LangleyAdvance
One Titanic win pg A17
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Tuesday, November 25, 2014
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Williams Park
The crooks who stole Christmas
Christmas in Williams Park, a Langley tradition for more than 20 years, has been cancelled after thieves have struck for the second time.
Thieves have managed to kill off a holiday tradition that has been running in Langley since 1991. On Oct. 18, it was discovered that a sizeable amount of lights and extension cords used to set up the annual Christmas in Williams Park event had been stolen from a storage container. “The Grinch truly stole Christmas in Williams Park,” Langley Advance files said Barb Sharp, president of Inflatable snowmen that escaped last year’s the Christmas in Williams Park thievery helped build a base on which to Society. build an outpouring of community support For the first time in more than which saved Christmas in Williams Park two decades, the park will not last year… but this year’s thefts have be decked out in lights and disorganizers on the ropes. The event has been plays, thanks to the loss of about cancelled, with the aim of rebuilding for $10,000 worth of equipment. This is the second year in a row next year. the event has suffered serious loss to thieves, and while last from the public, and it is staged year a massive late effort saved through the work and efforts of the event, the organizers say that the volunteer-run society, with this time there is not enough support from Langley Township time to come up with the money staff. and human resources required to Numerous community memstage the light show. bers, service groups, and organThe society had just started izations such as the Elks Club, meeting and planning for the Trinity Western University, event when the theft was discovCUPE, and local firefighters all ered. The organizers seriously come out to set up and clean looked into up, serve food and drinks, whether they and provide could continue, entertainbut replacing ment. the lost equipHowever, ment would over the years, have wiped Christmas in out the cash Williams Park’s reserves of volunteer the organizabase has been tion. diminishing, “How do Langley Adva Families flock and those who you bounce nce files to Christmas in Williams Pa each year an have worked to back from d vo rk The event has lunteers provide the labo make the event that?” said ur be happen are feelSharp. thefts for the en cancelled after massive . se co nd ye ar in a row. ing depressed by “Our volthe rash of thefts unteers and vandalism. are thinking, ‘Again? We “We lost all got hit again?’ It really is a disthe lights we had,” said Sharp. appointment.” “The volunteers were so deflated. Each year, Williams Park has What can we do? The communbeen adorned with thousands of ity has been very generous in lights, inflatables, cut-outs, and the past, but we simply can’t other decorations that transform raise enough money in that time the natural space into a winter frame.” wonderland. Guests are invited to drive The volunteers don’t think through the park for two weeks, they’ll find their missing decoraand the event has culminated with two nights of entertainment, tions and cords by searching online auction sites. horse-and-carriage rides, refreshThe police have told them the ments, and a visit from Santa. Money to hold the annual event equipment was likely stripped for the wires inside, which was comes from donations collected
Langley Advance files
Gail Aitken volunteered with Christmas in Williams Park for more than 15 years. In 2008 alone, the retired millright spent some 800 hours to transform the park. He passed away in 2010 and the park pavilion bears his name. entertainment. sold as scrap metal. The amount The society just can’t pull of money the thieves could have together the event for 2014.This gotten for the wire as scrap is is not the end of Christmas in paltry compared to the amount it Williams Park, however. would cost to replace everything. However, Sharp said that In December 2013, Christmas in organizers are planning to move Williams Park was under threat forward next year. after many decorations were She is getting ready an effort on stolen and items vandalized. Facebook to find more volunteers Gemmy Industries of Dallas, for the annual event. Texas, read about the thefts of In the time between this decorations and the vandalism at Christmas and next year, she the park’s Christmas display. said the storage situation for “We came across your original the equipment story online about will have to be the recent thefts “The volunteers upgraded somethis organization how. has suffered this were so deflated. Sharp said that, year and felt the Barb Sharp during the hiatus, need to help return the society will some of the holiday seek help and contributions from spirit,” company president Jason McCann told the Langley Advance in the community to regenerate the an email. event, along with a new place to “We hope our donation has store its decorations. helped to restore your communShe has approval from the comities holiday cheer and wish you mittee to look for support from all a Merry Christmas.” other organizations, the business Volunteers were able to get the community, student groups, and displays up for the annual walkclubs, as well as community volin event that is hugely popular unteers. with families because of activities “We are going to turn a negasuch as horse-drawn carriage tive into a positive and come rides, pony rides, visits with back with an event that is specSanta, hot chocolate and live tacular,” Sharp said.