Christmas light show at 17 Basildon
Question: What do you get when you combine 12,000 Christmas lights, 68 extension cords, endless construction and 60 hours of computer programming time?
Answer: An awesome holiday light show and a unique fundraiser for Birchmount Bluffs Neighbourhood Centre.
The Innes Christmas Light Show is running nightly on the lawn of Ken Innes and Melissa Mercer, who live at 18 Basildon Cres., near Kingston Rd. and Midland Ave.
The show is an attempt to help BBNC with its “Share Christmas Sponsor-a-Family Program”, but it’s also a tribute to Ken’s mother who passed away in 2007.
The angel is in memory of Ken's mom and lights up during "Amazing Grace".
“My mom died of cancer six years ago and once a year I just want to light up my house as bright as I can so she can see it from the sky,” said Innes.
How they did it
Ken inherited his love of Christmas from his mom and said he’s always been fascinated by light displays set to music.
This year Melissa helped turn his dream into reality by giving him a 16-channel Light-O-Rama for his birthday.
The couple has spent the last six weeks in the basement with Ken brainstorming themes and constructing the displays while Melissa donned a pair of headphones and started programming to the music.
The Light-O-Rama comes with a software license and program to control the lights via 16 channels. Melissa said she used waveforms to program every single beat of the music.
Passers by can tune into 106.7FM to hear the music and enjoy the show. Melissa has her fingers crossed that the neighbours like it too.
“The ones we’ve spoken to seem to like it. They all stop by and they’ve seen us in the progress of building it,” said Mercer. “We’ve been known as the Griswolds for a number of years here, but never with the flashing lights. This will be the first.”
The show starts nightly at 6pm and repeats every 20 minutes until 9:30pm.
Melissa said the last few minutes are just static Christmas lights without music, out of respect for the neighbours. “I’m sure they’re buying their blackout blinds,” she said.
Joking aside, the Christmas spirit seems to be alive and well in the Chine north neighbourhood.
Ken has already negotiated with the neighbour to use their house next year to expand the show to 32 channels.
The family has a bin on the front lawn where people can donate goods to the BBNC Share Christmas BBNC is in dire need of food vouchers (No Frills is suggested), hoodies for teenagers and personal care products. To see a complete list, click here.
On Dec. 14th starting at 5:30pm, Ken and Melissa will be turning the music full up and serving hot chocolate. Anyone who chooses to make a financial donation to help BBNC sponsor needy families can do so at that time.
