Winnipeg’s official Christmas tree is now standing in front of city hall. City workers delivered the tree Sunday morning.
North Kildonan homeowner Guy Sever donated the 12 m-tall blue spruce tree, which grew in his front yard on Stalker Bay. Sever had wanted to donate the tree for several years because it was growing so large which forced him to trim it frequently, he said.
“I’d rather donate it than end up in a landfill,” he said.
City workers cut down the tree and loaded it by crane on to a flatbed truck. They then drove the tree to city hall and erected it using a crane.
“Now that I see it up there, it looks actually a lot better here than leaning in front of my house,” Sever said. “It was kind leaning, now it's upright. Looks pretty good."
When it comes to the selection process, height is one of the most important criteria, but it’s not the only one.
"We also want a fully symmetrical canopy, crown, no brown spots, no dead spots. So something that everyone else will like to see at city hall," city forester, Martha Barwinsky.
Barwinsky said this tree met all the requirements. Crews also appreciated the very blue hue of the blue Colorado spruce.
A crew from the city's Urban Forestry Branch will spend several days decorating the tree with over 9,000 multi-coloured LED lights. The ceremonial lighting of the tree will take place on Friday, Nov. 15 at approximately 5:45 p.m.
