CFB Esquimalt, B.C. (11 December 2009)
The holiday season officially arrives at CFB Esquimalt Monday night with the kick off of the 22nd annual Navy Lighting Contest. Teams have been busy stringing lights and setting up festive displays of holiday cheer, which will all be on display nightly from 6 to 9 p.m. December 14 to 24. The seven ship and 12 building entries will attempt to dazzle visitors, but the real aim of the contest is to provide much needed assistance to Victoria’s Mustard Seed Food Bank.
Visitors will enjoy guided tours of the creative and whimsical lighting arrangements throughout Her Majesty’s Canadian Dockyard Esquimalt. Arriving at the main entrance of Naden on Admirals Road, visitors may park free of charge in the lot immediately to the right of the commissionaire security station and board shuttle buses, which leave continually throughout the three-hour period each night. Adult visitors to the Dockyard are requested to bring photo identification. Holiday carols will be playing and hot chocolate will be on sale for visitors who have come to see the displays. On select nights, local choral groups have volunteered to entertain visitors by singing holiday carols.
“It is wonderful to see so many Greater Victoria families return year after year to make this a part of their holiday routine,” said Commander of Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, Captain (Navy) Marcel Hallé. “Given these uncertain times and the increasing demands faced by the Mustard Seed, it is very satisfying to know that our event will play a small part in providing support to those in need.”
Admission is by donation of cash or non-perishable food items to the Mustard Seed, who will be on site throughout the contest. Residents and visitors of Greater Victoria are invited to vote for the best decorated ship and building while supporting the Mustard Seed’s efforts to help the less fortunate this holiday season. During the previous five years, the Navy Lighting Contest raised more than $100,000 in cash and food for the Mustard Seed.
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