Two young people share honour of leading NOTL's Candlelight Stroll

When two local young people lead the annual Candlelight Stroll through the streets of the Old Town, they will be fulfilling a tradition that began 34 years ago.

Maya Webster is well-known for successfully lobbying the provincial government to provide medical coverage for a diabetes monitor that costs $4,000. She has used one for several years, which has changed her life by helping to control her Type 1 diabetes, and she wants to be sure it can change the lives of others like her.

In a second carriage will be Dylan Dietsch, 13, and his family. From the time of his birth with cerebral palsy, his parents, Matt and Kristen, have raised money for the Ronald McDonald House that was so important to them when Dylan was in the hospital in Hamilton, and for the Niagara Peninsula Children’s Centre, which has also been an important part of Dylan’s life.

In Grade 8 now at Crossroads, Dylan is still involved in some recreational programming at the Children’s Centre, says Matt, and he had a great summer at the Red Roof Retreat day camp and now enjoys Saturdays at the Red Roof Ranch.

“He’ll be heading to high school next year,” says Matt, hopefully to Eden Secondary School, “where he will be able to reconnect with his friends from his special needs community.”

As a teenager, Dylan is becoming more difficult to help on stairs, “and for the sake of his safety and for us, we’d like to have a chair lift,” says Matt. “We have a family room we’re using more as the kids get older, and it’s not so bad getting him downstairs, but going up the stairs is getting to be more of a problem.”

“We were super-excited to hear about the stroll,” adds Matt, and grateful to know the funds raised will help make a chair lift possible and ease the transition from one level to another.

“We’re humbled to have Dylan be part of the stroll. It’s such a big event, and for Dylan to be asked to be part of it is a huge honour.”

Maya, 12, is also pretty excited to be joining the stroll, says her mother Christi. “She definitely shed a few tears” when she got over the shock and had it explained to her — she’s never been to a Candlelight Stroll, and wasn’t sure what it involved.

“She was beside herself. She’s especially excited about the carriage ride and the horses.”

Since Maya has the equipment she needs, she will donate her share of the candle proceeds to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Christi says.

In a conversation with The Local, Maya said what means the most to her is to fundraise for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, to help it find a cure.

When the Candlelight Stroll was started by local residents Arthur and Irene Nieuwdorp, if was from an idea Arthur had in 1988 during the lead-up to the Calgary Winter Olympics. He watched the Olympic torch relay as it travelled across the country and was inspired to create a community event that would reflect the spirit of giving and the beauty of a NOTL Christmas. The funds raised from the sale of that first stroll were donated to help a young girl with cystic fibrosis.

Over the years, money raised from candle sales has been donated directly to families and children in need, or to specific causes — one year proceeds were donated to the paediatric wing of the Walker Cancer Centre. Money has gone to others in need, and in recent years has helped to support migrant farm workers, including Ceto Reid, who was injured last year on the day he was due to travel home to Jamaica.

This year, Tourism Niagara-on-the-Lake is presenting an additional showcase taking place before the stroll, beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1.

NOTL Museum volunteers dressed in Dickens-style period costumes will be strolling on Queen Street, with Santa Claus joining the fun and being available for pictures in front of the Court House.

The Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre is offering a live painting demonstration, and visitors are encouraged to engage with the artist; Shaw Festival will offer a troupe of performers presenting holiday classics, carols and musical melodies; The Niagara Star Singers will perform, as will the Queenston Women’s Chorus and young talent from the Yellow Door Theatre Project, all before the Salvation Army Band begins its performance by the Court House steps at 6:30 p.m.

Many choirs, bands and other musical performances will be stationed along the route of the stroll, some of whom have been volunteering to entertain participants for many years.

Hosted by the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce, the traditional stroll will be held Friday, Dec. 1, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., with a celebration from the Court House steps before the carriages and stroll participants begin moving through the decorated streets of the Old Town.

Candles will be sold at stalls along Queen Street between King and Regent Streets, at $5 each — only cash will be accepted.

This year Queen Street merchants are offering 10 to 20 per cent off in-store purchases for those who have purchased candles in support of the stroll. Candles will be sold from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., or while they last.

The tradition of a food drive for Newark Neighbours also continues, and donations can be dropped off in front of the Court House. For a list of what items are needed to help local families at Christmas, visit newarkneighbours.ca.

Parking is available at Fort George, and Community Transportation will be offering a complimentary shuttle available from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. between the fort parking lot and the Court House.

For more information about the event, the schedule of performers and the list of Queen Street merchants who are participating in the discount, visit niagaraonthelake.com/candlelightstroll2023.