Heritage Abbotsford / Trethewey House
2313 Ware St. V2S 3C6 Abbotsford, BC, Canada

Want to reuse and recycle? Want your house to smell Christmasy? Hold it! Don’t throw out all the peels from them little Christmas oranges! Here’s what you do: Find a mason jar or a metal jar that seals well. Gather the peels in there. Score the peels with a fork if they feel hard, then use the fork to compact the peels and crush them up a little bit. Now pour in some stronger alcohol, such as vodka, so that the peels are all covered. Seal the jar, and leave it to sit in you...r fridge for at least 24 hours. Shake it around every time you open the fridge, or flip the jar over. Strain the liquid and pour some of it into an oil diffuser and enjoy the smell of oranges in your home. For extra Christmas smell you can also add your favourite Christmas spice(s) to your mix before you seal the jar. Ginger, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon give off a lovely gingersnap scent.

Today’s Halq’eméylem word of the week is siyólh (see-yah-th)! As the weather gets colder, it’s time to turn up the heat. While these days we rely more often on gas or electric heating, nothing beats the crackle of a fire fed by a large stack of freshly chopped siyólh (firewood).

Introducing something new and unique to your inbox...the Sikh Heritage Museum Newsletter! This National Historic Site and Sikh Heritage Museum has been standing... tall on South Fraser Way since 1911, and is still open to this today. The stories that echo these walls need to be told, and what’s a better way to do than having it delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up via the link below and share with your friends & family. http://eepurl.com/hdO-bf See more

Human remains unearthed on Vancouver Island have resurfaced the tragic story of the Pentlatch people. "This is probably just the tip of the iceberg.

Hanukkah Sameach from all of us at Heritage Abbotsford!

Louis Riel (1844-1885) was Métis spokesperson, founder of Manitoba, teacher, and leader of the North-West Resistance. He was the voice of the Métis people during a turbulent time in Canadian history. Have a look at his legacy: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca//abo/metis/Pages/louis-riel.aspx

From all of us at MNBC to you, happy Louis Riel Day! Check out this post on our website for some virtual events as well as information on Louis Riel and why we celebrate him http://ow.ly/yTn650CkhZU

Wandering around the streets of the Historic Downtown of Abbotsford one might pass a lonely, towering tree by the train tracks, overlooking the brick rooftops. ... Most passersby may overlook the splash of green as it camouflages into the hillside behind it, but as the months go by and the leaves fall during the crisp Autumn months the tree stands out tall and strong. It’s surprising that it still stands at all considering the development of the downtown. That is, until you wait until the end of November and suddenly, the tree shines bright with explosions of colour- a Christmas tree! The lighting of the tree at the annual Winter Jubilee hosted by the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association has occurred in late November or early December since 1989. Thousands of city residents gather annually to participate in winter cheer. Santa Claus parades down Essendene Avenue, children twirl around the makeshift ice rink, and revelers sip their hot chocolate as they mingle amongst the vendors lined along the street. Then the moment arrives: 10! 9! 8! chants the crowd, and lights illuminate the spectators But how did this specific tree become so significant to the community? It all started in 1947 when Vic Tessaro, Ted Galbraith and Len Saxbee, three aldermen from the Village of Abbotsford, hatched a plot to create a little community spirit and entertain the village. The answer? A Christmas tree, of course! The 1940s had been a difficult decade for everyone. Many Abbotsford residents had served overseas during World War II and some had not returned, and their families had spent years worrying over the fate of their loved ones. The Nissei (Japanese-Canadians) had been wrenched off of their farms and into internment camps. The men knew the right place to find the perfect tree already- the location of the now Abbotsford International Airport, which had been built to train RCAF pilots during the war. Spotting the little two-foot tall Douglas fir tree, they couldn’t have known that in seventy-three years it would reach the soaring height of eighty-five feet. Vic Tessaro operated a tiny Esso gas station between Montvue Avenue and West Railway Street and must have felt something of a kinship with his neighbourhood gift of a tree. The three men decided to place it centrally, near the intersecting train tracks of the C.P.R. and B.C. Electric railways at the bottom of Essendene Avenue, and right in sight of Vic’s station. He spent the rest of his working years watching over its growth through the years, giving himself so much joy watching it give so much joy back to the village inhabitants year after year. This civic duty of theirs rooted well into the soil and grew into the symbol of winter celebration and community spirit it is today. What is it about finding light in the darkness so powerful to so many around the world? Woven throughout history and place, people have gathered together to celebrate light during the darkest days of winter - a promise that the darkness will not last forever. Memories of festivals such as the Winter Jubilee creates a depth and connection to places such as the Historic Abbotsford downtown. Perhaps you performed Jingle Bells on the main stage with your Grade 3 music class? Or perhaps you had your first kiss under the twinkle of those tree lights? Or perhaps it is an event you attend every year, and don’t realize how nostalgic you feel when the seasonal event doesn’t happen. Neighbourhoods hold many memories; through time, through the people who lived and worked there, and through the changing facades of the buildings. A festival such as the Winter Jubilee, a mainstay in the Abbotsford community for over thirty years, is a thread of continuity in the lives of those people and families who have found meaning in the seasonal rhythms of the place. When Vic Tessaro died in 2008 at the age of 93 his obituary published in the Abbotsford News stated that he had been extremely proud of the fact that he was one of the three men who planted the Christmas tree in downtown Abbotsford. Now that is a legacy of good cheer, along with the Douglas fir that twinkles so brightly during the darkest months of the year. Note: The Winter Jubilee is in a very different form this year due to COVID-19. However, the Christmas tree is still lit and festive. Take a stroll with your household and visit the tree off of Essendene Avenue and West Railway Street. The lights are sound activated, and respond to clapping, singing, and cheer! Many thanks for the Downtown Abbotsford for the story of the Christmas tree: https://downtownabbotsford.ca/about/history/ A Note from the Heritage Abbotsford Society The Heritage Abbotsford Society would like to state that the land on which Abbotsford is situated is the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territories of the Stó:l people. The Semá:th First Nation on Sumas Mountain and Matsqui First Nation by the Fraser River have lived on this land since Time Immemorial. The Heritage Abbotsford Society recognizes that all stories featured in the Stories to Spaces project that do not originate from a Stó:l perspective are re-settler stories that occur within the colonial context of Canada today. Do you know of an Abbotsford story or space that you think should be featured? Let us know! Contact Natalia at [email protected] to suggest a topic or volunteer yourself as a guest writer! Heritage Abbotsford / Trethewey House

Wishing a Happy Diwali, Deepavali, and Bandi Chhor Divas to all who are celebrating! Given the events of the past year, a festival celebrating light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance feels particularly significant - as is a holiday celebrating freedom from wrongful imprisonment. We hope your holiday is full of light, joy, and delicious sweets. Learn more about these important holidays by visiting http://ow.ly/LXhp50CkjCC and http://ow.ly/mk8k50CkjCD.

Looking for a gift for the local history aficionado in your life? Why not check out the books and gifts available online and in person at our office including a limited number of Abbotsford: From Village to City hardcover editions on sale for $65! http://ow.ly/Sk8H50CGlVi

Today’s Halq’eméylem word of the week is slhémexw (Sl-thuh-muh-HH)! With winter around the corner, the November slhémexw (rain) has started in earnest. Time for rain jackets and rubber boots and don’t forget your umbrella!

"It wasn't just a white Anglo-Saxon protestant grandfather's war."