Metro Vancouver Is Awesome, and you should get out and explore it!
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Nicholson Road is part of an ongoing photo project aimed at sharing and celebrating the different communities in Metro Vancouver. Each week Vancouver Is Awesome will be featuring one of the latest, most engaging photos from the project in order to draw your attention a little bit outside of the hyper-focus that we usually have on the city of Vancouver. |
This weekend, I found myself out exploring Brookswood with my bro-in-law, when we came across this unexpected bit of architecture. Brookswood, a community in the Township of Langley just south of Langley City, is primarily a residential area, constructed throughout the 70s and 80s. The coolest thing about it is the forests which seem to have priority over home-owners when it comes to land rights - houses are nestled in wherever there's room, and residents are quick to oppose unnecessary logging.
Besides giving the community a beautiful west-coast vibe, these soaring firs also act as a sort of privacy shield. How intrigued were we then, when we stumbled across a bright blue, fairytale castle in the woods?
Turns out it's part of an annual Christmas gift to the community from Cindy and Derek Miller. Derek, who was working on disassembling the 2nd floor of the 3-story castle, described how they've been growing their winter wonderland over the past 15 years. Going by the name, "Land of Christmas," their annual event is totally free to the public, and has grown to include dozens and dozens of props, hundreds of thousands of lights, free snacks and hot chocolate, performances by local artists, movie screenings for the kids, and visits from Santa himself. Last year, they welcomed over 10,000 visitors!
He said it's a ton of work to put on every year (they start preparations in the summer), but the response from visitors always makes it worthwhile. To make it even sweeter, over the past couple of years they've also been raising money through donations to the Children's Wish Foundation.
Does it get any more awesome than that?
So if you're tired seeing the same old displays at Bright Nights in Stanley Park, maybe stick a note on the calendar for the Land of Christmas this December. For the address and other information, check out their website here.
More from Nicholson Road can be found HERE.
