Saint Andrews business owner Kevin Simmonds is connected to his community, and through the binds of lobster rope, traps, and buoys, he shows that through charity alongside fellow community members and lobster fisher Allisan Spear.
It takes about 125 lobster traps to make a Christmas tree, which gets set up in Market Square in Saint Andrews.
Kevin Simmonds alongside Allisan Spear have created this tradition, which supports the local food bank. (Vicki Hogarth/CHCO-TV)
After it’s built, the tree is decorated with lights and fishing buoys painted and paid for by members of the community – with the funds eventually going to the food bank for the Open Door Program.
“I just think it’s a community,” Simmonds said. “You see how many people are on the tree today. There are new people added again to it today, they’re helping put it up.”
It’s one of the many things Simmonds gives back to his community. The lobster trap Christmas tree has been featured in several different places – including a Newfoundland magazine dedicated to lobster fisher people.
“Community is everything, right,” Simmond said while getting emotional.
Simmonds’ restaurant recently suffered a fire and has been closed, but he plans to be at The Herring Pub every day to sell the buoys needed to raise the funds, just like every year before.
For Allisan Spear, this tradition began with the idea. She said she didn’t like the idea of cutting down a tree every year only to dispose of it.
As a lobster fisher, she had plenty of old traps laying around, so she said she figured she could put them to good use. Spear reached out to Simmonds and the rest of history, she explained.
“We have a great return on our volunteers every year and we really appreciate them,” she said. “Every year we see some new faces coming, which is great because if we want to keep this tradition going, we need the younger people to come and help because you do have to climb to the top and lug them up there and zip-tie them all down. It’s actually quite a (teetering) structure when you get to the top, but it is secure and safe.”
More and more volunteers come out every year to help build the lobster trap Christmas tree. (Vicki Hogarth/CHCO-TV)
Chelsey Hansen has been volunteering with the group since its inception.
“I think it’s just awesome to see everyone come together, but be able to contribute if they don’t have a way or time, with the buoys to get an artistic expression, and still to just put so much out magic for the kids,” she said.
The buoys are $35 each and can be purchased at the Herring on Water Street in Saint Andrews from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
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