3 minute read
qathet Living December 2023
The Big Dipper
From December 9
Alberni near Fernwood
Over the past 12 years, Julian Welp has climbed his neighbours’ 122’ Douglas fir in some pretty wild weather.
Ninety-km-an-hour winds
Rain blowing sideways.
All to repair and string new lights on what was once Canada’s tallest lighted Christmas tree.
He hasn’t been up there since before COVID, but on a recent reconnaissance climb, the Logger Sports champion saw just how much damage West Coast weather can do to strings of lights and a giant cedar star.
So, he’s put a team together to strip the old weather-beaten lights, install new ones, and pull up the new 15’ tall, red and yellow cedar star to shine white lights over Westview.
In early December, Julian (owner of Welper’s Tree Service), Noel Dupuis (a neighbour and long-time helper), Kevin Côté (owner of Bottom Up Tree Services and firefighter), Tyler Brady (owner of Twisted Twig Tree Services and firefighter), and Brad Collicutt (PRFD fire captain) will use their old-school skills to make the magic happen in Roger and Andra Gillen’s tree.
Look for the lights and new star, starting December 9 – coincidentally, Julian’s birthday.
“It’s for the community,” he said. “I love Christmas. The friends and family all come home. Now that I’ve got kids it’s even better. Even if I just get new socks and underwear, I’m happy. I love a fridge full of food. Everyone is a little more caring and understanding this time of year.”
The Big Dipper
This year’s new star is called The Big Dipper, in honour of Julian’s long-time friend Ron “Dipper” Diprose, who died suddenly in 2019.
Julian occasionally worked with Ron and his wife Linda with the Chain Gang and through PRPAWS, building and maintaining trails, and helping to clear land for huts in the backcountry.
Ron also worked with Julian at the Ministry of Forests. Ron’s own Christmas displays were “legendary.”
Before he passed away, Ron donated two large spools of white LED lights to Julian’s tree project. Those are the lights you’ll see on the star this December.
“Sometimes, the three of us would hike together, and they would show me trees they needed help with, and I’d take them down,” Julian said. “I was heartbroken when he died.”
In addition to the star, the team will install dozens of strings of LED lights. They’re all on one extension cord, Julian pointed out, because they’re so energy efficient.
You can see a six-minute video of Julian climbing the tree with the first star, a show of appreciation to Dr. John Hall, on YouTube at WelperTV.
When Julian started in 2009, this 122-footer was the tallest lighted Christmas tree in Canada. Since then, Capilano Suspension Bridge’s annual Canyon Lights event has surpassed this effort, decorating tree between 150 and 200 feet towering over North Vancouver, with over a million lights.
– Pieta Woolley
