Joyce Paul’s Christmas village might need a council decision on whether to move its designation to a town or even a city.
The six-level display of 1,000 miniature ceramic buildings has been in the works for more than two decades, after a starter set obtained in Saskatoon did more than just bring the now St. Albert resident a hint of nostalgic joy. It became a full-fledged passion project.
“I didn't know what I was in it for exactly, but I bought it and I thought, 'I'm going to put it under my tree, just for decoration,'” she explained. “My granddaughter and I sat down on the floor and we put it under the tree and it looked really smart. Every year after that, I started adding one or two pieces.”
The collection became an established tradition in the family as she enlisted her children and her grandchildren to hunt through thrift shops and garage sales looking for new and necessary additions.
“My family's gotten involved in because they asked me what I need for Christmas. I don't need anything. Just look at my village. That's what I need,” she said, noting it makes her feel merry indeed.
Now, Paul’s village has practically everything a real village might have, and then some. There’s a post office, a candy shop, bridges, a hockey rink and a merry-go-round, not to mention the people and animals that populate the pristine place like a frozen moment in a Norman Rockwell painting.
“Every year, she says the village is complete, but every year there’s one more piece added,” offered Charlena Jacques, her daughter.
While a hospital, a veterinarian clinic, and a pet store are still on her outstanding wish list, she was treated to a surprise gift from TD Banks. The 18-centimetre-high bank piece is modelled after one of TD’s most historic and well-recognized branches and was hand-painted by a Toronto artist, complete with sandstone exterior and the TD shield. It took a year from the time that TD first became aware that her collection was missing the crucial establishment to when it could be delivered, just in time for Christmas.
"They surprised me with it. I was so happy, I was so excited that I couldn't even open the box, I was shaking so bad. I had to get my son-in-law to open the box for me and take it out so I could see it. I was so excited and happy that I was scared of dropping it," she continued, recalling her persistence in tracking one down.
"I’ve been hunting and hunting. I had my daughter in B.C. looking for it. I had my daughter in Ontario looking for one. I said, ‘please everybody, watch for a bank’ because every little village has to have a bank for their investments and their money. Gotta have a bank in the village. So I had everybody on the lookout for a bank."
It's a beautiful piece that looks great as the newest addition to the village. She loves it, even if she can't keep the display up all year round. Sometime in the new year, she'll painstakingly wrap each piece back up in paper towel and pack them away, taking down her son-in-law's handmade display shelves as well so that her daughter can have her living room back.
Rest assured though that this time next year, the elves will be back at it again, bringing Joyce Paul's magical little village back into the open for another season in the winter sun.
