Smells like Christmas

East Kildonan

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This article was published 04/12/2024 (622 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Nothing quite triggers the holiday spirit like the smell of fresh-cut pine.

“That’s when Christmas really kinda hits — when you smell like pine and you can’t get it off,” said Colin McDougall, a volunteer with the Winnipeg Y Service Club’s annual Christmas tree lot, located at 454 Kimberly Ave. “We’ll be shaking the needles out of our pockets for the next week or two, for sure.”

For the past 45 holiday seasons, the Winnipeg Y Service Club has sold locally sourced Christmas trees, the proceeds of which go towards funding scholarships for local high school students and supporting local charities.

“This year we have about 550 premium balsam fir trees, and about 50 Manitoba spruce, for the Charlie Brown lovers out there,” said McDougall, who has been a volunteer for the past 15 years. “We’ll be doing cash, credit card, debit … until we’re out of trees. We’re hoping to make sure every tree gets a home.”

The tradition continues this year — the lot opened on Nov. 28 — with a little help from neighbouring Miles Macdonell Collegiate’s varsity football team, members of which helped unload the trees on Nov. 27 and will be helping out at the lot on the weekend of Dec. 7 and 8.

“It’s extra-special for me this year, because my nephew is on the (Miles Mac) football team, and he’ll be helping out,” McDougall said. “Hopefully he’ll stick with it and we’ll have him on the lot here once he graduates. You see that a lot here.”

Jonny Kirouac, a volunteer for the past four years, first got involved nearly eight years ago when he stopped by the lot to visit some friends who were volunteering. He said helping out at the lot helps get him into the holiday spirit.

“I’m a ‘bah humbug’ person, for sure. I get stressed around Christmas, I’m a little more irritated, I make less money. It’s a stressful time of year for me, but this makes me happy,” Kirouac said. “The buildup, for me, is gone. I’m busy up until those three or four days before and then it’s family time and everything. This helps with that buildup for me.”

“As you get older, you get busier with other stuff. You don’t think about all the things you think about when you’re a kid that you’re excited about,” McDougall added. “This kicks it off that’s it’s Christmas.”

Along with the annual scholarships for local students, the Winnipeg Y Service Club has supported local charities like Harvest Manitoba, the Christmas Cheer Board, CancerCare Manitoba, and more over the years. For McDougall, Kirouac, and other volunteers, that feeling of giving back is priceless.

“We’re giving our time, giving a good tree that will enable someone to have a magnificent Christmas,” McDougall said. “People getting involved with strangers to give back is something we’re losing these days. People seem lost, stuck at home, not sure what to do. This is an option. Volunteering gives people a chance to meet new people, try new things, and get excited again. That’s why I’m happy and proud here to be a volunteer.”

The group charges $90 for balsam firs, and $45 for Manitoba spruce. The lot is open weekdays from 2 to 9 p.m., and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends.