The Grinch who stole Christmas ornaments from a public park
For about five years, a Calgary couple says, they have spread holiday cheer in the weeks leading up to Christmas by decorating trees in the park behind their northwest home.
That is, until the ornaments were stolen last month.
They were soon returned — thanks to the police — only to be confiscated a few weeks later by the city.
Wendy and Victor Guidolin say their Christmas tradition started with decorations hung on just a few trees in a park near Charleswood Drive N.W.
But over the years, the activity grew to include their grandchildren, kids from outside the neighbourhood and even more trees.
"It has really caught on. We get people thanking us and the kids come and help, and they bring their friends from other parks to come and see this [and] add decorations to our trees," Wendy told the Calgary Eyeopener on Friday.
"It's just become a real community thing, and it adds community to our area."
But Wendy says the tradition was initially soured when her husband Victor watched a thief steal the ornaments hurriedly from the trees.
"My husband … got the licence plate on their car," Wendy said. "The police went and they gave the decorations back."
The thief, Wendy claims, told the police they were going to call the city.
The trees were redecorated and three weeks passed without incident — until recently, when Wendy says she walked her dog through the park and discovered that every tree had been stripped bare.
"I phoned 311 and … yes, it was bylaw that had taken them all down, after one complaint," Wendy said.
'We're very careful and respectful'
On the City of Calgary website, it states that "citizens cannot attach electrical cords or other objects to city trees."
But Wendy says they used no electrical cords — only ornaments hung carefully with twine, so the trees wouldn't be damaged.
She also says her family is careful to remove them all once the holidays are over, and any that are blown off are picked up.
"We take them all down first nice day after Christmas, so that we're not in the middle of a storm," Wendy said.
"We use twine so we can put it over the little twigs, the little branches, so nothing breaks. We're very careful and respectful of the trees."
Wendy says she understands that the decorations violated a bylaw but wishes the city had been more lenient.
She says she would also understand if there were multiple complaints about the trees, but she was told by the city that there was only one.
"There's a whole bunch of grandchildren that have helped along the way," Wendy said. "Now [the decorations are] gone."
Adding insult to injury, Wendy says the ornaments remain in lockup. She says she was informed that the decorations have been impounded — and only to be returned for a fee.
"What I would hope is that bylaw [enforcement] would start to be a little more discretionary in their decisions," Wendy said.
"I would hope [the city] returned our decorations and helped us redecorate," Wendy says.
CBC News called the City of Calgary for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
