Volunteers lift spirits with holiday light-up at Jeneece Place

Tracey and Adrian D’Silva are doing it again – brightening the lives of families staying at Jeneece Place over the holidays. Every year since Jeneece Place first opened its doors in 2012, the D’Silvas  have shown up at the doors of the home away from home in late November, their arms filled with Christmas lights. It doesn’t matter if there’s pouring rain, billowing wind, or biting snow, they brave the elements and light up the garden and home with holiday joy.

Over the past 11 years the D’Silvas, with the Edroff family and support from Canadian Tire at Hillside Centre, have donated decorations and thousands of lights to give Jeneece Place some glimmer for the holiday season. This year the D’Silvas hung 160 strands of lights and BC Hydro brought a bucket truck to help hang lights on the one previously inaccessible high peak of the roof, finally giving continuity and coverage over the entire house. The D’Silvas also installed blanket net lights, large tree decorations, a 1000-bulb cluster light, and two digital projectors.

“We know the holiday season can be especially difficult for Jeneece Place families and what Tracey and Adrian continue to do each and every year for those families is extraordinary,” declares Veronica Carroll, Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island CEO.

“Their generosity and dedication lift the spirits of Jeneece Place families and brighten the holidays with light and optimism.”

Jeneece Place light-up 2022 by the numbers:

11: The number of Christmases that Adrian and Tracey have decorated Jeneece Place with lights. They first decorated the house for Christmas 2012.

4: The number of decorators who put up the Christmas lights. This year Adrian and Tracey were joined by two BC Hydro employees and their bucket truck to help reach the highest points of the house!

400: Number of blanket net bulbs used.

24: The number of hours it takes to put up all the lights. Adrian estimates they spend about five or six hours working per day, and then return to Jeneece Place three or four times to finish the job.

160: Total number of strands of lights used to decorate Jeneece Place.

11,000: Total number of bulbs adorning the house exterior, garden, pergola, and playhouse.