Millar Western provides City of Edmonton’s Christmas tree
In keeping with yuletide tradition, Millar Western has harvested a giant Christmas tree from the forest near Whitecourt and delivered it to downtown Edmonton for the city’s “Holiday Light Up” celebration, held November 17. It’s the third consecutive year the Edmonton-based company has provided the City’s “Tree of Lights,” the centrepiece of a holiday event organized by the City of Edmonton, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, Edmonton City Market and Downtown Business Association, and made possible by Millar Western, EPCOR and other sponsors.
Felling, delivering and installing the big white spruce, which stands 60 feet tall and weighs in at 3700 pounds, was a task undertaken again this year by Millar Western Wood Procurement Forester Max Matthews and his team of experienced hands. On Saturday, November 10, Max, his wife Rita, Millar Western’s Environmental & Safety Coordinator Shelley MacLean and Maintenance Planner Elliott MacLean, and Shawn Prokipchuk and crew from Ron Prokipchuk Trucking Ltd. worked together to cut, wrap and load the tree for delivery. To maximize safety on the roads, Max and Shawn made the drive from Whitecourt when traffic was light, rolling into downtown Edmonton at 1 am, November 11. There, wielding crane and chainsaw, the two manoeuvred the big tree into its stand, ready for securing and decorating by a team from EPCOR.
Now covered in some 7000 lights, the Tree of Lights is shining brightly as Edmonton prepares to celebrate Christmas and other holidays of the season. The tree will remain on display in Edmonton’s Churchill Square through January 6, then be chipped and put to good use as mulch for city gardens and walking trails.
