People driving on Highway 7 these past couple of weeks would have undoubtedly noticed an abundance of dazzling lights along their route. Jacquie Derewianchuk and Mark Shurek, owners of Badger Daylighting, have their property illuminated and hosted an extraordinary drive-thru light display at their Rockwood home on Road 76N (Winfield Road) last Saturday in support of Community Living Interlake.
“It was such an excellent evening,” said Derewianchuk. Seven hundred fifty-four people stopped by their residence for an evening of fun, sweet treats and Christmas cheer.
After their premiere display in 2023, attendance nearly doubled for this year’s event. The pair started their light display after they noticed people stopping by to peek at some lights on a tree.
“We noticed that people kept turning into our drive way and then leaving. After that, we thought it would be fun to make a bigger display for people to come and see.”
The Grinch came to Winfield Road to have his photo taken with Santa
Now, their display features over 60,000 lights, which are just the lights you can see on their trees and fences. Their display also features many magical light fixtures from Lights Unlimited, all of which would only add to their total light count.
Derewianchuk and Shurek, along with the help of family and friends, began setting up their lights in October and slowly worked on their display each day before the winter freeze.
Everyone’s evening was filled with more than bright lights. There were also bonfires, wagon rides, family photos with Santa, hot chocolate stands, and mini donuts available to add to the evening of fun.
A crew of 30 volunteers came out to help run the drive-thru light event, and it was because of them the evening was so successful.
A big shout-out also goes to Jo-Anne Procter, who spent the evening taking photos of families so they could have cherished memories to look back on.
“There was certainly lots of different activities to keep everyone happy and engaged. It helped get people into the Christmas spirit,” said Derewianchuk.
Everything was offered to patrons in exchange for donating to Community Living Interlake, an organization that supports individuals living with disabilities.
Derewianchuk and Shurek began renting a home to the organization nine years ago when they discovered the impact Community Living Interlake had on the people it supported.
“I realized what wonderful work they do for the community so I knew right away that we should help them in some way,” Derewianchuk added.
Tracy Fidler, Community Living Interlake’s Executive Director, is overjoyed by the support the Rockwood couple has given over the years.
“Everything was just so unbelievable. Jacquie and Mark are such great supporters of ours, throughout all of the year. It is just unimaginable how they go above and beyond with whatever they do to support us.”
The total donations received during the drive-thru light display totaled over $30,000. Fidler also noted that Badger Daylighting’s corporate Head Office donated $10,000 towards the event. “We are so incredibly grateful.”
Community Living Interlake’s lease on their wheelchair van ends at the end of December, so they will be putting the donations towards the purchase of a new accessible van. Their new van will be bigger and it will have a modified wheelchair lift that better suits the needs of their supported individuals.
Community Living Interlake’s Board Chair, Lisa Highmoor, spoke highly of the drive-thru light event.
“For me, we are just so incredibly grateful that community members planned such a tremendous event to support our organization because they want to give back. It is just amazing to me that people in the community are going to such great lengths to support the community. We are grateful to everyone who came together to support us because the spirit was certainly spread far and wide.”
If you missed out on this year’s light display, you are in luck because everything will still be lit until the new year. Donations are still being accepted for Community Living Interlake. If you want to show your support for the local organization, you can arrange a donation through Derewianchuk by texting her at (204) 461-2057 or visiting Something Beautiful Café to make a donation.
