Harvey Teal is one of dozens of volunteers spending countless hours stringing lights ahead of this year's Milner Christmas Magic at Milner Gardens and Woodland in Qualicum Beach. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

holiday traditions

‘It’s not possible without them:’ volunteers make Milner Christmas Magic a reality

Nov 25, 2024 | 5:35 AM

QUALICUM BEACH — Final preparations are well underway for an event which has grown over two decades into an extremely popular mid-Island holiday tradition.

Milner Christmas Magic returns beginning Dec. 5 at Milner Gardens and Woodland in Qualicum Beach on Hwy. 19A, however an army of volunteers are already hard at work ensuring every light is bright and strung with care.

Gardens’ operations manager Emily Weeks said the event, featuring over 100,000 lights illuminating the sprawling waterfront property, carries special meaning for visitors and volunteers alike.

“Not only how supported it is by the community and the people who have been coming year after year, it’s become part of their family traditions which is beautiful to see, but just how supported it is by the volunteers who are here rain, or shine or wind…just happy to be here and make the event happen because it’s not possible without them.”

Once completed, well over 100,000 lights and displays will be on view for an expected 14,000-15,000 people throughout the holiday season. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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During a Thursday, Nov. 21 site tour, Weeks told NanaimoNewsNOW around 80 volunteers fill out 100 different positions beginning in mid-September.

A small staff support volunteer efforts and work nightly during the event, which serves as the largest annual fundraiser for the property owned by Vancouver Island University.

“It does go towards keeping the gardens growing for the next year to come. It is really, really important for us as a financial fundraiser, but it’s even more important to see the support behind it [from] visitors and volunteers.”

Enroute to an assigned job, Harvey Teal (back), Alan Gill (left, blue jacket) and Lee Teal (right) spotted a strand of lights which was burnt out. It was quickly replaced. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Lee and Harvey Teal have been volunteering at Milner Gardens for the last 17 years, moving to the Oceanside region as retirees around 20 years ago.

“I think it has a much bigger place in this community than it did 20 years ago,” Lee said. “Not only are there way more lights and attractions and things that catch your eye, but there’s so many more people that come and that’s what really makes it is the community who come and support it.”

Harvey added he’ll see a lot of the same people year after year with growing families.

“There are a lot of familiar faces but since we’ve been here, the community has grown from just this Qualicum Beach/Parksville, to Nanaimo, Port Alberni, people come from all over for this event so it’s really special for the mid-Island.”

In addition to helping string lights, Alan Gill takes his talents to many different areas of the Gardens.

For the last eight years, he’s also helped in construction on site, maintenance, building benches, fences, painting.

Gil also takes broken lights home after the event to repair them for the following year.

He takes a lot of pride in the work he and other volunteers do.

“There’s a lot of traditional stuff that’s used year after year, people kind of expect it, the swans in the swan pond for example. The new things coming along, but it’s when the community comes out and you see 14,000 people show up over a period of 10 days or so, then everybody you talk to, when you say ‘I volunteer at Milner’, they say ‘oh that’s fantastic, I love it!'”

Alison Turner strings an extension cord in the gardens around Milner House on Thursday, Nov. 21, readying the grounds for thousands of expected guests. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Alison Turner and Colleen Kennell are two of the newer volunteers at Milner, each in their second year.

They busy stringing lights on trees around Milner House Thursday morning.

Turner said a friend invited her down last year and she loved the experience.

“It’s a wonderful way to be out in nature at a time when it’s sometimes difficult and to have a great purpose to be creating beauty, what else could you ask for. And they feed us cookies! This is a grand wonderful way for me to celebrate with the lights, Christmas and community.”

Kennell said the newly added umbrella’s display is her favourite part of the setup, and she enjoys engaging with people at the front gate.

“From what I saw last year, a lot of families do come every year. I sold spectacles up [at the Welcome Centre] and people have collections…they come with handfuls and they come to see the lights. It’s a really big event, it’s wonderful.”

Those interested in volunteering at the event are encouraged to email milnergardens@viu.ca.

The event runs Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights beginning Dec. 5 until Dec. 22. between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. with entrance by donation.

Additional details on Milner Christmas Magic, including on-site amenities and parking/transportation logistics, can be found here.

Colleen Kennell is in her second year at Milner Gardens, as she looked for volunteer opportunities after moving to the region five years ago. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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