Sackville’s talking christmas tree

LOWER SACKVILLE, NS – Christmas is a time for giving and this year, Councillor Brad Johns gave his community of Lower Sackville a talking Christmas tree. It was bought with $25,000 of the Councillor’s discretionary funds, raising questions about how taxpayer money was being spent, but Johns says the tree will do more than entertain kids.

Today that tree made it’s debut, and the kids who visited were delighted.

The tree encourages children to sing along to Christmas songs or dance the beat of the music. Ayvlinn MacPhee was one of many kids who joined in. “She had a lot of fun,” said her mother Darlene Burbridge. “We stayed for two shows. She didn’t want to leave.”

Devann MacDonald said she loved the tree, “because the tree actually talked to us and he sang songs and the words came up on the big t-v.”

Councillor Johns has been criticized for spending 25-thousand dollars for the tree which is expected to last 10 to 12 years. But he defends his actions.

“It works out to 18-hundred dollars a year for the life of the tree,” said Johns, who adds, “Sackville itself as a community spends 12-thousand dollars a year on fireworks.”

Johns is asking people to bring a donation of a toy or food for Beacon House. He says he wasn’t allowed to give the money he spent on the tree directly to charity. “We’re not allowed to give money directly to food banks, or individuals, or oil or anything like that,” said Johns. “It’s against the municipal charter.”

Martin Blais and his family attended the show today. He thinks the tree was a good idea. “It’s helping people with the donations and engaging the kids and if it helps the community, I think it’s worth it.”

Johns plans to hold a school contest to name the tree next year. The talking tree is performing at various times until Monday night at the former Dooly’s in the Downsview Mall.