A Toronto-area community is honouring the founder of a local Christmas light display, after the 82-year-old fell off a ladder while inspecting his lights and died.
Doug Musson was inspecting his eavestrough alongside his son, Robert, when he fell and injured himself outside his home on Spruce Avenue in Burlington, Ont. Monday.
Robert Musson says he heard a loud crash and called out his father’s name. “I looked behind me and I saw a ladder, so I thought, the ladder fell,” he told CTV Toronto. “Next thing I know, I look down and he’s two feet from me, lying on the ground.”
Musson died later that day in hospital.
Doug Musson’s beloved displays have been an annual tradition in Burlington, Ont., where his home has been dubbed the Griswold House, after the brightly-lit home in the film “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”
Many members of the community turned up outside the home to pay tribute to Musson on Wednesday. An impromptu memorial has sprung up on the front lawn, with residents giving cards and cash to help keep the lights on. Mayor Rick Goldring also offered his condolences to the family, saying that he, too, has taken his kids to see the lights over the years.
“Doug Musson and his family have contributed to a special Christmas for many years,” he said.
Resident Dianne Lemay said visiting the festive home has become a holiday tradition for her family.
“I always came by with my children every Christmas for the last 25 years,” she said.
Doug Musson’s wife, Joanne, says the lights have been a tradition for the family for more than 30 years.
“Doug and I both liked to stand up in the window upstairs and watch the faces of the little kids,” she said.
“He liked to see the people smiling,” Robert added.
The Mussons say they pondered switching the lights off for the season, but decided that isn’t what Doug would have wanted.
“He’s put all this work into things,” Robert Musson said. “We need to show people.”
