North York residents Pat and Amatore De Sario have become something of local celebrities for their commitment to covering their home in Christmas lights each holiday season, and this year will be no different.
For the past two to three months, the De Sario family has been working hard at getting their Christmas lights display set up, and the lights officially get turned on today, Dec. 1. The family has been keeping up this tradition for more than two decades now and it’s all in support of the SickKids Foundation.
Pat and Amatore’s daughter, Angela De Sario, received treatment for juvenile diabetes at the Hospital for Sick Children when she was a child. Since 1999, the family has donated more than $200,000 to the Hospital for Sick Children thanks to their amazing holiday display at their home.
Angela says the Christmas display includes probably hundreds of thousands of lights at this point, and will take another three months to tear down. The family is asking anyone who wants to come and see the display this year to respect all COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Families can enjoy the lights from their cars or physically distance themselves on the street.
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There will also be a QR code posted all over the display that will link to the De Sario’s donation page for SickKids, and the link to donate is also available on the family’s Instagram page.
For those looking to donate in-person while visiting the holiday decoration display in North York, the De Sario family is allowing in-person donations at their home and just ask that the donors wear a mask. They are also asking everyone who comes to the home to ensure there is only a maximum of 10 people around the property at a time.
For those looking to catch a glimpse, head to Benjamin Boake Trail near Downsview Park, and donations can be made online on their SickKids donations page here.
