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What started as a neighbourhood project showcasing extravagant holiday lights has quickly reached Winnipeggers and Manitobans all around.
Carol Cassell of Mapping Winnipeg first started after seeing homeowners decorate in her own neighbourhood. “I noticed a lot of decorated homes around my own neighbourhood. It started with the Transcona Halloween map, and then in 2021, the pandemic hit and there wasn’t very much to do around the holidays. I decided to stop just doing Transcona and do the entire City of Winnipeg. And now it’s so well known that I get dozens and dozens of people submitting their houses to be added to the map,” Cassell says.
Since launching, Cassell has seen the community online grow. “I really like the community that’s been built up on Facebook. There are around 30,000 people in it from around Winnipeg and Manitoba. Anytime someone has a question about how to repair something or what kind of lights they need, there’s always a person there to answer their questions.”
As the map has grown, Cassell has seen homeowners add to their own displays from previous years. “There’s a home near us that does this fabulous light show to music, and they upgraded some of their lights this year, it’s very beautiful and noticeable. It’s exciting to see how houses will change up their displays or they’ll add to them.”
As each house is submitted, Cassell says some are using the added crowd for good. “There’s a house on McAdam Avenue that’s collecting food, leashes, and any needed gear for Winnipeg Humane Society. They’re doing Santa photos at their beautifully decorated home outside. They have a light tunnel on the sidewalk and they really do look like Mr. and Mrs. Claus.”
A Sir John Franklin house has done more than just decorate the main house. “There’s another house on Lockwood. They have constructed an entire village of tiny houses. You can go walk around their yard and look in the windows and see they’re at the library or the coffee shop or they’re going to the gym, it’s very sweet.”
Check out the Winnipeg Christmas Lights map here.
Have a display to add? Send submissions to Carol online.
