‘Brings a smile to the community:’ N.S. home decks the halls for Christmas

A homeowners in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia carries-on a decades-long tradition to decorate his house for the holidays.

Paul Bowden goes above and beyond every Christmas. Around November, he starts decorating his Lower Sackville, N.S., home with dozens of lights and ornaments.

“The biggest thing is about a smile and making sure that (people) feel welcome in the community,” says Bowden.

It’s a tradition he says came alive 27 years ago when he was visiting his in-laws who had their Annapolis Royal home decked out.

“I just wanted to copy what they were trying to do to put a smile on people’s faces. And so, from that day on, I just continue to put up lights in the house, buy lights, buy ornaments and hopefully it brings a smile to the community and a smile to people’s faces,” he says.

At night the display is even more electrifying with thousands of lights.

“I like to try to buy something that no one has. And if I think it’s going to fit in the spot, and then I just put it in the spot,” he says.

Bowden says the passion close to his heart has braved many storms.

“I remember 14 years ago, we had some kids ransack some of the ornaments I had here. And the community rallied around me, and they bought me items… And then I vowed to make it bigger and bigger and better,” he says.

The display, located close to a school, quickly became special to kids and parents in the community.

“I really like it. And perhaps what’s more important is I have three sons (who) when they were younger, they used to come by this house, and they always told me how nice it was and how welcoming they felt,” says Bowden’s neighbour, Pat Brace.

Karthika Ravindran, another neighbour, says her two kids love the tradition.

“We just bought the house in 2022. From that time onward, this is a tradition they love. They love to see the lights. They love to see it each year,” says Ravindran,

“We also tend to do what we can do to make our home also look beautiful the way he does, but I don’t think we can ever do it the way he does it because he has his whole heart in it.”

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