CSI Holiday House Tour raising funds for scholarship

BY CARLA ALLEN

The Coast Guard

NovaNewsNow.com

Some things in life can only be experienced once in a great while and such will be the case with the Holiday House Tour at Fawne and Garvin Atkinson’s home at 60 Kenney Road on Stoney Island, Cape Sable Island.

The Nov. 16, 17, 18 and Dec. 1 and 2 event begins at 1 p.m. and is a fundraiser for the Wayne and Lynne Perry Scholarship Fund which is a legacy project of the South Shore Tourism Association (SSTA).

Fawne Atkinson has been collecting Christmas decorations for 20 years.

“One of my favorite presents is an ornament,” she said.

“Every room in the house will have a tree of some sort. I like to use different themes: feathers, an enchanted garden, demitasse cups, teddy bear, Victorian and a sports tree, which is one of the most popular,” she said.

The $10 guided tour includes an elaborate tea of pate, homemade dips, vegetable and fruit trays, and many more goodies Atkinson assures. A craft table and silent auction are also part of the event.

The scholarship fund is in honour of Atkinson’s parents. Her father Wayne, a well-known businessman and musician died in 2006. Lynne Perry, now retired, was executive director of the SSTA for many years.

She views the Holiday House tour as an excellent fundraiser for the continuation of the scholarship fund.

“Wayne loved Christmas,” she said of her husband of 40 years.

“Losing him and having a Christmas last year was very hard. This event doesn’t make us sad; it’s celebrating his life. By fundraising for someone else it gives us something to look forward to,” she said.

Atkinson plans on developing a different fundraising idea for the scholarship next year, which is available to graduating students from the South Shore.

This year’s recipient of the $1,000 fund is Sarah Belong, from Lockeport Rural High School. She is now attending Dalhousie University.

For more information on the tour or scholarship fund call 902-745-1342 or 902-832-0796.