Sarnia responds to Christmas tree criticism

A photo of the Christmas tree at Sarnia City Hall that circulated on social media. (Source: taitina94/Reddit)

The City of Sarnia has responded to backlash over its Christmas tree after photos circulated on social media.

In shared images, the tree appeared to have minimal, sporadic lights, with branches on one side flattened.

In a statement to Facebook, the city said:

“We understand the concerns. It’s important to note that the tree is donated, and that we review the trees offered, choosing a tree from those available based on several criteria,” it wrote.

“It’s more than just looks; there’s a whole aspect of safety to it. For example, it is located at the front of the lot, so can it be lifted out? Is it in a neighbourhood without power lines that would interfere with the crane?”

The city said it’s important to know that local companies donate their time and resources to put the tree up.

“It’s unfortunate that the tree was damaged as part of transportation, but we still want a tree at City Hall, so our forestry team worked with the tree we have to ensure the Christmas tradition continues,” the post went on.

“As for the lights… To be blunt, there were some issues. We set up the tree in mid-November and test the lights, however we wait until the Celebration of Lights Kicks off in early December to light up the City Hall tree for the season. During the gap between set up and turning on the lights, some technical issues arose (rodent damage and a blown fuse).

The city said the tree has been fixed to be lit up more as the season continues. It said it’s not perfect, but they are looking to continue the tradition.