Stories & Features

DuPlessis Family Christmas Display is one man's labour of love

At age 16, Joel DuPlessis stumbled upon a woodworking book that inspired him to build a mechanical sleigh and reindeer for the roof of his mom's East Vancouver home.

"It was just something to do, and not exactly what every teen does," recalls DuPlessis.

Many years later, DuPlessis is employed as an electrical power equipment technologist leader for BC Hydro. But it's his hobby – adorning his Burnaby home with thousands of lights, decorations, and inflatables, and choreographing it all to a holiday soundtrack you can tune into from the comfort of your car – that defines him. At least seasonally.

"It's not a bad addiction, and at least it's healthy – I'm outside, I'm working, and I'm keeping busy, keeping my mind active," says DuPlessis. "Probably the best part about this kind of a hobby is that it brings joy during the holiday season."

For some families, arriving as early as 4 p.m. at what's known as the DuPlessis Family Christmas Display, has become tradition. The lights go on at 4:30 p.m. and you can listen to a 12-minute soundtrack – both outside the home and on HoHoHo Radio at 92.3 FM – each day of December.

For 25 years, DuPlessis has urged the thousands visiting the display to donate to the B.C. Children's Hospital Foundation. His goal is about $10,000 in donations and was at $7,000 last year before a generous company contributed $20,000 to bring that number to $27,000.

"That was amazing," he says. "It's the continued support from family, friends, and community each year." And each year, I hear stories – often heartbreaking – from people about what the Children's Hospital has done for their family and kids. It helps keep me going."

DuPlessis dedicates each November building new displays in the yard and hanging lights. This includes figuring out how to best employ the newest tech in holiday lighting – xLights. They're apparently all the rage, with YouTube how-tos and fans eager to share their programming knowledge one-to-one with the likes of DuPlessis.

"There's an xLights Zoom room group every night in which they help enthusiasts like me solve problems and learn more about the program, and it's amazing what people can create," he says. "Some have very upbeat dubstep music, but I'm more of a traditional Christmas guy. I like the classic look, that sense of Christmas that you grew up with. It's a winter wonderland when you come here."

See our list of other holiday lighting gems in B.C.

What's the electricity bill in December? Don't ask

The bulk of the DuPlessis Family Christmas Display is adorned with LED lights, with only a few old, inefficient incandescent strings still in the mix. DuPlessis says that while tallying the number of lights 'used to be a thing' – kind of like bragging rights among the holiday lighting enthusiasts – he stopped counting long ago.

And when asked how much all that lighting costs him each December, he's quick with the answer.

"My answer to that is always '12 equal payments'," he says, referring to BC Hydro's equal payment plan option. "I've always said if it came to the point where the cost worried me, I wouldn't be doing this. I'm fortunate to be able to do this as my hobby and bring joy to the neighbourhood."

A few holiday lighting events from across B.C.

Here are some holiday light displays to check out – residential and commercial – in regions across B.C. See your local news sites for the latest in your area.

Across B.C.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Holiday Train Tour, multiple locations across B.C., from Sparwood to Port Coquitlam

Victoria and region

See the Times Colonist's list for 2023

• Lights of Wonder, Centennial Square, Victoria
• Marina Light-up event, Inner Harbour Causeway Marina, Victoria
• Oak Bay Christmas Festival Light Up, Oak Bay Village
• Esquimalt Celebration of Lights, Archie Browning Sports Centre Plaza, Esquimalt
• Colwood Christmas Light-up, Colwood City Hall
• Langford Light Up, Langford Station
• Christmas Lights Across Canada, BC Legislature

Vancouver Island (outside Victoria area)

• Nanaimo Yacht Club Christmas Light Parade, December 2
• Sidney Sparkles Christmas Parade, downtown Sidney
• Sooke Santa Run

South Coast

See the Vancouver Sun's updated list for the most recent info

• Canyon Lights, Capilano Suspension Bridge, West Vancouver
• Festival of Lights, Van Dusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver
• Christmas tree lighting ceremony, Robson Square, Vancouver (December 1)
• Lafarge winter lights display, Lafarge Lake, Coquitlam (November 24 to mid-January)
• Bright Nights Christmas Train, Stanley Park, Vancouver
• PNE Winter Fair, December 8-9, 14-23
• Bonneteau Winter Wonderland, Surrey
• Rudolph & Friends Christmas Display, 15499 22nd Ave Surrey
• Belcarra Christmas Tea Lights Festival, Camp Howdy, Belcarra
• Squamish at Dusk, through December 10
• DuPlessis Family Christmas Display, Burnaby

B.C. Interior

• Spirit of the North Festival of Trees, Prince George
• Light up the Orchard, Northern Lights Winery, Prince George
• Kamloops Wildlights, BC Wildlife Park
• Seniors Light Tour, December 7, Kamloops
• Carnival of Lights, Vernon
• Light Up West Kelowna, December 1
• Winter Lights Festival, Williams Lake