Christmas light show, hockey program earn volunteer awards

A hockey program for youth and a fundraising Christmas light show have earned their creators volunteer awards from the Town of Stratford.

Cory Barlow was awarded the town's Volunteer of the Year Award.

Ten years ago, Barlow approached the town about starting an instructional hockey program for kids not in a minor hockey organization. With his input the program was developed and has continued each year since, with 40 kids enrolled.

Barlow also volunteers his time as a baseball coach, sits on town committees and is very involved with the Pownal Minor Hockey Association.

Inspired by music and Christmas

Landon Holmes was given the Youth Volunteer of the Year Award.

• Lighting up Christmas for a good cause

Since 2010, Holmes has been setting up a Christmas light display at his Stratford house that flashes on and off to music pumped out to the neighbourhood.

Holmes had wanted a musical Christmas light display since he was 12, but his parents told him he would have to wait until he had his own house.

So he did, spending $2,000 on the display in that first year and building on it every year since. He collects donations from the people who come to see it, and over the years has raised more than $30,000.

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