A different kind of forest

On one Christmas Tree, pens and markers were used as decorations, with tiny decorative balls capping their ends. On another, macaroni was strung around evergreen branches like garland. "Amazing, they made angels out of tomato juice cans," said Caroline Tison, director-general of West Island Community Shares, looking at yet another original ornament sitting on one of the many trees in this year's incarnation of the organization's annual Forest of Wishes at Fairview Shopping Centre in Pointe Claire.

This year, Tison explained, WICS took a new approach to the concept. "Basically, each tree represents a need," she said.

The organization went to the thirty West Island-based non-profit groups it helps out with annual donations, and asked them to come up with a list of priority needs.

The answers became themes for this year's Forest of Wishes trees, with each group decorating a tree according to what they had listed. "We want this forest to wow people," Tison, explained" but also to shock them."

On Dec. 12, in three Saturdays, WICS is hoping to mobilize local residents' goodwill spirit of the seasons, inviting them to donate objects that fill the needs of the organizations decorating the forest: school supplies, arts and crafts objects, canned food, etc.

Natalie Chapman, Executive Director for the West Island Association for the Intellectually Handicapped (WIAIH), explained it needs arts and crafts supplies in order to help out with the arts programs it runs at the Pat Roberts Centre adapted preschool for children with special needs. "We're working hard to foster communication," she said, adding arts exercises are an effective tool for this.

Another group decorating a tree this morning was the Omega Centre, which also helps out the mentally handicapped in the area.

Standing near a tree decorated with juice boxes, recreation therapist Joe Schratz said the centre decided to represent food among its needs. "We offer our clients a lunch every day," he said.

The Omega Centre runs group residences in Dorval and Pierrefonds' Cloverdale district.

Mimi St. Aubain, a community worker at the Dorval branch of West Island Citizen Advocacy, another group for the mentally handicapped, was also there this morning. "We're inviting local artists to come and give lessons to the handicapped," she explained.

The trees are on display until the beginning of January, and can be seen in front of Sears on the main floor at Fairview Shopping Centre.

Item donations are particularly expected on Dec. 12 all day long, but companies wishing to help out with collection drives may contact WICS for more information at (514) 695-8694.