According to the event’s organizer Mitchell Trudeau, the event was about bringing the community together by uniting families and spreading the holiday spirit.

“It’s the same goal with everything else,” he said. “It’s to improve life in this town because it lacks for sure. That’s the goal, just getting people out and spending time with each other. It’s a distraction away from buying gifts.”

Scheduled, for around 6 p.m., attendees gathered in front of Onslow Elementary where a large semi-truck hauling a flat-bed, decked out with Christmas lights awaited carollers to get things started.

Provided by Mountainview Turf, the flat bed held around 20 cushiony chairs where attendees sat while singing songs in unison. The float slowly rolled down rue Clarendon where residents came out of their houses to listen to the songs and soak in the Christmas essence.

“It’s kind of the same concept as walking. We’re just going to be going around. Nobody will be getting off if we go door to door. If people come out, we’ll stop and chant. It’s more or less just circulating singers.”

Trudeau explained that the event used to take place on an annual basis before the community stopped organizing it in the late 1990s. Having originally planned on bringing it back last year, Trudeau said plans got squashed due to unforeseen rain.

But this year, the skies were clear and, while the weather was a little bit chilly, carollers arrived dressed in layers for the occasion, ready to sing songs all night long.

At the mid-way point of the event, participants gathered at the Pontiac Community Gym to warm themselves up with hot chocolate and tea while snacking on pastries and socializing.

For Trudeau, the event was about bringing people together and letting them know what the holidays are all about – family and fun.

“It’s about bringing back the spirit of Christmas,” he said. “It’s not about shopping and buying gifts. This brings it back to the old-fashioned way.”

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