The Mayor of Ritchot says it was like a scene from the movies.

Chris Ewen says on Friday evening nearly 100 people gathered in Ste. Agathe for the lighting of the Christmas tree. There is a large Christmas tree at the park along Main Street that stands about 43 feet tall. On Friday, they met at the tree and had a countdown before flipping the switch to light up the tree for the Christmas season.

(Christmas tree in Ste. Agathe)"It was absolutely amazing to see," says Ewen. "It was pretty incredible to see everyone out there, we sang some carols, we lit up the tree and then we went inside for some hot chocolate and coffee."

Ewen explains this is a tradition that ended years ago in Ste. Agathe, but one that he is hoping to revive. In fact, he says the plan is to do the same thing next year in Grande Pointe and for each community in the municipality to eventually be doing this.

"I think we need those in each municipality and especially each community within the municipality of Ritchot just to build that sense of community," says Ewen. "The more that we do this for the people, the more that each community will end up working together and building just a greater place to be a part of."

Meanwhile, one day later, the community of Ile des Chenes got into the Christmas spirit by coming out to a Photos With Santa event. Ewen says in four hours they raised more than $6,000 for CancerCare Manitoba Foundation.