Welland Christmas tree a team effort
As Christmas draws near, Welland is getting ready to celebrate.
On Tuesday morning, the city erected a 10- metre- tall tree that will stand outside Welland Civic Square throughout the holiday season.
Dave Steven, forestry foreman for the city, said getting the tree into position is a lot of collaboration between city staff and people who donate time and resources.
This year the tree was donated by Welland resident Erik Krah. Steven said Krah was considering having it removed from his property regardless.
Steven said the tree is about the same size as trees in previous years.
There were three others who also offered to donate a tree from their properties, but Steven said this was the best option. One of the other donor trees will be used to decorate a float during Saturday’s Santa Claus parade.
Two others who contributed to efforts to get the tree up in front of city hall were Bruce and Gina Chambers of Chambers Crane Rental. Steven said the city has a great, long- standing relationship with the Chambers. The couple have donated their time and the use of their crane to the city for a number of years.
“We both love Christmas and this is our way of giving back to the city,” Gina said.
The couple said they and generations of their families have lived in Welland, so it’s a way to show their love of the area.
Bruce said this may be the last year that he is manning the crane, however. He is thinking about retiring, but hopes if someone buys the company from him that they will continue this tradition of donating the time and equipment for this cause.
City carpenter Tim Milenkoff said the tree is secured by a wood base plate at the bottom and wire cables. Staff cut the base of the tree so it has a flat surface to attach the wooden plate.
Cables were wrapped around pillars the tree is sitting between and, once the tree was in position, cables were also wrapped around the trunk of the tree to hold it in place.
Steven said decorations provided by Welland Downtown BIA would be going up on the tree during the afternoon. lbarton@ postmedia. com twitter. com/ LBartonTribune