The Victoria Gizeh Shriner Clown Unit will be at the Admiral Road Canadian Tire from Jan. 6 to 7 for tree chipping between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., with all proceeds going to the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Montreal.
Jeanno Boivin, a Shriner clown of 10 years, said they have been doing this for a long time, and enjoy meeting families and children whenever they do their annual tree-chipping event.
All of the equipment used to chip has been donated, he said.
There will be balloon animals, red noses, colouring books for children, and the locomotive Loci and caboose at the tree chipping for people to come to sit on and enjoy.
The most popular blow-up balloon is often the sword, but they can do what the children in their audience request.
All Shriner clowns have their own costumes and makeup, said Bovin, and it can take up to an hour to put on the costume, depending on how intricate the designs are.
Shiner Clowns are part of the Masonic Lodge and were founded in New York City in 1870 after a group of Masons wanted to form a new fraternity based on the principles of fun and fellowship.
Boivin said that in the Victoria Shriner Clown Unit, clowns can range from 90 to their early 20s, and anybody can join if they want to by visiting BCshriner.com.
The clowns will operate all year, attend events such as Canada Day parades and help when schools want to put on a hot dog day for students.
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