'Breaks my heart': After dazzling the neighbourhood for decades, B.C. couple puts up Christmas decorations for one last time
A Cloverdale, Surrey couple admits they have lost count of how many Christmas lights, ornaments and inflatables they have on their property.
But when the sun goes down and they flick a switch, their home on Jersey Drive is turned into a winter wonderland.
After more than 20 years of dazzling the neighbourhood, and collecting money for charity, the couple said this will be the last time.
“Sad that this is the last year,” said Andrea Bonneteau. “Breaks my heart, it really does.”
Putting on a dazzling display of this magnitude requires an enormous amount of work.
Setting the scene takes a least a month, and the decorations require maintenance and repairs. There is also an impressive hydro bill to pay.
“My husband Dan said that it's gotten too big, and he's getting, I guess, too old,” said Andrea.
She said her husband knew it was time to call it quits, when the couple was up on the roof setting up the lights.
“My ankles are killing me, and I said ‘OK I'm done, this is it,’” admitted Dan.
Their home has become a holiday tradition in the neighbourhood. The lights are left on until 11 p.m., and visitors are invited to walk along the driveway to have a good look.
Dan said many families make a night of it.
“They have people over for dinner, and after dinner they get all dressed up with their coats, and they walk purposely out here,” he explained.
There’s a collection box at the front, and over the years the pair has raised more than $20,000 for charity.
“Just to help out our own little community, because there's a lot of people that can't afford to buy food all month,” said Andrea.
Next year, the couple plans to decorate on a much smaller scale, and will donate the rest of their decorations to friends and family.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga, Ont.: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Ont., Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.
FBI says Trump was indeed struck by bullet during assassination attempt
Nearly two weeks after Donald Trump’s near assassination, the FBI confirmed Friday that it was indeed a bullet that struck the former president’s ear, moving to clear up conflicting accounts about what caused the former U.S. president’s injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally.