The skies might be darkest in December, but the streets of Yorkton will light up. The Let Yorkton Shine Holiday Contest is in its first year, with the City of Yorkton, the Yorkton Business Improvement District and the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce coming together to encourage residents to light up their homes, and give the city some holiday cheer.
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Samuel Twumasi, Economic Development Officer for the City of Yorkton, said that the idea began as a way to unite the city in the midst of a pandemic. Both decorating homes and touring them are things that can be done while remaining distant from each other.听
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鈥淲hat we wanted to do was we wanted to create something that brings the community together while still making sure that we鈥檙e still physically distant, that we鈥檙e all healthy and that we are putting a little spotlight on Yorkton.鈥�
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After the submission deadline, the addresses will be on a map that allows residents to tour the city and see the different nominated houses.
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While it鈥檚 starting due to a pandemic, Twumasi said they want it to continue well into the future.听
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鈥淚 think that this is a fantastic contest and event. It brings the holiday shine, it鈥檚 something that everybody and anybody can participate in, and it brings something to the community.鈥�
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The City of Yorkton contacted the Yorkton Business Improvement District and the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce because they didn鈥檛 want to go about it alone, and they wanted to have local businesses involved.听
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鈥淲e wanted to have a collaboration with these groups鈥� They both latched onto it to say that this is a fantastic idea and they cannot wait to support it with their membership, and they cannot wait to support it with advertising.鈥�
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Local businesses have donated prizes for the contest. Twumasi also encourages entrants to shop local for the decorations, and said it will be an opportunity for people to go shopping as they tour the lights in the city.
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Of course, people have been lighting their houses before the contest, and Twumasi encourages them to enter and become part of it.
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鈥淎s I drive around, I see a lot of people put in so much effort to decorate their houses, and I think they should let all of Yorkton see.鈥�
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There will be prizes for Most Creative Use of Lights, Best Animated Yard and a People鈥檚 Choice Award, voted on through Facebook from Dec. 18 to 21, 2020. There will also be a random draw from all of the participants.听
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To sign up for Let Yorkton Shine, visit yorkton.ca/holidays and use the linked entry form. Participants must follow Saskatchewan鈥檚 physical distancing recommendations while decorating their home, only homes within Yorkton city limits are eligible, only one entry per household, all entries must be made with the property owner鈥檚 permission, only exterior lights visible from the roadway will be considered. Entry is free. The entry deadline is Dec. 17.
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鈥淲e appreciate all of our partners, we appreciate all of the people that are going to submit their houses, and we cannot wait to make this an annual event,鈥� concluded Twumasi.
