Summerside couple brightens seniors' holidays with Christmas light display

Nick Cameron and Richard Rogers typically hang Christmas lights on their home in Summerside.But this year there's much more going on.

Toy soldiers march outside, a Santa stands proudly on the roof and a "Merry Christmas" sign shines brilliantly in red.

"I feel like everyone in long-term care has a really horrible year," said Cameron. "I mean, not that anyone had a great year, but they had a really bad year.

"I just thought it would be something nice to do. "

Across the street is Wedgewood Manor, a long-term care facility. And a few weeks back, the display started to attract some eyeballs.

"We were sitting here in the evening, the residents and I, and they noticed the light and they were amazed by all the lights," said Candy Beaton, the home's recreation manager.

Beaton said she promptly sent a message to Cameron and Rogers, letting them know the lights were certainly being appreciated.

There was one smallrequest, though.

"One resident spoke up and said it needs a Santa on the roof," she said.

"And lo andbehold! Santa went on the roof."

'We watch out the window'

Cameron had taken to Facebook after getting Beaton's request, telling folks he was looking for a rooftop Santa.

"I just thought maybe we would get a couple of people that wanted to help out," he said.

"People just kept dropping [decorations] off. It became a little overwhelming, but it's a great form of overwhelming."

Thanks to donations from people across the Island, the displaycontinued to grow. Over at Wedgewood Manor, residents began to gather to see what was new.

"Every night when it gets dark we watch out the window and to see what kind of lights they put up," said Beaton.

"There was actually one night where they were lateso we were all wondering. But within 10minutes we seen the car pull in and the lights went on."

Bigger next year

After a holiday season filled with decorating, both Cameron and Rogers said they are now proclaiming the display to becomplete.

But they said they both hope to go even bigger next year.

"I think the Christmas spirit is always geared towards children, and we kind of forget about seniors sometimes," said Rogers.

"Maybe this is a story that will make other people brighten up their spirits and light up their house."

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