It looks like Christmas at Abbey!
By Joan Janzen
The community of Abbey, Sask. may be small, but they are an extremely active village. Most of the activities occur at the Abbey Business and Community Centre (ABC Centre), housed in the former Abbey School since 2012.
The latest attraction displayed at the Centre is an impressive Christmas Village, which Abbey residents Cathy and Ian Vance are generously sharing with the Centre during the Christmas season. Ian said, “It’s something that everyone who has come to look at have tried to describe to others, but they can’t. You have to see it to really visualize it.”
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These are some of the Christmas decorations Cathy and Ian Vance have on display at their farm south of Cabri. People who are coming to Abbey to see the Christmas Village, may also want to head out to their farm and take a look at their farm display of lights. Ian said, “They won’t be disappointed!”
This Toy Emporium is an example of the details you will see inside each of the Village buildings.
Cathy Vance kneels in front of one section of the Christmas Village that is on display at the ABC Centre in Abbey.
The illuminated display covers an area measuring 20 feet x 20 feet, which is why Cathy and Ian are pleased to have it on display at the ABC Centre. “It’s difficult to share it in your house,” Ian explained. However, they have previously had it on display in their living room and dining room. “It takes us about three weeks to set it up.” The setup includes wood, electrical, different outlets, and lots of breakers for each of the sections. Cathy is the designer and knows where every piece needs to be placed, while Ian is in charge of construction.
The pieces are three to four inches high and are very detailed. For example, if you look into the windows of the laundry mat, you’ll see washers and dryers, and the mail room has parcels going up a conveyor belt.
“The arcade section includes a moving Ferris wheel, two moving carousels, a cup and saucer ride, and a reindeer ride that goes around,” Ian explained. “And there’s a pub and two nativity scenes.”
The village display includes 170 buildings and houses, thirty small displays, over 300 people, 400-500 trees, six stationary trains and three active trains on tracks. Cathy and Ian started collecting years ago, in 2010.
“Our oldest piece is from 2000; we have at least one of every year,” Ian said. “We buy them as a gift to each other for the display. They’re limited additions. Some people get rid of their collection and put them up for sale, so we never know what we’re going to be getting.”
Children will be viewing the display when they come to the Centre for their shopping night and Christmas movie. At that time the children come to the thrift shop and buy presents for their parents. A group of volunteers wrap their gifts, and the children watch a Christmas movie. “We’re opening the Christmas village as well so they can wonder through,” Ian said. “The whole thing is about seeing the smiles on the children’s faces.”
But they also want to extend those smiles to seniors and are trying to get busloads of seniors from Leader and Cabri to come and see their display. “It reminds people of when they were kids,” Ian said. He encourages people to come and see the display because it truly is unique.
“The ABC Centre was generous enough to allow us to construct it there and share it with all the community in return for donations. All the money goes to the ABC Centre,” he explained.
The Christmas Village has more dwellings than the Village of Abbey, which is home to approximately 125 citizens. The Centre serves as a hub of activity for the village.
Jennifer Biensch is the secretary/treasurer of the Centre. Ian described her as a “go-getter” who does an excellent job at the Centre. President of the Centre, Brian Bonogofski said they have done a lot of work to the facility since obtaining it in 2012, including putting on a new roof, getting rid of the boiler system and installing a new furnace.
The 100 percent volunteer-driven organization offers education, recreation, fitness, health and socializing to the community. Residents can drop in at the library, have a coffee, workout in the fitness room or gymnasium, visit the hair salon, use the kitchen and meeting rooms or shop at the thrift store.
“The thrift store is doing very well,” Brian said. Abbey’s Attic is a volunteer-operated thrift store where visitors can spend hours looking at all the hidden treasures to be found there.
The Centre is governed by a volunteer board of nine individuals. Now, after two years of anticipation, the Centre will be opening a daycare and will announce opening information in the coming weeks.
“The Centre put in a playground; it really is something,” Ian said. “You’re lucky if you get one of those in a city, much less a village. Kids come from all over to play there.”
Cathy and Ian moved all the way from Vancouver to return to Cathy’s hometown community. Cathy was born in Portreeve and graduated from the school where the ABC Centre is now located. In fact, the Christmas Village is displayed in her old Grade 12 classroom. After an absence of fifty years, she returned to the area where her family homesteaded back in 1909. The couple now resides in Abbey.
Ian, who was born on Vancouver Island, is enjoying the peace and quiet of the community. “People are always willing to help you. It takes me back to when I was a kid, the way it used to be,” he said.
So, if you want to get a taste of nostalgia, take a drive down to the ABC Centre at Abbey, contribute a donation for a good cause and visit the Christmas Village. The Centre is open for visitors on December 6, 10, 14 and 16.
While you’re in the area, you may want to drive out to the Nairn farm south of Cabri where Cathy’s family homesteaded in 1909 and still farm today. Check out their impressive light display. “You won’t be disappointed!” Ian said. You have to see it to believe it!