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Rossland Rekindle event a big success

The Rekindle the Spirit of Christmas event held on Saturday was a big success.
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Santa Clause led the children through the streets of town to the library.


The streets were white with snow by the time Rossland’s Rekindle the Spirit of Christmas came to an end late Saturday afternoon.

Snow began falling earlier in the day, adding to the festive atmosphere on Columbia Ave. and Washington St. where local organizations and businesses brought out the Christmas spirit, raising money for worthy causes and decking Rossland in fine holiday decorations.

“We’re very pleased with how it went,” said Kristi Calder, marketing manager for Tourism Rossland. “It was a great turn out and all the vendors downtown said that they raised the funds they’d been hoping to.… It was a great success.”

The Rossland Thrift Store held a toy sale, which attracted a large and bustling crowd, while next door at New Edition Café and Books, Phil Loosley entertained little ones with story time.

The Red Mountain Racers raised money by selling Christmas trees outside Mountain Nugget Chocolate Company and the Golden City Lions Club raised money selling sausages, hot dogs and hot drinks outside Harry LeFevre Square.

The Golden Bear Child Care Centre was also supposed to be out raising money during Rekindle, but sold out of their homemade wreaths before the event.

Rekindle also marked the opening of two new art galleries in Rossland; Stephanie Gauvin opened a new gallery on Washington St. and Jenny Bailie and Louise Drescher opened theirs in the Velvet building.

Drescher also gave her traditional Rekindle reading for adults, this year reading from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

This year’s parade was filled with excited youngsters who followed Santa to the library, where they eagerly lined up to sit on his lap. In total, 56 kids had their photo taken with Santa.

The Golden City Fiddlers and Les Carter played some tunes at the Rossland Art Gallery, and in the later part of the afternoon, carolers could be heard making their way down Columbia, going from store to store.

The day ended in the square with more carols, a few words from Mayor Kathy Moore and Santa lighting the Christmas tree.

Peter Player from Rossland was the winner of the gift basked draw.