Festive homes open to all

BY HOLLIE WATSON



Christmas will be arriving a bit early in the Wallace household in Beaconsfield this year. The historic waterfront property is being transformed into a winter wonderland just in time for the second annual Festive Homes Tour.

The Victorian home is one of five on the fundraising tour, which has been organized by the West Island Palliative Care Residence in Kirkland.

“Each room will be decorated in some special way,� said Maureen Wallace.

In keeping with the setting and the house’s inherent charm, the overall effect will be one of a traditional, old-fashioned Christmas, interwoven with family history, she explained.

“My sister-in-law, who is a florist, is

flying in from Calgary the week before to help.�

“The Dec. 1 tour is one of over 50 fundraisers held for the residence every year. It was one of our volunteers who came up with the idea,� said events co-ordinator Barbara Ford.

“Some are initiated by us, such as our recent Halloween party and a wine and dinner auction. Others are put together in the community, such as an upcoming casino night at Queen of Angels Academy in Dorval on Nov. 25,� the Pointe Claire resident explained, adding “approximately 300 people participated in the 2005 tour. We had lineups.�

“The houses themselves, which range from historic to ultra-modern, are in themselves very beautiful, and the original holiday displays are a feast for the eyes.�

Equipped with a ‘map,’ participants are invited to go at their own pace throughout the daylong event. A new feature this year is VIP tickets, which entitle holders to an afternoon tea at the Forest and Stream Club in Dorval.

“We also canvassed some local florists and they will be donating their services and meeting with homeowners to help them with their decisions, whether it’s for something elaborate or simply some strategically placed poinsettias,� Ford said.

A team of volunteers will be on hand at each house to ensure the tour goes smoothly, she added.

The West Island Palliative Care Residence is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the terminally ill in their final days as well as their families in the time of bereavement.

“I wouldn’t ordinarily open my home to people in this way, but I believe in the cause 100 per cent,� Maureen Wallace said.

The tour will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular and VIP tickets are available at Legg’s and Emporium on Main Rd. in Hudson, at Joy on Lakeshore Rd. in Pointe Claire Village, or by calling 514-693-1718.