, 2005 by Bronte BIA (JBed)
“What a great event! Those Barbershop singers were so cute. They serenaded my daughter and I in Country Fare - talk about getting in the Christmas spirit! Thanks to YOU ALL in BRONTE for all your work. Congratulations on a very successful (and growing) event!!”
-- Nancy Clark – Office of Kevin Flynn MPP
Whimsical enchantment and the spread of holiday cheer!
Our annual Christmas Tree Lighting and the “Christmas in Bronte” event were an amazing success and a great way to kick start the holiday season. Young and old (although we’re ALL young at heart!) enjoyed tremendous festivities which included a lovely Barbershop singing group, Horse-drawn “carriage” rides, the Blakelock Elves, the lighting of the Christmas Tree, a performance by the Bronte Idols, great holiday food and shopping, and of course a visit from Santa Claus himself!
With beautiful weather during the day and the evening, each feature of this event enjoyed by the entire Bronte community! My thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy the festivities!
An event like this is only as successful as those who participate. There was so much community effort behind this, I can’t thank everyone enough. You all make Bronte Village – West Oakville such a special place.
Each year, High School students must do several hours of Community work. We were fortunate, in Bronte, to have 10 of these young people, from Blakelock High School, work with us to hand out literature about Bronte and its many activities and amazing entrepreneurs. They also sang as they traveled in the horse and wagon, accompanied the Barbershop Quartet, and helped out at the Christmas Tree Lighting festivities. Thank you.
And of course, this could not have happened without the co-operation of many Bronte business people. Thank you everyone who helped with the ELVES !! You were great and they had a great day! Jennifer Neal is an angel from our community who loves these children and provides them a free lunch every Friday, along with Pastor Oaul, and continually encourages young people to do better than their best. Thank you for all of your help and for being there with the students!!
For their delicious cider and their smiles, thank you Michael & Laura Killip of The Twisted Fork. Thank you Laurie Jeffrey of Les Animaux who graciously provided enthusiasm, washroom facitities and hot cider. The kids loved you! Thanks to Susan Carr of Finials. The Christmas ties and gloves were a real hit! Thank you Vikki Scott and the rest of the Bronte Business Builders group for all your hard work in cooperation with the BIA. The Bronte Business Builders is a great example of community initiative direct from the merchants and businesses of Bronte.
Thank you Liz Behrens, our BIA Executive Director for all your “before” and “during” planning. Our events are so successful because of your hard work.
Liz also organized for dinner for the students at Licks. The hamburgers were a gift from Licks, as was a comfortable place for the Elves to stay during the dinner break. They had fun there and they were full and happy! Thank you Licks for your generosity!
The horse & wagon fellows, sponsored by Prudential Town Realty, were fantastic with the students. The Barbershoppers, sponsored by Chris Maynard of Maynard’s Men’s Wear, were delightful. The elves who went with them said it was one of their favourite parts of the day! That’s a strong endorsement!
Santa and Mrs. Claus created excitement as they walked the streets of Bronte and were sponsored by Vikki Scott of Country Fare. Board Member Pat Fraiser, the owner and editor of the Bronte Villager, provided the students with lots of information to pass out. Be sure to get your “Passport to Bronte” and experience the delights of Bronte this Christmas Season !!
The evening Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony was a huge success.
The Bronte Idols, another group of talented young people, looked and sounded great as they lead the singing of the Christmas songs. After all what is Christmas without the carols!
Thank you to the Oakville-Trafalgar Lions Club for their tasty hot chocolate donation. It helped keep everyone warm! MC Matt Milne from Wave 94.7, thank you for all your work, and thank you Revolution Music for sponsoring the sound system. MP Bonnie Brown, MPP Kevin Flynn, and Ward 1 Councillor Mike Lansdown, thank you for attending our event. Bronte is very lucky to have such strong support from every level of government and from our community.
Thank you Susan Sheppard and The Butterfly Foundation for their sponsored Christmas trees. You help make this event special. Thank you Betty & Ken Simpson from the Christmas in Bronte Store, who decorated the stunning Bronte Christmas Tree.
Finally, thank you to all the Board Members who openly volunteer their time, effort, and sometimes sanity for the good of Bronte Village – West Oakville. Special thanks to those who came out and supported this event.
I know I missed somebody here. But that’s the beauty of it. There are literally so many people to thank that it’s difficult to keep track! But that’s also what makes Bronte, our community, your community so special! So if I did miss anyone, a heartfelt “Thank You, Thank You, Thank You”.
Shop in Bronte, Eat in Bronte, Do your business in Bronte. Take a walk to the waterfront and see the Christmas Tree! Bring your family out and enjoy our community and revel in the holiday spirit!
Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays to one and all. May you all thrive this Holiday Season!
Best wishes to everyone! (PS. Have a look at some attached pictures)
Janet Bedford
Chairperson Bronte Village BIA (West Oakville) |
Contact: Janet Bedford (jbedford@brontevillage.net)
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