Spotlight on… Greg Edwards

There are many volunteers who make the Festival of Lights happen. We focus on Greg Edwards who retired this year.

1. How long have you been associated with Festival of Lights?

I have been in the Festival for approximately 15 years.

2. What is your role?

My role today is Vice-President.

3. What is your favourite part of the Festival?

The parade (especially the Cumberland cement mixer) and the time and energy people put into it with sometimes very inclement weather. It’s fantastic and a big part of our draw of people year in and year out.

All the smiling faces of the old kids and the younger ones it never fails to bring out a smile in me. The warmth the lights brings out in people on the event night and all the time (approximately 6 weeks) the lights are on.

The Festival has been blessed over the years to have an amazing group of volunteers – I have had the pleasure of being around them.

4. Which decoration is your favourite?

I like trains so rooftop-wise it would be the ones on top of the Royal Bank but from an eye-catching display, the new snowflakes on the Aggie fence are wonderful.

5. Favourite bulb colour?

Actually, red and green.

6. What main challenges face Festival this year and beyond?

Finances are always a concern now especially because LED bulbs are expensive and the old bulbs are getting scarce to purchase.

The biggest challenge is how to balance the “SHOW” and it’s traditions with new wave decorations and lighting techniques. The other aspect is to attract more individuals to the Festival to allow the SHOW to continue for may years in the future.

7. What will you do with your time now you’ve “retired”?

My wife Lin and I would love to travel across Canada with our two dogs. There are other travels as well as she is retiring soon.

All that being said I will be around and continue to help where and when I can, I think the Festival is in my blood.

Thank you, Greg.