Show of Lights winner announced

Times Reporter   

 

Alan Aldridge took things up a notch this year with his Christmas tree decorations in hopes of winning Canadian Tire’s Show of Lights contest. Aldridge had gotten an honourable mention last year, but knew this year he needed to do something a little different to his display to make it stand out more. 

“Over the last year or two I have incorporated some newer technology like the music box that choreographs the lights that flash and I have added a couple of blow-up characters like a snowman or Santa which you see more and more,” said Aldridge. 

“(I was) really happy because that was my intention to win or to try and win. There are lots of nice houses in Strathmore, people put a lot of time and effort and money. So that was my intention to try to win, I didn’t know if I would win, I thought I would have a chance.”

Some of the other houses that won last year were really nice, so he knew he had to try and do better than them and said they will only get better too each year.

He found a good deal on many Christmas items last year which is one of the major reasons he opted to use newer technology. He and his wife Aneth and their three children make Christmas a family affair, decorating the house inside and out. 

“It starts around early December for us, my wife gets the inside puts a Christmas tree up in the first week or so. It’s sort of a full month affair for us,” said Aldridge. 

Aldridge won a $500 shopping spree at Canadian Tire. He bought himself a new TV, couple hockey sticks, cordless drill and some knick-knacks for around the house. 

“All the entries were again fantastic this year so the decision was a very difficult one. We decided on the Aldridge house because it was whimsical and fun and really appealed to our kids,” said Shelley Orford, who co-owns Canadian Tire with her husband Randy.

Aldridge has a piece of advice for anyone getting into the contest next year, “It isn’t about the number of lights, it’s how it’s set up, how clean the lights look. For your own cost benefit make sure you have LED lights, the old technology lights take way too much energy. My power bill doesn’t really go up at all comparatively speaking with the LED lights it’s pretty amazing how awesome they are energy wise.”