Trucks covered in thousands of multi-coloured Christmas lights and decorations will dazzle residents young and old throughout Greater Victoria next month.
As part of the 19th annual Island Equipment Owners Association’s Truck Light Convoy, which kicks off on Saturday, Dec. 2., roughly 80 truck will begin at Ogden Point at 5:45 p.m. and, with the help of a police escort, wind through Victoria, Colwood and Langford, before ending at Western Speedway at around 8:30 p.m.
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The trucks then park and the public is invited to enjoy a hot dog, hot chocolate and see the trucks up close. New this year, residents will be able to track the convoy’s progress online. The Q radio station will also be giving updates on how close the convoy is to your area.
“I just get tingles. It’s just such an amazing cause, it’s just such an amazing event,” association manager Wendy Watt said. “The hours that the truck drivers and all the equipment owners put in to do this is just amazing and it’s all just out of the generosity of their own heart … it takes hours and thousands of lights.”
In addition to the convoy, the event is a fundraiser for various food banks in the Capital Region. While residents cannot hand food to drivers during the event, there will be a number of drop off locations set up throughout the various municipalities.
A number of local groups, businesses and firefighters will be collecting donations the night of the event. Some include View Royal Fire Rescue collecting at Helmcken Road and Watkiss Way, Colwood Fire Rescue at Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre and Sands Funeral Home, Thrifty Foods in Colwood, Langford Fire Rescue at the corner of Verterans Memorial Parkway and Goldstream Avenue and Millstream Village.
More drop off locations will be released about two weeks before the event. Donations benefit a number of food banks including the Goldstream Food Bank, James Bay Community Kitchen, Mustard Seed, and Salvation Army. Over the years, the association has donated more than 154,000 pounds of food.
“We just want to create awareness in the community of how important it is [to donate] any time of the year, but Christmas and the winter time especially,” said Watt, noting many residents will set up their chairs along the 35-kilometre route around 3 p.m. the day of to ensure they get the best view possible. “I’m just really proud of the association and all that they’ve accomplished over the years in giving back to the community where we all do work and play.”
For more information, food drop off locations and to track the convoy’s progress on Dec. 2, visit ieoa.ca.
Find the entire winter edition of West Shore Family online.
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kendra.wong@goldstreamgazette.com
