3 minute read
Let there be light - lots of light
There’s something magical about a truck covered in twinkling Christmas lights.
Not only does it brighten up the darkest night, but it also brings people together, says Ryder Spick, the man behind the Christmas truck.
“I’ve had messages from people who have lost loved ones and been invited to take the truck to visit children in palliative care. I’ve been invited to schools and events. The Christmas truck hits some sort of switch in people,” he says. Although people of all ages get excited when they see the Christmas truck, Ryder says little kids are the best. “They just love it,” he says. “We’ve been given all kinds of goodies including cookies decorated just like the Christmas truck. The kids at Kelly Creek School made pictures of the truck and hung them on the wall in the gym. All these things make it magical for me.”
The Christmas truck is celebrating its ninth year of spreading joy and happiness and begins its tour at the parade in Ladysmith at the end of November before moving on to Campbell River and Victoria and then making its way home to Powell River, where it will turn up at Winter Wonderland and many other unexpected places around the community.
“We go out in the community on our own agenda,” says Ryder, who is accompanied by his teenage daughters, Anna and Megan.
The Christmas truck is Ryder’s sweet addiction. “I saw the Cumberland Ready Mix Cement truck in a parking lot in Courtenay one year and the rest is history. That is what inspired us to do it.”
The Christmas truck is a working truck owned by Spick and Sons. The 1987 Peterbilt 379 semi-truck does double duty during the month of December.
Not only does it delight thousands of people at night with its twinkling lights, but it is a workhorse during the day, hauling material down the road.
This year Ryder and his crew, which includes Spick and Sons employees Justin Milne and Crofton Greenwell, expect to spend about 200 hours decorating the truck. “My grandfather (Warren) used to help before he passed away and my dad John also works on the truck.”
About 15,000 lights will be put on the truck this year. For the 10th anniversary next year, Ryder plans to light up the night with more than 60,000 lights!
-Isabelle Southcott
