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Seeking a new generation of Christmas elves

Young volunteers needed to string lights on Baker St.
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The Nelson Festival of Lights is looking for new elf volunteers to put up Christmas lights on Baker St.

Of the eight Christmas elves currently tasked with decorating Baker St. with twinkling strands of festive lights, as is done every year, three have recently had knee surgery — a predicament which leaves them struggling to climb ladders.

“Yup, the three of us are not as fit as we were in the past, so we’re looking for new elf volunteers,” Maureen Crawford, coordinator of the Nelson Festival of Lights, told the Star.

The enthusiastic group has been routinely hanging the lights each year, and had requested additional funds. That idea was ditched in favour of hiring a consultant to look at the big picture of Nelson’s lighting needs, but in the meantime the elves are still doing Santa’s work.

“It normally takes us about an afternoon if we’ve got 20 people,” Crawford said, adding they’re hoping to find some young, fit elves. The more enthusiasm, the better.

“We plan to start around Nov. 6 or 7.”

She’s also seeking donations for new lights and minor maintenance tasks. They have a small allowance from the city, but don’t know yet how many existing lights are still working or whether they’ll need to purchase more.

Any interested elves can contact Crawford at 250-825-4236.

“For such a small town it is amazing the generosity it bestows, you outstrip any other town I’ve ever lived in.”