Chronicle cracks top three for best Christmas Tree

It was a close shave, but in the end, <@Ri>The Chronicle<@$P>/ <@Ri>Cités-Nouvelles<@$P>''s entry for this year's Enchanted Forest competition held annually by the West Island Community Shares placed a close second to the entry by Bank of Montreal .

"Obviously we're disappointed that we didn't win because that's the objective we set for ourselves. We are however very pleased with the money West Island Community Shares was able to raise and all the good that will come out of this event," said <@Ri>The Chronicle/Cités-Nouvelles<@$P> publisher Dennis Therrien.

The awards were announced this morning at Fairview Shopping Centre by W.I.C.S. director Caroline Tison, after a group of judges carefully selected the winner based on five criteria.

It was the seventh annual Enchanted Forest contest run by WICS. Every year, participating organizations pay $2,500 to earn the right to decorate a tree in any way they want. The winning company or organization earns a plaque on a trophy. Proceeds from the event go towards W.I.C.S's general fund, from which it doles out funds to West Island-based community organizations every year.

Tison remarked it was the first time The Chronicle/Cités-Nouvelles' team cracked the top three.

"It was very close," Tison said, noting the Bank of Montreal's winning entry finished with 190 points out of possible total of 200, only six points ahead of the twin community newspapers' recycling-themed tree.

The winning company will have its named added to the Enchanted Forest trophy on a plaque.

WICS also drew winning tickets for a raffle at the event this morning.

The third-place award went to Alcan.

The six competing trees are on display until January 5 of next year at Fairview Shopping Centre, on the bottom floor in front of Sears.