Residents in need are assisted during the Christmas season but after the Christmas cheer and all the presents have been distributed there remains the TREE, the ol’ Tannenbaum.

Some folks can simply store their non-organic tree back in the box until next year. Many people, however, are left with the organic, needle-shedding variety threatening to dry into a vacuuming nightmare and a potential house fire.

In early December, 1987, Ralph Gustafson came to the Central Saanich Lions with the idea of burning Christmas trees as a community service; an idea he heard of while living in Alberta.

From a local report in the Review of January, 1988, “The first Christmas tree bonfire in Central Saanich was a hit for the more than 200 residents who turned out Saturday afternoon. The parking lot at the Saanichton Fair Grounds saw a steady stream of people show up throughout the afternoon to drop off trees, leaving promises to return and watch them go up in smoke. By the time the event came around at 5 p.m. there were three large stacks of trees gathered and more truck loads on the way.”

Lion Terry Bain remembers, “There was am estemated 500 trees the first year and when the fire was started about 90% burned in the first 15 minutes.” Being the only Tannenbaum tree recycling program in town the Central Saanich Lions’ Christmas tree bonfire received trees and donations through out the peninsula even as far away as James Bay in Victoria!

“We burned 3 times the amount of tree from the year before and really made it into a community event. However, in 1991 we were told we had to stop burning the trees. We began chipping Christmas trees for environmental reasons. I was told later it was because the BC Lions Society also had a bonfire and people in Port Angeles thought the city of Victoria was on fire,”  Terry jokingly says!

In most rural municipalities trees may still be burned by individuals on private property and in a safe location. However, a fire larger than 3 feet by 3 feet will require a fire permit from the local fire department and Christmas trees tend to be larger than that limit.

Chipping benefits all by raising money for various charities as well as the recycling of the by-product into compost and mulching material. The amount of trees dropped off for chipping has fluctuated up and down through the following years. At the Central Saanich Lions drop off they collect over 1000 trees during their five day service. With every tree dropped off their is usually a monetary donation, and each volunteer group donates that money to outstanding community projects like the BC Lions Society Shawnigan Lake Kids Camp.

The Central Saanich Lions are not alone today in Christmas tree chipping but, “We were ‘the first’ and we have served our community over the years by removing the fire hazard known as the Christmas Tree,” declares Bain.

So drop off your tree for the recycling chipper–and make a donation for a good cause.

The Central Saanich Lions Club Christmas Tree Chipping  will be held on:
January 2, 7, 8, 15, & 16,  2012
Time: 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Location:1703 Keating Cross Road (opposite the municipal works yard)
Details: By donation. Funds will go to BC Lions Shawnigan Lake Kids Camp
Chipping donated by Dogwood Tree Services.
Trees are accepted and chipped by donation as a fundraiser.
[TREE PREPARATION: Please remove all screws, nails, lights and ornaments from the tree before recycling. These items may be potentially hazardous if passed through chipping equipment.]
A list for other drop off locations will be posted on the CRD website during the holiday season:  http://www.crd.bc.ca/