Brightening Fort Nelson one bulb at a time
In Fort Nelson, a town often defined by its long winters and rugged landscape, a new tradition casts a warm, colourful glow across the community: the Celebration of Lights.
At its heart is Kim Eglinski, the driving force behind the project and the dedicated business manager of the Fort Nelson Historical Society. For nearly four decades, Kim has been more than just a resident—she’s been a steward of community spirit, a spark of inspiration, and a creator of cherished memories.
The Celebration of Lights is more than a festive display of glowing bulbs and whimsical figures. It’s a symbol of resilience, a reminder of the beauty that can shine even after a challenging year. “I’m wired to want to make people happy and make my community better,” Kim says. Her words echo like the twinkle of thousands of lights, reflecting her deep connection to the town she’s called home since her teenage years.
This isn’t just a story about lights—it’s about how one woman’s vision has united a community, inspired a tradition, and reminded Fort Nelson of its collective strength.
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“I’ve lived in Fort Nelson for just about 39 years, more than half my life,” Kim shares. “I moved here as a teenager, left briefly, and returned. I have two kids, both born and raised here, who live in town with their spouses. I also have three granddaughters.”
When the position at the Fort Nelson Historical Society opened, it felt like fate. “I had said to my husband, you know, I want something part-time, really flexible, somewhere I can bring my dog to work. And then this popped up, ticked all the boxes, like not even the next week,” Kim says.
Since 2017, Kim has managed the society’s business operations, tackling everything from grant writing to payroll. “It’s important to me that my family sees me giving back. I hope they’ll continue this legacy when I can’t anymore,” she adds.
History illuminated
The Fort Nelson Historical Society has a rich partnership with Northwestel, one that preserves the region’s telecommunications history while supporting its community initiatives.
“We have a building on-site called the CN or the Northwestel Building,” Kim explains. “Built in 2005, it houses and displays old phones, switchboards, insulators, phone books, and photos, all generously donated by Northwestel over the years.”
In addition to annual financial contributions from Northwestel’s Community Investment Program, one of the society’s longest-serving board members, Craig Hoff, is a Northwestel employee. “Craig joined our board in 2019 and quickly established himself as someone we didn’t want to lose,” Kim says. “He’s our unofficial IT guy. He knows everything about technology and is always lending a hand.”
The birth of the Celebration of Lights
Kim’s inspiration for the Celebration of Lights came from her lifelong love of holiday lights. “Back in 2000, I was part of the Millennium Committee, and we started lighting trees along our main boulevard. Over time, it expanded, and I’ve always thought about how magical it would be to light up our museum grounds,” she says.
Her dream became a reality in early 2023 with the help of a grant from North Peace Savings and Credit Union. “They loved the idea so much they doubled our funding, which let us make it bigger and better than I’d imagined,” Kim says.
“This year is just the start—it’ll be a multi-year project. The community can look forward to some amazing things regarding how this grows over the years,” she adds.
Just days before the grand opening, an unexpected opportunity added to the excitement. “Coca-Cola’s northern distributor posted on Facebook, looking for a place to park the iconic holiday truck,” Kim recalls. “I saw it immediately and reached out. Within minutes, we had it arranged.”
Although the truck couldn’t make it for the opening night, its arrival two days later felt like an extension of the festivities. “It felt like we had two opening nights,” Kim says.
The community braved frigid -30°C conditions on the first evening, turning out in remarkable numbers. “We had 400 to 450 people that night, and another 200 when the Coca-Cola truck arrived,” she shares.
The extreme cold made last-minute preparations challenging. “Plugging in lights and setting up displays in those temperatures was tough, but we persevered,” Kim explains. To everyone’s relief, the weather warmed to a manageable -12°C just after the work was finished. “Our timing couldn’t have been worse,” she says with a laugh.
When the Coca-Cola truck finally arrived, its iconic glowing lights brought a touch of magic that few in Fort Nelson had experienced before. “It’s something most people only see in commercials, but this year, it was our turn,” Kim says proudly.
The Celebration of Lights was designed to bring joy and unity to a town that needed it. “Christmas lights trigger dopamine, the happy hormone,” Kim explains. “After a tough year with forest fires and evacuations, we needed something to make people smile again.” The display has already made a difference. “I’ve seen grandparents bring their grandkids, families taking Christmas photos, and groups of strangers ending their walks together. One mom even used it as a reward for her kids—if they behaved, they’d get to drive through the lights before school,” Kim shares.
A vision for the future
Kim sees endless potential for the Celebration of Lights. “I want it to become a must-see tradition for families every holiday season,” she says. “I’m very creative, and my board supports my ideas. We’re nowhere near finished.”
Funding remains a challenge, but Kim is optimistic. “We’ll look for new grants and explore fundraising. This year was about proving we could do it. Now, we can dream even bigger,” she says.
The project thrives on community involvement. “We gladly accept monetary donations to help with hydro costs or equipment. Snow removal is always needed, and we’ll need more hands next year. If anyone wants to commit early, they can reach out,” Kim says. “Even now, there’s always something worthwhile to do.”
Local hero
Kim’s dedication to Fort Nelson goes beyond her role at the Historical Society. “I’ve had many jobs, owned a business for 20 years, and always been involved in the community. This project is just another way I can give back,” she says.
At its core, the Celebration of Lights is about more than holiday decorations. It’s about resilience, joy, and the spirit of a community coming together. “At the end of the day, we just want to make people happy,” Kim says. “Even if they’re only happy for half an hour, we’ve done our job.”
This year, over 5,000 visitors passed through the Fort Nelson Historical Society’s doors, with the Celebration of Lights marking a bright new chapter.
As Kim reflects on the project, she emphasizes the importance of collaboration. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our community. I’m so grateful to NRRM, the Fort Nelson District Chamber of Commerce, Home Hardware, Jen-ty Contracting, Visa Rentals, Radar Road Transport, Infinite Home Decor, Northern Rockies Events and Tourism Society, Northwestel, Karey Cooper, Alison Starr, Craige Hoff, Patricia Skinner, and my partner, Dave Gustafson, for their help in making this dream come to life.”
Contact:
Kim Eglinski
Business Manager, Fort Nelson Historical Society
Phone: 250-774-3536
Email: info@fortnelsonmuseum.ca
