'They say it brings joy to the neighbourhood': Winnipeg home lights up Charleswood
It is a scene right from the script of the movie “Christmas Vacation” starring Chevy Chase, and for one Charleswood resident, it could give Chase's character a run for his money.
Ted Hasiuk has been lighting up his home for over two decades, and each year it gets a little more elaborate.
“Part of it is for the attention; plus it does help to brighten up the winter nights,” said Hasiuk.
As it has grown, the display has expanded from the house to include other non-traditional locations.
“My not so trusty, very rusty Dodge Caravan,” said Hasiuk.
The lit van will sit idle until the spring before it transitions from a yard decoration to a mode of transportation.
Hasiuk admitted some of his best ideas are stolen from friends and colleagues, others, he said, people let him borrow.
This year, new additions year includes 1,600 new lights on a fence and a tree. There is also an arbour Hasiuk has not yet set up, just in the front of the house.
“People stop when they see me decorating and they say it brings joy to the neighbourhood. They say you don’t know how many people actually like it so out of the blue, strangers,” said Hasiuk.
“It’s kind of neat and makes it all worthwhile.”
The time spent is considerable. Hasiuk estimates there are somewhere between 23,000 to 24,000 lights and about 100 hours of his time.
“Light bulbs burn out, squirrels chew the strings, all that sort of stuff.”
It is not all fun and games. Hasiuk said he does feel pressure to get things up and it isn’t until the finish line is in sight that he starts to, “see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Hasiuk began stringing lights back at the end of September. Two months later, he has a couple of hours left.
The 71-year-old said sometimes, it was hard to gain momentum with blown fuses and inconvenient snowfalls. The key, Hasiuk said, is to be methodical and get a light tester.
The house is located on Fairmont Road south of Grant Avenue.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Competition bureau finds 'substantial' anti-competitive effects with proposed Bunge-Viterra merger
The proposed merger of agricultural giants Viterra and Bunge is raising competition concerns from the federal government.
Douglas DC-4 plane with 2 people on board crashes into river outside Fairbanks, Alaska
A Douglas C-54 Skymaster airplane crashed into the Tanana River near Fairbanks on Tuesday, Alaska State Troopers said.