The owner of one of Edmonton's most famous Christmas houses has managed to outdo himself again this year.
In honour of his dear mother Maisie, who died of diabetes last month at the age of 82, Jerry Dolynchuk has doubled the 100,000 lightbulbs that normally adorn his home come the holidays, all in the name of charity.
"I've got at least 200,000 bulbs up this year and my very own power box from EPCOR. That way I won't keep blowing the fuses for the entire block," Dolynchuk said of his house at 9619 144 Ave.
In years past he's asked visitors to donate to the Edmonton Food Bank, but this year his goal is to raise $100,000 for the Canadian Diabetes Association.
The house, which will cost around $5,000 to light for the season, is decorated with about 20 dancing Santas and snowmen, 11 window dioramas, and countless reindeer, polar bears, wreaths, candy canes and Christmas stockings.
When it's lit up it can be seen from 20 blocks away.
"I'm calling it Maisie's Christmas House this year in honour of my mother. She always loved the lights and taught me a lot about how diabetes affects so many people's lives. She suffered for the last 25 or 30 years of her life. This is my way of giving back and establishing her legacy."
Dolynchuk said it's taken him about eight weeks to get all the lights ready for the season.
"I started a few days before she died. After that things didn't go so well and I was going to give up on the lights, but my brother encouraged me to finish it in her memory. I'm so glad I did.
Maise's Christmas House operates from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. every day until Jan. 7.
Santa keeps regular hours at the house and visitors are asked to bring cash and clothing donations for the diabetes association.
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