Lions Club pauses Christmas display in Victoria Park

Citing safety issues and vandalism, local Lions Club volunteers will not to set up their annual Christmas light display in Kitchener’s Victoria Park this year.

“Unfortunately, due to the situation on Victoria Park’s Island and the safety issues surrounding it, we at the Kitchener Pioneer Lions Club are scaling back Christmas Fantasy for the 2022 season,” the club said in an emailed statement.

In recent months, area residents have expressed both empathy and concern about a homeless encampment on Roos Island in

Victoria Park that first appeared in the summer.

The Lions Club said their Christmas trailers will be on Gaukel Street during the Christkindl Market, which runs Thursday through Sunday.

“With a stint of vandalism done to the trailers a month ago, it has taken members many days to fix all the damages,” the statement read.

“We are disappointed in the situation and are hopeful we are able to safely and fully set up Christmas Fantasy for the 2023 season next year.”

The display, which dates back to 1995, has also experienced vandalism in past years, including several incidents last year in which lights and nativity scene components were stolen or damaged.

The City of Kitchener will be adding extra lights to offset the absence of the Lions display, said Kitchener’s manager of special events, Jeff Young.

“Given their challenges this year, city staff will begin installing additional lighting this week throughout the commons and other areas of Victoria Park to bring some additional cheer to our community throughout the holidays,” he said in an email.

The city has historically played a supporting role to the Lions Club in setting up the Christmas Fantasy displays, Young said.

In addition to the Lions Club trailers, the Christkindl Market will also feature firepits, Muskoka chairs, and the city’s six-metre (20-foot) tall silver fir Christmas tree on Gaukel Street, Young added.

Other outdoor light displays are continuing as planned across the region, including Wonders of Winter in Waterloo Park, and Winter Ice and Lights at various locations in Cambridge.