Every year, Winnipeg residents submit giant evergreens on their property for consideration, and the city selects one.
This year’s tree comes from William Boris Todoruk at 625 Springfield Road. The 50-year-old Colorado spruce stands 12 metres tall.
City crews went with a crane and a flatbed truck to cut down the tree Sunday morning.
“It’s going to leave a big bare spot in my front yard. It’s going to be hard to get used to, believe me,” said Todoruk.
Todoruk has lived in his house for around 30 years. When he moved in, the tree came up to his face. “And it just grew. It just loved that spot, I guess.”
“I was very honured that they picked it, and I was ecstatic on top of that because I had to get rid of it. But at the same time, I feel a little sad because it’s nice to see something green in the winter time,” said Todoruk. “I’m going to miss it.”
They gently lowered it onto the truck, drove it to city hall, and used the crane again to raise it.
The city’s urban forestry department will decorate it with 9,000 light bulbs over several days. The official lighting ceremony is set for Friday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m.
