Mayor Eric Woodward has waded into the controversy over Christmas in Williams Park and news the Township was withdrawing support for the annual event, stopping staff from putting up and taking down the holiday lights display at the Langley park.
Posting to the Christmas in Williams Park Society Facebook page, Woodward said he would investigate, that council has not discussed it, nor has “anyone directed anything that I know of.”
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Hundreds of comments supportive of the event and critical of the Township were posted to the society page after Barb Sharp, president of the non-profit society that operates the display, revealed Monday she was informed in a letter that Township staff won’t be assisting with the event any more.
Sharp told the Langley Advance Times because of the late notice, the society faces a “next to impossible” challenge, and would be asking council to reconsider at their Monday, Oct 23 1:30 p.m. meeting.
One commenter, Clay Lindberg, drew a direct response for the mayor when he said “we can spend X amount on new arenas and, let’s face it for the elitist families to play hockey, but take away an inexpensive tradition for the majority.”
Woodward called that an “excellent point,” adding “I will look into this, this week, and find a solution for council to consider that benefits the public. Who doesn’t love Christmas!?”
An unsigned post by the Township to the Christmas in Williams Park page said it “is not cancelling this event” and reiterated points made in a statement issued earlier in the day, in response to a Langley Advance Times query, that the event cost the Township $55,000, there had been complaints from residents about car traffic, and the “environmental impacts of idling cars” was a concern.
”Staff are proposing a new walkable event to be held at a more centralized, accessible location in the Township for more people to enjoy,” the post said.
“All decorations used for the Christmas in Williams Park event are owned by the Christmas in Williams Park Society and the Society may continue to operate their event at Williams Park if they choose to,” the statement added.
In response, a society post said whoever made the decision was “seriously misinformed on the history of this event” which it estimated draws 25,000 people, and averages “two to three” complaints most years “other than the COVID year, where we were the only event anywhere, pretty much.”
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It went on to warn the announcement left them little time “to find a project manager, a bunch of volunteers to agree to set up and take down [the lights], a design planner to create how the displays will be laid out, electricians to make sure the wiring and light displays are safely installed and so on.”
Among the supportive messages, Chilliwack resident Rhonda May Rumley said they “have been taking our grandson to this event for the last few years. Township of Langley, please do not stop this event.”
Sonya Cluff Carich said it has been their family Christmas tradition for the past 16 years. “It would be heart breaking to see this event cancelled,” Carich said.
A change.org petition “Save Christmas in Williams Park event for 2023!” has been launched.
