With less than a month to go until Christmas, the traditional search for the perfect family Christmas tree is now underway. 

The Kiwanis Club of Swift Current has started their annual Christmas tree sale, and they are returning to an in-person sale at the Pioneer Co-op Garden Centre after doing primarily phone and online orders in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. 

"Last year we were kind of in the unfortunate situation where we could not have in person sales and you know, coming down and picking a Christmas tree is really a big part of everyone’s Christmas,” Kiwanis member Mac Forster explained. “The Pioneer Co-op has been really good partner in the Kiwanis in regards to their Christmas tree sales. They provide their outdoor garden centre and they assist us in getting some of the equipment set up so they are a tremendous help to us and we appreciate all the help they do for us these past years.” 

There are reports of Christmas tree shortages across Canada, but despite this, Forster says they shouldn’t run into many supply problems with their sale. 

“There is a Canada-wide shortage this year and it affects mostly trees that aren’t grown within the province,” he said. “Our trees, the spruce and the balsams, are grown in Saskatchewan and Alberta just up north and we’re not having any trouble getting those trees, however the Frasers, which come in out of province, there is a fairly dramatic shortage of those. We do have a limited stock coming in, so at the end here, we’re going to offer white spruce, Fraser fir and balsam firs, and they range in heights anywhere from five feet basically up to eight feet.” 

Forster says the sale will continue until supplies last, adding in past years, they’ve seen their trees sell out in about two and a half weeks adding the proceeds from the Christmas trees will go directly to the Kiwanis to support their local projects for youth in our community. 

He adds they will offer a delivery service to help people take home their Christmas tree after picking it out at the sale, and they will still be taking orders by phone for those who prefer that option at 306-741-2455.