Photo: Candace Boyne / Pattison Media staff

By Shaun Penner

Northern Spirit Light Show

Successful 2020 Northern Spirit Light Show nets over $100K for non-profits, schools

Apr 29, 2021 | 12:28 PM

The Peace Draft Horse Club (PDHC) is celebrating a successful 2020 Northern Spirit Light Show at Evergreen Park by dishing out over $100,000 in proceeds to schools and non-profit organizations in the Peace Region.

President of the PDHC Jody White says over 12,500 cars carrying over 40,000 people took in the light show between November 18 and December 31, 2020. That is an attendance figure White and his team didn’t know if they could reach due to public health restrictions.

“We talked about it and thought with no wagons, no fires, we’re not going to see the people,” said White. “But, in our eyes, the community needed this in order to have a little bit of normal back in their lives.

“We were just very happy that we were even able to put it on, let alone have the success that it did this year.”

White estimates on average about 5,000-6,000 cars would come through in a normal year, as many others would go through on the horse and wagon rides or take part in other facets of the show.

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“What that says to me is that’s a lot of families coming through (in 2020),” said White. “That’s three or more people per vehicle, on average. That’s a lot of people bringing their kids down, bringing family with them.

“It was something for families to be able to do in a safe atmosphere, which was very important to us.”

The non-profit groups and events that are receiving funding from the PDHC include Mighty Peace Day, the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories, STARS Air Ambulance, Red Willow Boys and Girls Club, Mountain Plains, 3D Children’s Charity, Seniors Outreach, Rotary House of Grande Prairie, Helping Hands, Rising Above, Victims Assistance, Evergreen Park, Grande Prairie & District Old Timers Association, Montagneuse 4-H Multi Club, and the GP Regional Hospital Foundation.

Funds will also be given to 25 schools in the region, which will go towards their snack, lunch and nutrition programs.

White adds the PDHC is already looking ahead to the 2021 Northern Spirit Light Show, which he hopes will be able to have the horses and wagons, fires and hot chocolate booth once again.

“If not, we already know that we can do this without the horses, and we look forward to providing this service for the people in this area again and again.”